Real Estate Investing in Lakewood, Colorado (80235)

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

Jefferson County • Population: 8,374 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 80235 (Lakewood, CO)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (46/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Lakewood, CO (80235)?

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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 $435,899
Avg Monthly Rent $1,968
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $70,330
% Renters 47.9%

Market Analysis: 80235 Lakewood

Investors eyeing 80235 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $436K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 80235 records the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Regionally, 80235 sits on the difficult end of the CO spectrum. The a solid fit for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

A significant renter share of 48% in 80235 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Strategy in 80235 is an operator game, not a passive one. Looking more closely, entry prices of $436K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Lakewood:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 53/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.2× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,968/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 80235

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
6.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+6.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$135,921/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $181,228 $1,660 6.6% +3.9% $181,228
2BR $271,843 $1,980 5.2% +3.9% $135,921
3BR $553,692 $2,590 3.4% +4.6% $184,564
4BR $697,901 $2,890 3.0% +5.7% $174,475
5BR $988,588 +6.8% $197,718

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$487K$416K$345K$274K$203K$133KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,329$2,181$2,033$1,885$1,737$1,589Nov 2023Mar 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 80235 Compare?

Metric 80235 Lakewood Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Colorado
Home Value $435,899 $557,095 N/A $535,778
5-Year CAGR 1.9% 1.8% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,968 $1,785 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.5% 2.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 80235? Click to expand

A healthy rental market with 48% 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 80235 (Lakewood, CO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Jefferson County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Aim High Property Management handles the full rental cycle for residential properties, including finding qualified tenants, protecting home condition, collecting rent, and reporting to owners. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Association & Community Management provides professional management solutions for Homeowners Associations for over 60 years, focusing on personal service and integrity. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Colorado Luxe Living offers real estate and property management services for the Front Range. summary from their website

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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
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+1.9%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $435,899
Monthly Rent $1,968
Price-to-Rent 18.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.4%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 5.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.3% ▼
5-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -8.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.5%). 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
5.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.9%
Flat
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 80235

Population: 8,374

💰 Median Household Income
$70,330
This area
$70,330
State
$79,719
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
47.9%
This area
47.9%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
-25.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
41.7%
This area
41.7%
State
5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.5 years
This area
35.5 years
State
-0.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.7%
This area
5.7%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 77.5%
Other/Mixed 15.1%
Hispanic/Latino 10.9%
Black/African American 5.0%
Asian 2.3%
👶 Under 18
15.9%
This area
15.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.2%
This area
18.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.9%
This area
4.9%
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 80235

C+ Avg School Grade
6 Schools
15.0:1 Avg Class Size
$16,228 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Addenbrooke Classical Grammar School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
760 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,228 Per Student
B Good

Addenbrooke Classical Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
189 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,228 Per Student
B Good

Mountview Youth Service Center

📚 05 – 12 High School
👥
16 Students
👨‍🏫
4.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,228 Per Student
B Good

D'Evelyn Junior/Senior High School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
1,197 Students
👨‍🏫
21.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,228 Per Student
C Below Average

Betty K Marler Youth Services Center

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

Mount View Youth Services Center

📚 05 – 12 High School Limited Data

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Bear Valley International School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 3005 SOUTH GOLDEN WAY, DENVER
👥
374 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,296 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Centennial Academy of Fine Arts Education

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 3306 WEST BERRY AVENUE, LITTLETON
👥
337 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$21,061 Per Student
A+ Excellent

DSST: College View High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
📍 3111 WEST DARTMOUTH AVENUE, DENVER
👥
543 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,296 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Kaiser Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 4500 SOUTH QUITMAN STREET, DENVER
👥
224 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,296 Per Student
A+ Excellent

John F Kennedy High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 2855 SOUTH LAMAR STREET, DENVER
👥
707 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 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 8,026 Off-Campus Students
C
Empire Beauty School-Littleton
44 students · 2.7 mi
C
Colorado School of Healing Arts
60 students · 3.5 mi
C+
United Beauty College
12 students · 4.4 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Denver
231 students · 4.4 mi
C
Arapahoe Community College
13,978 students · 4.6 mi
C
Colorado Christian University
8,254 students · 4.7 mi
D
Denver Seminary
837 students · 4.7 mi
C+
Red Rocks Community College
7,382 students · 6.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 8,026 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are homes affordable in Lakewood, CO?

Expect median prices around $436K in Lakewood, CO. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been even-keeled.

Which investment style suits Lakewood, CO?

In Lakewood, CO the impressive play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $436K prices and $1,968/mo rents suits that approach.

Are renters plentiful in Lakewood, CO?

The tenant pool in Lakewood, CO is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,968/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Is house hacking profitable in Lakewood, CO?

For house hackers, Lakewood, CO is a challenging. The $1,968/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $436K property.

Is Lakewood, CO a friendly market for rental owners?

Rental owners in Lakewood, CO deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

You know 80235 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 80235 ranks in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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