Pueblo County, Colorado Eviction Risk: Elevated

Pueblo County carries an average eviction risk score of 5.5/10 (Elevated), placing it 13th of 64 counties in Colorado eviction laws, meaning 12 counties post higher risk and 51 are more landlord-friendly. For an investor underwriting rental properties here, that ranking puts Pueblo County firmly in the higher-risk third of the state, a position shaped by a 16.1% poverty rate, average rents of $1,147, and a rent burden rate of 31.2% among renters. These structural pressures translate to a tenant population that is financially stretched relative to most Colorado eviction laws markets.

The county-wide score spans a narrower band than many multi-city counties, running from 5.3 to 5.7 across its 8 cities. That compressed range does not mean conditions are uniform. Specific communities carry meaningfully different profiles, and the choice of submarket matters considerably for buy-and-hold returns and operational intensity. A renter share of 32.1% of households county-wide keeps absolute exposure to tenant risk moderate, but the elevated poverty rate means collections risk is real and vacancy tolerance is low.

The cities inside Pueblo County

The highest scores in the county belong to Salt Creek and Blende, each at 5.7/10, followed by Vineland at 5.6/10. These are small unincorporated communities; their elevated scores reflect concentrated socioeconomic stress relative to their size. The city of Pueblo, with a population of 111,561, scores 5.5/10, matching the county average and representing the dominant rental market by volume. Pueblo West, home to 35,681 residents, comes in at 5.4/10, a modest step down in risk that reflects its more suburban character and somewhat lower poverty exposure.

At the lower end of the intra-county spectrum, Colorado City and Avondale each score 5.3/10, the most landlord-favorable readings in the county. Risk differences of 0.4 points across a single county may appear small in isolation, but they can separate a portfolio with manageable collections from one with chronic turnover costs. Investors who treat Pueblo County as a monolith are leaving that distinction on the table.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord operating in Pueblo County works within the Colorado eviction process governed by C.R.S. § 38-12. For nonpayment of rent or a material lease violation, Colorado requires a 10-day notice before filing. A substantial violation triggers a shorter 3-day notice. No-fault terminations, such as owner move-ins or renovations, require a 90-day notice under HB24-1098. Just cause is required to end a tenancy, and source of income is a protected class under state law, both of which add compliance weight that landlords entering this market from other states often underestimate.

On the cost side, the Colorado eviction costs for a single case run from $105 to $200 in court filing fees, $50 to $200 for sheriff lockout, and attorney fees ranging from $750 to $3,500, for total out-of-pocket exposure that varies widely depending on whether the tenant contests the proceeding. Uncontested cases resolve in 21 to 45 days; contested proceedings extend to 60 to 120 days. Landlords should also be aware of Colorado tenant protections including the state's retaliation statute at C.R.S. § 38-12-509 and habitability requirements at C.R.S. § 38-12-503. Landlords must give 48 hours notice before entry.

With 16.1% of county residents living below the poverty line and renters making up 32.1% of households, Pueblo County's Elevated risk rating reflects genuine financial strain rather than a statistical artifact. The city-level grid above breaks down scores for all 8 communities so you can target the submarkets that fit your risk tolerance.