Wages across Mesa, Montrose, and Garfield counties are not keeping up with rising housing, childcare, healthcare, and utility costs. Here is why paychecks fall short on the Western Slope and how local communities are responding.
Across Mesa, Montrose, and Garfield counties, many families are working full time but still struggling to cover the basics. Even as employment grows in Grand Junction and Montrose, the price of housing, childcare, healthcare, transportation, and utilities continues to rise faster than wages. Economists refer to this as a problem of broken incomes, and it has become one of the defining challenges for the Western Slope.
For younger families, the years when people earn the least often coincide with the years when their expenses are the highest. In Mesa County, the Grand Junction Economic Partnership reported that the median home price has reached 423,000 dollars and that average rent has risen above 1,600 dollars per month, making it difficult for early career workers to buy homes or build savings.
Childcare adds even more pressure. According to Chalkbeat Colorado, Mesa County’s Child Care 8,000 initiative expanded capacity by about 20 percent, yet infant and toddler care remain scarce and costly.
Hospitals such as St. Mary’s Medical Center and Community Hospital opened on site childcare centers that together added 184 seats, but demand still far exceeds availability.
Wages across the Western Slope lag behind the costs of housing, childcare, and transportation. The region depends heavily on tourism, hospitality, and retail, sectors that often pay far less than what is needed to cover local rents or home prices.
In Garfield County, the Post Independent reported that nearly 44% of Glenwood Springs renters are cost burdened, meaning they spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing. Many work service jobs while competing with home prices influenced by second home ownership and tourism demand.
Transportation costs also stretch paychecks thin. Workers in Rifle, Silt, and Delta often commute long distances to Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Montrose, or Grand Junction. Limited transit access means car ownership is essential, and fuel costs, insurance, and maintenance quickly add up.
Grocery prices are also higher in several rural towns. In parts of Montrose County and western Garfield County, families often rely on a single supermarket, which limits price competition and increases food costs compared to prices on the Front Range.
Economic disruptions tend to hit rural areas sooner and with fewer alternatives. When childcare centers close or housing prices spike, many families have no backup options.
In Montrose, city officials told KKCO News that some employees had to quit their jobs or relocate closer to family because they could not find childcare. This prompted the city to invest $850,000 to convert a public building into a licensed childcare center that is scheduled to open in 2026.
Healthcare disruptions add more uncertainty. In October, Montrose Regional Health announced that it will no longer accept Humana Medicare Advantage plans beginning in 2026. This leaves many seniors with limited in network options and forces residents to either switch plans or travel farther for covered care.
Utility costs remain unstable as well. The Colorado Sun reported that the natural gas price spike from Winter Storm Uri was spread over 30 months of customer billing, meaning many Western Slope households are still paying off that event.
These pressures affect more than household budgets. They also shape the overall stability of the region.
Employers in Grand Junction and Montrose say they struggle to hire workers who cannot find housing or childcare. The Grand Junction Economic Partnership has noted that childcare availability is now a key factor for companies considering relocation or expansion in Mesa County.
Younger families continue leaving Mesa and Garfield counties because they do not see a long term path to affordability. Seniors delay retirement because healthcare and utility costs keep rising. Local governments also experience staffing shortages in public safety, public works, and education.
Communities across the Western Slope are responding, even though wage growth alone cannot solve the problem.
Glenwood Springs operates a Workforce Housing Fund that supports employer assisted rental programs and incentive based housing development.
Mesa County employers are investing in on site childcare to stabilize the workforce.
Montrose continues pairing childcare investments with zoning reforms that support housing growth and early learning expansion.
Garfield County’s broadband infrastructure has expanded remote work access, allowing some residents to pursue higher wage employment outside the region while staying rooted in their communities.
Regional nonprofits continue offering rental assistance, food distribution, utility support, and medical navigation services, helping families stay afloat during difficult periods.
Broken incomes are not the result of personal spending choices. They stem from structural issues that have weakened household budgets across the Western Slope. Yet through childcare expansion, zoning reform, broadband investment, and employer partnerships, communities in Mesa, Montrose, and Garfield counties are working to rebuild an economic foundation that supports local residents.
This article is part of an ongoing series examining the affordability crisis and community driven solutions across the Western Slope.
