Lincoln County

Lincoln County is a rural county on Colorado’s eastern plains, extending across a broad stretch of the High Plains southeast of the Denver metropolitan area. Created in 1889 and named for President Abraham Lincoln, the county developed around late-19th-century settlement patterns tied to dryland farming, rail access, and later highway corridors. Lincoln County is small in population by Colorado standards, with fewer than 6,000 residents, and communities are widely dispersed across open prairie and agricultural land. The local economy is anchored by agriculture—particularly cattle ranching and grain production—along with public-sector employment and small local services. The landscape is characterized by flat to gently rolling terrain, expansive grasslands, and a semi-arid climate typical of the eastern plains. The county seat is Hugo, which serves as the primary administrative and service center.

Lincoln County is a largely rural county in east-central Colorado on the High Plains, located along the Interstate 70 corridor between the Denver metro area and western Kansas. The county seat is Hugo; for local government and planning resources, visit the Lincoln County official website.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (Lincoln County, Colorado), Lincoln County’s population was 5,664 (2020 Census).

Age & Gender

County-level age distribution and sex (gender) composition are published in the Census Bureau’s county profiles. The most direct public-facing source is the county profile on data.census.gov, which includes:

• Age distribution (median age and population by age groups)
• Sex composition (male and female shares)

A single official table varies by release, but these items are available under Lincoln County’s profile and the ACS 5-year “Age and Sex” topics on data.census.gov. The Census Bureau’s QuickFacts page for Lincoln County also summarizes age and sex indicators.

Racial & Ethnic Composition

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (Lincoln County, Colorado), the county’s racial and ethnic composition is reported using standard Census categories, including:

• Race (e.g., White, Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Some Other Race, Two or More Races)
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race) as an ethnicity category reported separately from race

Detailed counts and percentages by race and Hispanic/Latino origin are also available through Lincoln County’s decennial Census and ACS profile tables on data.census.gov.

Household & Housing Data

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (Lincoln County, Colorado), Lincoln County household and housing indicators are available for:

• Number of households
• Average household size
• Owner-occupied housing rate
• Housing unit counts
• Selected housing characteristics (e.g., median value of owner-occupied units, median gross rent, and related measures as provided in QuickFacts)

More granular household and housing tables (including household type, occupancy/vacancy, and housing tenure) are available in the Lincoln County profile and ACS housing topics on data.census.gov.

Lincoln County, Colorado is a sparsely populated rural county on the eastern plains, where long distances between населated areas and limited last‑mile infrastructure can constrain reliable internet service and, by extension, routine email access.

Direct county-level email usage rates are not generally published; email adoption is therefore inferred from digital access proxies reported by the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov), especially American Community Survey indicators on household broadband subscriptions and computer ownership. Higher broadband and computer access typically correspond to higher practical email use, while gaps in either reduce access to webmail and account recovery services.

Age structure influences email adoption because older adults have lower average rates of home broadband and computer use than prime working-age adults in national ACS patterns; Lincoln County’s age distribution can be referenced through Lincoln County demographic profiles. Gender composition is not a primary driver of email adoption in most U.S. surveys and is typically less predictive than age and connectivity.

Connectivity limitations in rural counties commonly include fewer provider options and coverage gaps; broadband availability and technology types are documented in the FCC National Broadband Map.

Lincoln County is located on Colorado’s eastern plains, east of the Denver metropolitan area. The county is predominantly rural with low population density, extensive agricultural land use, and long travel distances between towns. These characteristics tend to reduce the business case for dense cellular infrastructure and can produce more variable service quality outside population centers and along less-traveled roads. For authoritative geographic and population context, county-level profiles are available through the U.S. Census Bureau’s data portal (data.census.gov).

Key distinction: network availability vs. adoption

Network availability describes whether mobile broadband coverage is reported to exist in a given area (often modeled and provider-reported). Adoption describes whether households or individuals actually subscribe to and use mobile service (including smartphones and mobile broadband plans). These measures can diverge in rural areas where coverage may be present but service quality, device affordability, plan cost, or home broadband alternatives influence uptake.

Mobile penetration and access indicators (adoption)

County-level adoption data: limitations

Public, county-specific statistics that directly quantify mobile subscription rates (for example, “percent of residents with a cellular data plan” or “smartphone penetration”) are not consistently published at the county level in a single official series. The most commonly used government sources provide:

• Household internet subscription and device availability at county scale in some Census products, with categories that can include cellular data plans and smartphones.
• Broadband availability (coverage) rather than subscriptions through federal mapping programs.

