Real Estate Investing in Denver, Colorado (80231)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Arapahoe County • Population: 35,297 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 80231 (Denver, CO)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (42/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.3% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (0.3% CAGR).

What’s happening in Denver, CO (80231)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $406,681
Avg Monthly Rent $1,457
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $75,282
% Renters 58.9%

Market Analysis: 80231 Denver

Investors eyeing 80231 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $407K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The 80231 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Nearby ZIPs in Denver have seen price recovery that 80231 has not matched. Arapahoe County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Resident income in 80231 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

New investors are better served looking at Denver's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 80231. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Denver:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
10/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.4× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-1.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,457/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
53 days
Average time to sell
Average
12.8%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 80231

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
7.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+3.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$151,433/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $176,453 $1,820 7.4% +2.8% $176,453
2BR $322,415 $2,170 4.8% +3.3% $161,207
3BR $530,633 $2,840 3.9% +3.6% $176,878
4BR $648,527 $3,170 3.5% +3.8% $162,132
5BR $757,163 +3.9% $151,433

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$490K$423K$356K$289K$222K$155KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,699$1,604$1,510$1,415$1,321$1,226Dec 2018Oct 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 80231 Compare?

Metric 80231 Denver Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Colorado
Home Value $406,681 $476,211 N/A $535,778
5-Year CAGR 0.3% 0.5% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,457 $1,946 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 80231? Click to expand

59% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 80231 (Denver, CO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Arapahoe County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Accord Property Management provides HOA Management Services in Aurora, CO. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free
Advance Hoa Management, Inc.
Greenwood Village, CO

Advance HOA provides professional HOA management and Metro District services in Colorado and Arizona. summary from their website

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Dunmire Property Management offers professional management services for properties in Colorado Springs, including Creek View Apartments, The Hilltop At Valley Hi Apartments, and Gabion Apartments. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+0.3%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $406,681
Monthly Rent $1,457
Price-to-Rent 23.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.3%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 3.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -1.6% ▼
3-Year CAGR -2.9% ▼
5-Year CAGR +0.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -4.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR -3.6% ▼
5-Year CAGR -0.2% ▼
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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.

Vacancy
11.3%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+0.3%
Flat
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 80231

Population: 35,297

💰 Median Household Income
$75,282
This area
$75,282
State
$79,719
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
58.9%
This area
58.9%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
-25.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
52.1%
This area
52.1%
State
5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.8 years
This area
34.8 years
State
-0.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.3%
This area
11.3%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 66.0%
Other/Mixed 15.8%
Black/African American 14.0%
Hispanic/Latino 11.2%
Asian 4.2%
👶 Under 18
20.6%
This area
20.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.9%
This area
12.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.3%
This area
7.3%
USA
11.5%

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 80231

A Avg School Grade
5 Schools
15.6:1 Avg Class Size
$18,879 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Rocky Mountain Prep Creekside

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
599 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,296 Per Student
A Very Good

Challenge School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
563 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,211 Per Student
A Very Good

Hamilton Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
700 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,296 Per Student
A Very Good

Holm Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
484 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,296 Per Student
A Very Good

Joe Shoemaker School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
439 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,296 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Eastridge Community Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 11777 EAST WESLEY AVENUE, AURORA
👥
651 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,211 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Ellis Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1651 SOUTH DAHLIA STREET, DENVER
👥
380 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,296 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Holly Hills Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 6161 EAST CORNELL AVENUE, DENVER
👥
509 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,211 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Polton Community Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2985 SOUTH OAKLAND STREET, AURORA
👥
451 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,211 Per Student
A Very Good

Highline Academy Southeast

📚 K – 08 School Charter
📍 2170 SOUTH DAHLIA STREET, DENVER
👥
535 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,296 Per Student
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

8 Nearby
C
Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology
161 students · 1.2 mi
C
Avalon Institute-Aurora
217 students · 2.1 mi
C
Colorado Media School
45 students · 2.4 mi
F
Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora
212 students · 2.8 mi
D
Taft University System
496 students · 3.2 mi
D
Pima Medical Institute-Aurora
290 students · 3.4 mi
D
Concorde Career College-Aurora
196 students · 3.5 mi
D
Iliff School of Theology
172 students · 3.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is rent in Denver, CO?

Rents in Denver, CO run near $1,457/mo. Compared with median home prices of $407K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Which real estate strategy fits Denver, CO?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Denver, CO. The numbers - $407K homes against $1,457/mo rents - support that play.

Is Denver in CO worth investing in?

Our data puts Denver, CO at 2.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $407K and rents around $1,457/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Is rental property easy to operate in Denver, CO?

The landlord environment in Denver, CO is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Denver, CO?

Occupancy in Denver, CO runs consistent with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,457/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

You know 80231 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 80231 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.

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How 80231 ranks in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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