Real Estate Investing in Denver, Colorado (80203)

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

Denver County • Population: 22,355 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 80203 (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
  • Declining values: -1.8% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 4.9% in the last year.

What’s happening in Denver, CO (80203)?

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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 $346,664
Avg Monthly Rent $1,553
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $71,584
% Renters 79.2%

Market Analysis: 80203 Denver

This part of Denver County is not an easy win. The 80203 ZIP stands at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Rent of $1,553/mo on a $347K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 80203 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Nearby ZIPs in Denver have seen price recovery that 80203 has not matched. Denver County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Resident income in 80203 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The right play in 80203 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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: 53/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.8× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-4.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,553/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 80203

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
5.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+2.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$215,486/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $271,440 $2,070 5.5% +1.6% $271,440
2BR $430,972 $2,460 4.1% +1.6% $215,486
3BR $705,278 $3,220 3.3% +2.4% $235,093
4BR $872,298 $3,590 3.0% +2.8% $218,074

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$442K$385K$328K$272K$215K$158KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,657$1,569$1,481$1,394$1,306$1,218Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 80203 Compare?

Metric 80203 Denver Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Colorado
Home Value $346,664 $476,211 N/A $535,778
5-Year CAGR N/A 0.5% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,553 $1,946 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.5% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 80203? Click to expand

79% 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 80203 (Denver, CO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Denver County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Avail Property Management is a property management company focused on providing a better way of living for residents and maximizing investment for owners. summary from their website

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This domain is for sale for $5,795 or monthly payments. summary from their website

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Beacon Property Management LLC offers property management services in Denver. 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
-1.8%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $346,664
Monthly Rent $1,553
Price-to-Rent 18.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.4%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 1.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -4.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR -4.4% ▼
5-Year CAGR -1.8% ▼
10-Year CAGR +1.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -0.5% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.3% ▼
5-Year CAGR +0.9% ▲
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
6.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-1.8%
Flat
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 80203

Population: 22,355

💰 Median Household Income
$71,584
This area
$71,584
State
$79,719
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
79.2%
This area
79.2%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
-25.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
67.5%
This area
67.5%
State
5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.0 years
This area
33.0 years
State
-0.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.2%
This area
6.2%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 80.6%
Other/Mixed 12.8%
Hispanic/Latino 8.5%
Black/African American 4.5%
Asian 2.0%
👶 Under 18
2.7%
This area
2.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
10.3%
This area
10.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
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 80203

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
14.2:1 Avg Class Size
$19,296 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Downtown Denver Expeditionary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
243 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,296 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Contemporary Learning Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
132 Students
👨‍🏫
8.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,296 Per Student
B Good

Denver Justice High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
107 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,296 Per Student
B Good

Emily Griffith High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
371 Students
👨‍🏫
21.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,296 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Cheltenham Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1580 JULIAN STREET, DENVER
👥
386 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,296 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Denver Center for International Studies at Fairmon

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 520 WEST 3RD AVENUE, DENVER
👥
355 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,296 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Center for Talent Development at Greenlee

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1150 LIPAN STREET, DENVER
👥
261 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,296 Per Student
A+ Excellent

DSST: Cole High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
📍 3240 HUMBOLDT STREET, DENVER
👥
308 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,296 Per Student
A+ Excellent

McAuliffe Manual Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 1700 E. 28TH AVE., DENVER
👥
235 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 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 14,855 Off-Campus Students
D
University of Colorado System Office
0 students · 1.0 mi
C
Aveda Institute-Denver
316 students · 1.0 mi
B
Emily Griffith Technical College
5,914 students · 1.0 mi
D
Colorado State University-System Office
0 students · 1.0 mi
C
Community College of Denver
7,715 students · 1.2 mi
D
Colorado Chinese Medicine University
84 students · 1.3 mi
C
Metropolitan State University of Denver
17,593 students · 1.5 mi
C
Denver College of Nursing
1,008 students · 1.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 14,855 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Denver, CO?

Denver, CO median home values land near $347K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,553/mo-per-month rentals.

What is the typical rental rate in Denver, CO?

The typical rental in Denver, CO commands about $1,553/mo monthly. That rent profile predictable cash flow against the $347K purchase basis.

Is Denver, CO good for landlords?

Denver, CO falls under CO landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Does house hacking work in Denver, CO?

House hacking works a challenging in Denver, CO. Rents of $1,553/mo against $347K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

What is the smart move for investors in Denver, CO?

In Denver, CO the solid play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $347K prices and $1,553/mo rents suits that approach.

You know 80203 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 80203 ranks in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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