Closest official adoption indicators commonly used for counties

• American Community Survey (ACS) internet subscription categories: ACS includes measures related to household internet subscription types and computing devices. Depending on the table and release, this can include cellular data plans and device types (such as smartphones). County-level estimates and margins of error vary with sample size. Use data.census.gov to retrieve the relevant ACS tables for Lincoln County, CO (noting the ACS year and whether estimates are 1-year or 5-year).
• State-level broadband adoption context: The Colorado Broadband Office publishes statewide planning materials and may include regional discussions, but these are not always county-specific for mobile adoption.

Interpretation constraint: Without a single, consistently maintained county-level “mobile penetration” series, adoption must be inferred from ACS household subscription/device tables and related indicators, and should be reported with the ACS margins of error.

Mobile internet usage patterns and network availability (4G/5G)

FCC broadband availability (coverage) as the primary reference

The most widely cited source for mobile broadband availability in the United States is the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection and National Broadband Map. These datasets focus on where providers report service availability and technologies offered rather than actual usage. The FCC resources are available through the FCC National Broadband Map and associated data downloads.

For Lincoln County, the FCC map is the appropriate tool to identify:

• Areas reported to have 4G LTE and/or 5G mobile broadband.
• Differences between coverage in and around towns versus more remote sections of the county.
• Variation across providers and reported signal footprints.

Important limitation: FCC coverage is provider-reported and can differ from on-the-ground experience. The map is best used as a standardized availability reference, not as a measure of service quality, speeds actually experienced, or adoption.

4G vs. 5G availability: typical rural pattern (availability, not adoption)

At the county scale in rural eastern Colorado, FCC-reported mobile availability commonly shows:

• 4G LTE as the foundational layer across a larger share of road corridors and population centers.
• 5G availability concentrated nearer towns and along major corridors, with more limited geographic reach than LTE in sparsely populated areas.

This describes a common pattern in FCC-reported coverage layers for rural counties; the exact extent and provider mix for Lincoln County should be taken directly from the FCC National Broadband Map for the relevant date.

Usage patterns: county-level evidence constraints

County-specific “usage pattern” metrics (for example, share of users primarily on mobile-only internet, typical data consumption, or device-level network mode usage) are generally not published as official county statistics. The strongest county-level proxies are:

• ACS measures of households with cellular data plans (adoption proxy).
• Comparisons of home fixed broadband subscription vs. mobile-only access where ACS categories support it (adoption proxy).
• FCC availability layers for 4G/5G (availability, not adoption).

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

What is measurable at county level

The ACS includes household device categories that can be used to describe device access (for example, households with a smartphone, computer, etc.), though categories and availability depend on the specific table/year. These data are accessible via data.census.gov.

Typical rural device access considerations (reported cautiously)

• Smartphones are generally the dominant mobile access device nationally; however, county-specific proportions should be taken from ACS device tables rather than inferred.
• In rural counties, smartphones are often used both as primary personal devices and as hotspots for home connectivity in some households, but the prevalence of hotspot reliance is not consistently measured at the county level in official public datasets.

Limitation: Public county-level data often supports statements about “households with smartphones” more readily than it supports detailed breakdowns of “smartphones vs. tablets vs. dedicated hotspots” in active use.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity

Rural geography, distance, and infrastructure density (availability impacts)

Lincoln County’s rural settlement pattern affects mobile connectivity primarily through:

• Tower spacing and backhaul economics: Greater distances between users typically reduce infrastructure density, which can limit signal strength and capacity in remote areas.
• Coverage variability: Service tends to be more consistent near towns and major roads and less consistent across sparsely populated farmland. These are general rural network planning dynamics; the definitive county-level availability reference remains the FCC National Broadband Map.

Population, housing, and commuting patterns (adoption and usage context)

• Household characteristics (income, age distribution, household composition) can correlate with device ownership and subscription types, but county-specific conclusions require ACS estimates rather than assumptions.
• Commuting and travel across long distances can increase the importance of in-vehicle connectivity and roadway coverage, though “importance” is not an adoption measure.

County-level demographic context and housing characteristics are available through the U.S. Census Bureau.

