Bent County
CO · Pop. 5,524 · Rural County
Bent County is a rural county in Colorado, spanning 1,513 square miles with 5,524 residents at a density of 3.7 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, wheat, corn. A median home price of $138,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.39% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 165-day growing season, average summer highs of 91.9°F and average winter lows of 16.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 13.7 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center is 25.9 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 42.4% of homes. On the hazard side, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.39% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $138,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- At 3.7 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- Annual rainfall of just 13.7 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
- Broadband reaches only 42.4% of homes, a real gap for remote work or online sales.
- The nearest hospital, Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center, is 25.9 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
At a glance
Bent County, CO is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 36/100
- Median home price
- $138k
- Property tax
- 0.39%
- Growing season
- 165 days (zone 6a)
- Annual rainfall
- 13.7"
- Broadband
- 42.4%
- Nearest hospital
- Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center, 25.9 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Bent County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Bent County?
- Bent County is in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 165-day growing season, average summer highs of 91.9°F, and average winter lows of 16.7°F. The established crops are hay, wheat, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $138,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.39%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 42.4% of homes, so verify service at a specific parcel before purchasing.
- How close is healthcare?
- Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center is 25.9 miles away, without an in-county emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Colorado Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Colorado
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The closest counties to Bent County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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