Real Estate Investing in Thornton, Colorado (80233)

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

Adams County • Population: 47,692 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 80233 (Thornton, CO)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (58/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Thornton, CO (80233)?

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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 $466,161
Avg Monthly Rent $1,689
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $83,250
% Renters 38.7%

Market Analysis: 80233 Thornton

The 80233 ZIP covers a section of Thornton that demands careful diligence. Prices near $466K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 80233 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

ZIP 80233's metrics run below Adams County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

On balance, 47,692 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.

appears to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Thornton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.6× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (0.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,689/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
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 80233

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
4.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+4.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$102,223/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $395,810 $2,210 4.0% +4.5% $197,905
3BR $456,760 $2,890 4.6% +4.5% $152,253
4BR $492,283 $3,230 4.7% +4.6% $123,071
5BR $511,117 +4.4% $102,223

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$521K$444K$366K$289K$211K$134KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,057$1,896$1,735$1,574$1,413$1,252Oct 2016Sep 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 80233 Compare?

Metric 80233 Thornton Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Colorado
Home Value $466,161 $511,309 N/A $535,778
5-Year CAGR 1.8% 1.7% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,689 $2,068 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 3.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 80233? Click to expand

A healthy rental market with 39% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 80233 (Thornton, CO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+1.8%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $466,161
Monthly Rent $1,689
Price-to-Rent 23.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.4%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 4.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year 0.0% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.1% ▼
5-Year CAGR +1.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -10.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR -3.3% ▼
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
2.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.8%
Flat
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 80233

Population: 47,692

💰 Median Household Income
$83,250
This area
$83,250
State
$79,719
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
38.7%
This area
38.7%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
State
-25.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.2%
This area
24.2%
State
5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.4 years
This area
34.4 years
State
-0.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 70.3%
Other/Mixed 23.4%
Hispanic/Latino 17.9%
Asian 3.4%
Black/African American 3.0%
👶 Under 18
23.2%
This area
23.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.2%
This area
12.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.1%
This area
7.1%
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 80233

B+ Avg School Grade
10 Schools
15.9:1 Avg Class Size
$14,916 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Leroy Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
402 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,916 Per Student
A Very Good

Northglenn Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
640 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,916 Per Student
A Very Good

Stukey Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
319 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,916 Per Student
B+ Above Average

The Studio School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
240 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,916 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cherry Drive Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
354 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,916 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hulstrom K-8

📚 K – 08 School
👥
657 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,916 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Malley Drive Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
431 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,916 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Riverdale Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
394 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,916 Per Student
B+ Above Average

STEM Lab

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
738 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,916 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Woodglen Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
393 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,916 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 10,611 Off-Campus Students
C
Empire Beauty School-Thornton
104 students · 1.1 mi
C+
Front Range Community College
21,096 students · 4.8 mi
D
Pima Medical Institute-Denver
764 students · 5.5 mi
C+
Elevate Salon Institute-Westminster
115 students · 7.3 mi
C
Regis University
4,631 students · 8.9 mi
D
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
321 students · 9.2 mi
C+
Montessori Education Center of the Rockies
31 students · 9.4 mi
C
Lincoln College of Technology-Denver
1,104 students · 9.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 10,611 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Thornton, CO?

Thornton, CO median home values land near $466K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,689/mo-per-month rentals.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Thornton, CO?

For Thornton, CO, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Thornton, CO?

Rental vacancy in Thornton, CO is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Does Thornton, CO favor landlords or tenants?

Thornton, CO operates under CO law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect stable treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

Is the tenant base reliable in Thornton, CO?

Tenant demand in Thornton, CO is solid. The local workforce $1,689/mo rents across most rental classes.

You know 80233 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 80233 ranks in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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