Fixed-broadband alternatives and mobile reliance (adoption context)

In rural counties, mobile internet may substitute for fixed broadband in some households where fixed options are limited or expensive. Whether that applies in Lincoln County should be described using:

• ACS household subscription categories (adoption proxy) from data.census.gov.
• Fixed broadband availability comparisons using the FCC map (availability, not adoption). State planning context is available from the Colorado Broadband Office.

Summary of what can be stated definitively with public sources

• Availability (4G/5G): Best documented using provider-reported coverage in the FCC National Broadband Map, which distinguishes mobile technologies and footprints but does not measure adoption or performance.
• Adoption (penetration/access): Most defensible county-scale indicators come from ACS household internet subscription and device tables via data.census.gov, reported with margins of error and without equating availability with subscription.
• Device types: ACS device-availability tables can support statements about household access to smartphones and other computing devices, but granular “active device mix” and “network mode usage” are not reliably available as official county statistics.
• Influencing factors: Lincoln County’s rural, low-density plains geography plausibly affects infrastructure density and coverage variability; demographic influences on adoption require ACS-based reporting rather than inference.

Lincoln County is a sparsely populated, largely rural county on Colorado’s eastern plains, with Hugo (the county seat) and Limon (a key I‑70 corridor town) among its primary communities. The local economy is strongly influenced by agriculture, transportation/logistics along the interstate, and public-sector services, and residents often rely on digital channels to maintain community ties across long distances and to access news, weather, and local information.

User statistics (penetration / active use)

• Local, county-specific social media penetration: Publicly available, statistically reliable social-media penetration estimates are generally not published at the county level for small rural counties because of sampling limitations in major surveys.
• Best-available benchmark (U.S. adults): Nationally, about 7 in 10 U.S. adults use social media according to the Pew Research Center social media fact sheet. This serves as the most defensible reference point for expected adult usage in Lincoln County absent a county-level survey.
• Connectivity context: Social media activity is closely tied to broadband and smartphone access. County-level internet access patterns are commonly referenced through sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) (internet subscription measures are available in detailed tables), which helps contextualize rural usage.

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

Based on national survey patterns from the Pew Research Center:

• Highest usage: Adults 18–29 consistently show the highest social media usage and the broadest multi-platform adoption.
• Next highest: Adults 30–49 remain high users, often combining family/community-oriented platforms with news and video.
• Lower usage: Adults 50–64 and 65+ use social media at lower rates, with usage more concentrated on fewer platforms and more passive consumption (reading posts, following pages) relative to younger adults.

Gender breakdown

County-specific gender splits in social media use are not typically published for small counties. Nationally, Pew’s platform-level findings commonly show:

• Women tending to be more represented on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram (platform-dependent).
• Men tending to be more represented on platforms such as Reddit and some discussion- or forum-oriented spaces (platform-dependent). These differences are best interpreted as platform-specific skews rather than a single uniform “gender gap” across all social media. Source: Pew Research Center platform-by-platform demographics.

Most-used platforms (percentages where available)

The most reliable, comparable percentages are national adult usage estimates from Pew (platform shares change over time; Pew’s fact sheet is updated periodically):

• YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and other major platforms are consistently among the most-used nationally, with platform usage rates reported in the Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
• For Lincoln County specifically, publicly available datasets do not provide a statistically robust platform-by-platform penetration estimate at the county level; local patterns generally reflect national platform dominance but are influenced by rural connectivity and community information needs (local groups/pages, school and community announcements).

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns / preferences)

• Community information utility: Rural counties often show heavier reliance on Facebook Pages and Groups for community announcements, local events, school closures, road and weather updates, and informal mutual aid—behaviors consistent with Facebook’s role as a community information hub nationally (contextualized by Pew’s platform reach and demographics: Pew Research Center).
• Video-first consumption: YouTube is widely used across age groups nationally, supporting how-to content, news clips, and entertainment—formats that travel well in areas where services are dispersed.
• Messaging and lightweight engagement: Engagement in rural areas often emphasizes sharing, commenting in groups, and direct messaging over public posting frequency, aligning with broader national trends toward private or semi-private sharing in social platforms (see Pew’s continuing research on social media behaviors and usage: Pew Research Center Internet & Technology research).
• Platform preference by life stage: Younger adults tend to diversify across multiple apps and video-centric formats; older adults are more likely to concentrate activity on fewer platforms (especially Facebook), consistent with the age gradients documented in Pew’s platform demographics.

