Department of Numbers

Colorado Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Colorado was $1,369 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent was $1,358 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Colorado median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

Data is also available below for Colorado rental vacancy rates, Colorado rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Colorado.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Colorado (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Colorado Median Gross Rent $1,369 +4.34% +11.66%

Colorado Real Gross Rent Trends

At $1,369, real median gross rent in Colorado was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,358, real average gross rent in Colorado was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

Real Gross Rent in Colorado: Median, Average, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Colorado

Date US Median Colorado Median Colorado Average
2019 $1,097 $1,369 $1,358
2018 $1,077 $1,312 $1,309
2017 $1,043 $1,279 $1,287
2016 $1,027 $1,226 $1,233
2015 $1,017 $1,179 $1,208
2014 $986 $1,077 $1,116
2013 $953 $1,023 $1,068
2012 $940 $994 $1,039
2011 $941 $972 $1,026
2010 $955 $964 $1,011
2009 $960 $970 $1,025

more history ...

Colorado Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Colorado was 4.60% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Colorado

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Colorado 4.60% -0.67% +0.31%

Trends in Colorado Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Colorado peaked in 2005 at 9.35%. Since then it has fallen by 4.75% to 4.60%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 4.29%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.31%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Colorado, US

Rental vacancy rate in Colorado

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Colorado

Date US Colorado
2019 5.97% 4.60%
2018 6.15% 5.27%
2017 6.18% 5.18%
2016 5.89% 4.29%
2015 5.85% 4.47%
2014 6.32% 4.85%
2013 6.49% 5.26%
2012 6.77% 5.69%
2011 7.40% 5.63%
2010 8.17% 6.72%
2009 8.43% 8.00%

more history ...

Colorado Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Colorado, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Colorado, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 21.30% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Colorado Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Colorado 21.30% -0.20% -0.09%

Trends in Colorado Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Colorado household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2017 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 21.53%. Since then it has fallen by 0.23% to 21.30%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Colorado, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Colorado

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Colorado

Date US Colorado
2019 20.03% 21.30%
2018 20.50% 21.50%
2017 20.13% 21.53%
2016 20.43% 21.39%
2015 20.63% 20.86%
2014 20.89% 19.97%
2013 20.78% 19.81%
2012 20.65% 19.74%
2011 20.70% 19.50%
2010 20.50% 19.16%
2009 20.12% 18.42%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Colorado

You can calculate the renter fraction in Colorado in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Colorado as a fraction of total Colorado households. In 2019 34.15% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Colorado Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Colorado 34.15% -0.71% -1.09%

Trends in the Colorado Renter Fraction

The Colorado household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 36.25% and is now 2.10% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Colorado, US

Fraction of renters in Colorado

History of Colorado Renter Fraction

Date US Colorado
2019 35.89% 34.15%
2018 36.05% 34.86%
2017 36.13% 34.80%
2016 36.88% 35.24%
2015 36.97% 36.25%
2014 36.90% 36.14%
2013 36.50% 35.49%
2012 36.09% 35.97%
2011 35.42% 35.62%
2010 34.65% 34.06%
2009 34.13% 32.99%

more history ...

1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability.

2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series.

3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied.