Real Estate Investing in Lafayette, Colorado (80026)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 80026 (Lafayette, CO)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.
Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.
- High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.2 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.
What’s happening in Lafayette, CO (80026)?
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Market Analysis: 80026 Lafayette
This part of Boulder County is not an easy win. The 80026 ZIP clocks in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.
If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $671K asset, 80026 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.
The gap between 80026 and stronger Lafayette ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.
Meanwhile, 32,549 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.
Distressed ZIPs reward experience. substantial returns are possible in 80026, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Lafayette:
Property Strategy for 80026
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR | $284,403 | $1,880 | 4.8% | +3.2% | $284,403 |
| 2BR | $466,030 | $2,220 | 3.4% | +3.6% | $233,015 |
| 3BR | $616,688 | $2,950 | 3.4% | +4.2% | $205,563 |
| 4BR | $840,923 | $3,390 | 2.9% | +5.9% | $210,231 |
| 5BR | $1,118,452 | — | — | +6.2% | $223,690 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 80026 Compare?
| Metric | 80026 | Lafayette | Boulder, CO | Colorado |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $671,260 | $671,260 | N/A | $535,778 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 1.8% | 1.8% | N/A | 4.9% |
| Avg Rent | $2,220 | $2,220 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 2.6% | 2.6% | - | - |
Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles
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Landlord Ground Truth
Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 80026 (Lafayette, CO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
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Property managers serving Boulder County
Manage rentals here? List your business →All County Boulder provides full-service residential property management in Boulder, Erie, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville, and Lyons, CO, focusing on maximizing rental property investment returns. summary from their website
Boom Properties offers commercial property management and owners association management services in the Boulder Area. summary from their website
Dean Callan & Company provides property management services. summary from their website
Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.
📊 Market Snapshot
| Home Value | $671,260 |
| Monthly Rent | $2,220 |
| Price-to-Rent | 25.2:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 4.0% |
| Cap Rate | 2.6% |
| 5-Year IRR | 4.4% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +0.5% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | -0.5% ▼ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +1.8% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +4.6% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | +3.1% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +2.7% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +4.1% ▲ |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.
Run an IRR Analysis →⚠️ Risk Signals
Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.
Demographics in 80026
Population: 32,549
Crime & Safety
Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon
We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.
Expected: Q1 2025
🎓 Schools in 80026
Schools in This ZIP Code
About Repit School Scores
Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.
We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:
- Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
- School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
- Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
- School Environment — Size, type, and structure
Scores are updated annually using federal education data.
🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities
Investor Insight: With 10,611 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do rentals sit vacant long in Lafayette, CO?
Vacancy risk in Lafayette, CO is elevated. That supports predictable cash flow for typical rental holds.
How does Lafayette, CO stack up for property investment?
Investors tracking Lafayette, CO will find a 2.0/5 rating supported by $671K median home values and $2,220/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting reliable returns.
What kind of tenants rent in Lafayette, CO?
Working renters make up the core of the Lafayette, CO tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.
How do landlord-tenant laws work in Lafayette, CO?
Lafayette, CO falls under CO landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.
What real estate strategy is ideal for Lafayette, CO?
In Lafayette, CO the healthy play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $671K prices and $2,220/mo rents suits that approach.
You know 80026 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 80026 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.
How 80026 ranks in Boulder, CO
Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.
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