Lincoln County, Colorado, maintains family- and associate-related public records primarily through the state vital records system and county courts. Vital records include birth and death certificates (and related amendments); marriage and divorce records are recorded and filed through county and district court processes. Adoption records are handled by the courts and are generally not public. Colorado vital records are administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) – Vital Records, with certified copies issued to eligible requestors under state rules.

Publicly searchable databases commonly include property/real estate indexes and recorded documents maintained by the county clerk and recorder, which can reflect family relationships through deeds, liens, and similar instruments. Access points include the Lincoln County official website and the Lincoln County Clerk & Recorder for recording/real estate records, and the Lincoln County Courts information page for court-related records and procedures.

Access occurs online where the county posts search tools or document request instructions, and in person through the clerk and recorder’s office and court clerk. Privacy restrictions commonly apply to birth certificates, adoption files, and certain protected court matters; public access to court records is subject to Colorado court access rules and redaction practices.

Types of records available

• Marriage licenses and marriage certificates
  • Marriage records in Lincoln County originate as marriage license applications issued by the Lincoln County Clerk and Recorder. After the license is completed and returned for recording, it becomes part of the county’s recorded marriage records (often treated as the county’s marriage “certificate” record).
• Divorce records (decrees and case files)
  • Divorces are handled as civil court cases in the Colorado district court serving Lincoln County. The principal divorce record is the Decree of Dissolution of Marriage (final judgment), along with associated filings (petitions, financial disclosures, parenting plans, support orders, and related orders).
• Annulments (declarations of invalidity)
  • Colorado treats annulments as civil actions for a “declaration of invalidity of marriage.” These are maintained as court case records in the district court, similar in structure to divorce case files, with a final court order declaring the marriage invalid.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

• Marriage records (county level)
  • Filed/recorded by: Lincoln County Clerk and Recorder (marriage license issuance and recording).
  • Access: The Clerk and Recorder provides access to marriage records maintained by the county, typically through in-office search/request procedures and certified-copy issuance under county and state rules. Availability of public search options varies by office practice.
• Divorce and annulment records (court level)
  • Filed by: District Court for Lincoln County (Colorado Judicial Branch).
  • Access:
    • Court case access is administered through the clerk of the district court. Public case information may be available through the state’s court record access systems, while access to documents depends on record type and confidentiality rules.
    • Certified copies of decrees and other orders are issued by the court clerk.
• State-level vital records (limited role)
  • Colorado maintains statewide vital records through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Vital Records. State-issued certified copies of marriage records may be available for eligible applicants depending on the record type and CDPHE rules. Divorce is generally not issued as a “vital record certificate” in the same way as marriage; the definitive divorce instrument is the court decree.

Typical information included in these records

• Marriage license/record
  • Parties’ full names
  • Date and place of marriage (and/or license issue date)
  • Ages and/or dates of birth (varies by form and time period)
  • Places of residence and/or addresses at time of application (varies)
  • Officiant information (name/title) or self-solemnization information (Colorado permits self-solemnization)
  • Witness information (may appear depending on how the marriage was solemnized and recorded)
  • License number, recording details, and clerk certification/attestation on certified copies
• Divorce decree (dissolution of marriage)
  • Case caption and case number
  • Names of parties and date of decree
  • Findings and orders regarding:
    • Dissolution status (marriage terminated)
    • Division of property and debts
    • Spousal maintenance (alimony), if ordered
    • Parental responsibilities, parenting time, child support, and related provisions when minor children are involved
  • Judge’s signature and court seal/attestation on certified copies
• Annulment order (declaration of invalidity)
  • Case caption and case number
  • Names of parties and date of order
  • Legal basis for invalidity under Colorado law
  • Any associated orders addressing children, property, support, or other ancillary issues, as applicable
  • Judge’s signature and court attestation on certified copies

Privacy or legal restrictions

• Marriage records
  • Recorded marriage documents are generally treated as public records at the county level, subject to redaction or restricted release of specific sensitive identifiers under Colorado law and office policy (for example, protection of certain personal identifiers in recorded documents).
  • Certified copies are issued under the Clerk and Recorder’s procedures and applicable state rules governing identity verification and record integrity.
• Divorce and annulment court records
  • Court records are generally public, but access to specific documents can be restricted by statute, court rule, or court order.
  • Common restrictions include:
    • Suppressed/sealed case documents by court order
    • Protected personal information (such as Social Security numbers and certain financial account information) subject to redaction requirements
    • Confidential information involving children in certain contexts, including reports or evaluations ordered by the court
    • Victim protection and safety-related filings (for example, addresses in protection order contexts) that may be restricted
  • The court clerk controls access consistent with Colorado Judicial Branch policies, and certified copies of final orders (such as decrees) are issued under court certification standards.

