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HUD data

Qualified Census Tracts in Colorado (2026)

HUD's Colorado QCT map — the tracts that qualify for LIHTC's 30% basis boost and concentrate Housing Choice Voucher demand, county by county.
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Total QCTs
224
Counties with a QCT
31
Data year
2026

QCTs by county in Colorado

CountyFIPSQCTsSample tract GEOIDs
Denver County080314008031001302, 08031004006, 08031008304, 08031004603, 08031004503
Adams County080013308001007801, 08001008801, 08001009316, 08001008705, 08001008309
Arapahoe County080052708005080000, 08005082400, 08005007702, 08005007400, 08005006601
El Paso County080412008041005201, 08041002300, 08041000700, 08041001600, 08041002102
Boulder County080131608013013503, 08013012610, 08013013308, 08013013505, 08013012204
Pueblo County081011408101003600, 08101000905, 08101000600, 08101002600, 08101000800
Weld County081231308123001004, 08123000502, 08123000600, 08123000501, 08123000100
Larimer County080691108069000503, 08069000504, 08069000100, 08069000802, 08069000505
Jefferson County08059708059010902, 08059011808, 08059011102, 08059011602, 08059011806
Mesa County08077508077000500, 08077001706, 08077000601, 08077001104, 08077000602
Prowers County08099308099000200, 08099000700, 08099000600
Fremont County08043308043978600, 08043979002, 08043978400
Montrose County08085308085966401, 08085966301, 08085966100
Otero County08089308089968100, 08089968000, 08089968600
Las Animas County08071208071000100, 08071000300
Baca County08009208009964700, 08009964600
Delta County08029208029965201, 08029964800
Alamosa County08003208003960201, 08003960300
Costilla County08023208023972700, 08023972600
Logan County08075208075966102, 08075966200
Conejos County08021208021974900, 08021974800
Bent County08011208011966702, 08011966701
Crowley County08025208025969602, 08025969601
Clear Creek County08019108019014900
Park County08093108093000500
Rio Grande County08105108105976800
Huerfano County08055108055960600
Montezuma County08083108083969400
Jackson County08057108057955600
Gunnison County08051108051963702
Summit County08117108117000201

What is a Qualified Census Tract (QCT)?

HUD designates a census tract as a QCT when either at least 50% of households have income below 60% AMI, OR the tract has a poverty rate of 25% or higher. QCT-designated projects qualify for a 130% qualified basis under LIHTC (the "30% basis boost"). For DSCR / Section 8 investors, QCTs also identify Coloradoneighborhoods with the highest concentration of Housing Choice Voucher tenants — the same census tracts that consistently rent at or above FMR under HAP contracts.

All states →Fair Market Rents in ColoradoSection 8 DSCR loans in Colorado

Colorado Qualified Census Tracts — FAQs

What is a Qualified Census Tract in Colorado?

A Qualified Census Tract (QCT) is a HUD-designated census tract where at least half of households earn below 60% of Area Median Income, or where the poverty rate is 25% or higher. HUD publishes the Colorado designations each year.

Why does QCT status matter to investors?

A LIHTC development located in a QCT is eligible for a 30% basis boost, which increases the credits available for the project. QCTs also tend to concentrate voucher-holding households, which is why Section 8 investors watch them.

Is a QCT the same as a Difficult Development Area?

No. A QCT is based on income and poverty concentration, while a Difficult Development Area (DDA) is based on high construction, land, and utility costs relative to area incomes. Both can qualify a LIHTC project for the same 30% basis boost.

Can you finance a rental inside a Colorado QCT?

Yes — business-purpose loans on non-owner-occupied property are underwritten on the property and the borrower's experience, not on tract designation. Property condition, rent documentation, and market liquidity still drive the terms available, subject to lender approval.

Local market news & updates

What the latest published data says about Colorado

Every update below is a published figure from a named federal source, shown with the exact period that source covers. Where a dataset is only produced at county or state level, it is labelled that way rather than presented as city data. These are market statistics for informational purposes only — they are not rates, loan terms, or an offer of credit.

  • State dataData through ACS estimates, ACS 5-Year 2023

    Colorado housing costs — ACS estimates, ACS 5-Year 2023

    The most recent published Census reading for Colorado shows a median owner-occupied home value of $502,200, a median gross rent of $1,693 per month, a two-bedroom median rent of $1,713, a three-bedroom median rent of $1,969. These are survey estimates for the period shown, not live listing prices, and they are the starting point investors use to sanity-check a rent assumption before underwriting a DSCR file.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey

  • State dataData through ACS estimates, ACS 5-Year 2023

    Colorado renter demand indicators — ACS estimates, ACS 5-Year 2023

    Census reports a population of 5,810,774, a median household income of $92,470, a rental vacancy estimate of 8.6% for Colorado. Income and vacancy set the practical ceiling on achievable rent, which is what a DSCR calculation is ultimately built on.

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey

Source periods represented above: ACS estimates, ACS 5-Year 2023. Each figure updates only when its publisher releases a new period — we never restamp an older reading with a newer date.

Informational market data only. Nothing in this section is a rate, an annual percentage rate, a payment, a loan term, an approval, or an offer or commitment to lend. Citing a federal dataset does not imply the agency endorses, sponsors or is affiliated with Simply Approved Mortgages LLC (NMLS #2620881). Financing referenced on this page is business-purpose investment property financing.

Buying in a Colorado QCT?

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How We Evaluate This Scenario

A DSCR file is judged on the property, not your tax returns: qualifying rent divided by PITIA — principal, interest, taxes, insurance, plus HOA and flood where they apply. Most programs use the lesser of the in-place lease rent and the appraiser's market rent, so a lease signed below market usually caps the ratio no matter how strong the comps look.

Three inputs move the outcome more than anything else: rent support on the appraiser's rent schedule (Form 1007 or 1025), the LTV tier, and the credit tier. Dropping leverage by five points or moving up a FICO band frequently changes pricing more than shopping a different lender does.

Before you write an offer, price taxes and insurance at post-sale levels rather than the seller's current bill. In reassess-on-transfer states and in coastal insurance markets, that single adjustment is the most common reason a deal that penciled at contract fails the ratio at underwriting.

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