References (official sources)

• Lincoln County Clerk and Recorder (marriage licensing/recording): https://lincolncounty.colorado.gov/
• Colorado Judicial Branch (courts, case access information): https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/
• CDPHE Vital Records (state vital records): https://cdphe.colorado.gov/vital-records

Lincoln County is a sparsely populated, rural county on Colorado’s eastern plains, anchored by Hugo (county seat) and smaller communities such as Limon and Genoa. The county’s settlement pattern is dispersed, with a large share of residents living on rural lots or small-town blocks and relying on regional hubs along the I‑70 corridor for some services and employment. (For baseline demographics and geography, see the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile for Lincoln County.)

Education Indicators

Public schools (counts and names)

Lincoln County’s public K–12 education is primarily provided through local school districts serving Hugo, Limon, and surrounding rural areas. Public school listings and campus names are most reliably maintained at the district level and in the state directory:

• The authoritative directory for current school names and statuses is the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) SchoolView directory (search “Lincoln County” and district names such as “Hugo,” “Limon,” and “Genoa‑Hugo” where applicable).
• Public school campuses in the county commonly include elementary and secondary schools associated with the Hugo and Limon communities (exact naming can change by year due to consolidations and grade reconfigurations; CDE SchoolView is the most current source).

Data note: A single, stable countywide count of “public schools” varies by reporting year (campus openings/closures and grade reconfigurations). CDE SchoolView provides the most recent official count and names.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

• Student–teacher ratios: Countywide ratios are typically reported through district and school profiles rather than as a single county aggregate. In rural eastern‑plains districts, ratios often fluctuate materially year to year due to small enrollments. The most current ratios by school are available in CDE SchoolView under individual school profiles.
• Graduation rates: Colorado reports 4‑year and extended graduation rates at the district and school level. The most recent official graduation-rate reporting is published through CDE accountability reporting and SchoolView profiles; see CDE Graduation & Completion data for the latest statewide methodology and downloadable results.

Data note: Because Lincoln County contains multiple small districts/schools, district-level graduation rates can vary notably across Hugo- and Limon-area schools; district figures are the standard proxy for “county” performance.

Adult educational attainment

Adult attainment is most consistently reported via the American Community Survey and summarized in QuickFacts:

• High school diploma or higher (age 25+): Available as a county estimate in Census QuickFacts (Lincoln County, CO).
• Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): Also available in Census QuickFacts.

Data note: QuickFacts reflects the most recent ACS 5‑year estimates. Lincoln County’s small population increases margins of error relative to urban counties; ACS remains the standard source for countywide adult education levels.

Notable programs (STEM, vocational training, AP)

• Career and Technical Education (CTE): Rural districts in eastern Colorado commonly participate in CTE pathways (e.g., agriculture, skilled trades, business, and health-related coursework) either locally or through regional partnerships. Program offerings are documented in district course catalogs and CDE CTE reporting; see Colorado CTE (CDE).
• Advanced Placement / concurrent enrollment: Small high schools often offer limited AP sections but may provide college credit through concurrent enrollment with community colleges or online providers. Current offerings are typically listed in district counseling/course guides and reflected in CDE postsecondary readiness reporting.

Data note: Specific AP course lists and pathway inventories are not consistently aggregated at the county level; district documentation is the most accurate source.

School safety measures and counseling resources

Colorado public schools generally implement:

• Safety planning and required drills aligned with state guidance (emergency operations planning, lockdown/evacuation drills) and coordination with local law enforcement.
• Student support services such as counseling and mental health supports, which in rural districts may be provided through shared staff, contracted providers, or regional service arrangements.

State-level frameworks and resources are described by the CDE Safe Schools office. School-specific staffing (counselor availability, social work, school resource officer presence) is typically documented in district staffing plans and school handbooks rather than in a single county dataset.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent available)

The standard official source for county unemployment is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), typically reported monthly and annually:

• Most recent county unemployment measures for Lincoln County are published through BLS LAUS (county series) and are also accessible through the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s labor market information portals.

Data note: A single “most recent year” value depends on the latest completed annual average. BLS LAUS provides the definitive series for Lincoln County.

Major industries and employment sectors

Lincoln County’s economy is characteristic of the eastern plains, with employment commonly concentrated in:

• Public administration and education (county, municipal, and school district employment)
• Agriculture and ranching (including support services and ag-related logistics)
• Transportation and warehousing / logistics tied to interstate and regional freight movement (notably near I‑70 nodes)
• Health care and social assistance (small local providers serving a dispersed population)
• Retail and accommodation/food services in local trade centers

Industry composition for employed residents (by NAICS sector) is available via the county “industry by occupation” and resident workforce tables in the U.S. Census Bureau data portal (ACS), which functions as the standard proxy for “major industries” in small counties.

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Occupational patterns in rural counties like Lincoln generally show higher shares in:

• Management, business, and financial operations (often small-business and public-sector administration)
• Transportation and material moving
• Office and administrative support
• Construction and maintenance
• Sales and service occupations
• Farming, fishing, and forestry (typically small in ACS totals but locally significant)

The most recent occupation distribution (SOC major groups) for Lincoln County residents is available in ACS tables through data.census.gov.

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

• Commute mode: Rural counties generally show high reliance on driving alone, limited fixed-route transit, and some long-distance commuting along highway corridors.
• Mean travel time to work: The county’s mean commute time is reported in ACS and summarized in QuickFacts under “Mean travel time to work.”

Local employment versus out-of-county work

Lincoln County’s small job base and dispersed settlement contribute to notable cross-county commuting, especially toward regional employment centers along the Front Range fringe and larger plains towns. The most direct datasets for “where residents work” include:

• ACS place-of-work and commuting characteristics (resident-based commuting patterns) via data.census.gov.
• LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) for job location vs. residence flows, accessible through Census LEHD (best available proxy for local vs. out-of-county work flows).

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership and rental share

Homeownership and tenure are reported in ACS and summarized in QuickFacts:

• Owner-occupied housing share and renter-occupied share are provided for Lincoln County in Census QuickFacts.

Median property values and recent trends

• Median value of owner-occupied housing units: Reported in ACS and summarized in QuickFacts.
• Recent trends: County-level home values in rural eastern Colorado have generally trended upward over the past decade, with year-to-year volatility influenced by small sales volumes. The ACS median value is the standard benchmark for trend comparisons, while deed/sales datasets (private vendors) can be less stable for very low transaction counts.

Data note: Small sample sizes can make annual median value movements appear abrupt; ACS 5‑year estimates smooth volatility and are the most consistent countywide series.

Typical rent prices

• Median gross rent: Reported via ACS and summarized in QuickFacts. In rural counties, “typical” rents vary widely by unit type and availability, with limited multifamily inventory outside the principal towns.

Housing types

Lincoln County’s housing stock is dominated by:

• Single-family detached homes in Hugo, Limon, and smaller settlements
• Manufactured housing (mobile/manufactured homes), more common in rural and small-town markets than in large metros
• Rural lots and farm/ranch residences, often with larger parcels and outbuildings
• Limited multifamily/apartment inventory, typically concentrated in the main towns

ACS housing structure-type tables in data.census.gov provide the most recent distribution by structure type (single-family, multi-unit, mobile home, etc.).

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools or amenities)

• In Hugo and Limon, housing nearer town centers generally has closer proximity to schools, local government services, and basic retail.
• Outside town limits, rural residences typically involve longer travel distances to schools, clinics, and grocery services, with access shaped by highway proximity and winter road conditions.

Data note: Lincoln County does not have large, densely differentiated “neighborhood” submarkets in the metro sense; town vs. rural location is the primary differentiator.

Property tax overview (average rate and typical homeowner cost)

Colorado property taxes vary by local mill levies and assessed value rules.

• Assessment framework: Residential property is assessed using Colorado’s residential assessment rate, with local taxing entities applying mills to assessed value. The statewide framework is summarized by the Colorado Department of Revenue (Property Tax).
• Local rates and typical bills: The most accurate, current mill levies and typical tax burdens are maintained by county officials and annual notices. Lincoln County mill levy information and property tax administration details are generally available via the Lincoln County government website (Treasurer/Assessor sections where published).

Data note: A single “average property tax rate” can be misleading in rural counties due to variation by school district, fire district, and special districts. Mill levies and effective rates differ substantially by location within the county.