Real Estate Investing in Golden, Colorado (80403)

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

Jefferson County • Population: 20,789 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 80403 (Golden, CO)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.1 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Golden, CO (80403)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $871,059
Avg Monthly Rent $2,784
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $142,440
% Renters 12.9%

Market Analysis: 80403 Golden

ZIP 80403 in Golden, CO carries a durable set of headwinds. Home values near $871K and rents of $2,784/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 80403 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

From a cash-flow lens, 80403 offers a low basis, the region around Golden has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The demographic picture in 80403 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Golden averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 80403 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Golden:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.1× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,784/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 80403

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$245,485/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $387,466 $1,870 3.5% +6.3% $387,466
2BR $574,741 $2,230 2.8% +5.4% $287,370
3BR $803,325 $2,920 2.6% +6.4% $267,775
4BR $1,027,231 $3,250 2.3% +7.5% $256,808
5BR $1,227,423 +8.4% $245,485

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$929K$800K$671K$542K$414K$285KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,021$2,845$2,669$2,493$2,317$2,141Jan 2021Oct 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 80403 Compare?

Metric 80403 Golden Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Colorado
Home Value $871,059 $569,160 N/A $535,778
5-Year CAGR 3.4% 3.4% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $2,784 $2,466 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.5% 2.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 80403? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 80403 (Golden, 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
Good
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.4%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $871,059
Monthly Rent $2,784
Price-to-Rent 26.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.8%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 5.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -1.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). 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
5.3%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 80403

Population: 20,789

💰 Median Household Income
$142,440
This area
$142,440
State
$79,719
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
12.9%
This area
12.9%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-25.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
61.9%
This area
61.9%
State
5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.9 years
This area
43.9 years
State
-0.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.4%
Other/Mixed 4.5%
Hispanic/Latino 2.2%
Asian 1.4%
Black/African American 0.7%
👶 Under 18
20.7%
This area
20.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.4%
This area
17.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.4%
This area
1.4%
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 80403

B+ Avg School Grade
6 Schools
16.1:1 Avg Class Size
$16,346 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Gilpin County Undivided High School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
204 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,581 Per Student
B+ Above Average
👥
79 Students
👨‍🏫
9.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,228 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Gilpin County Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
186 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,581 Per Student
B Good

Fairmount Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
626 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,228 Per Student
B Good

Mitchell Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
499 Students
👨‍🏫
19.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,228 Per Student
C+ Average

Compass Montessori - Golden Charter School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
422 Students
👨‍🏫
22.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,228 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 3,324 Off-Campus Students
B
Colorado School of Mines
7,599 students · 7.6 mi
D
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder
8,571 students · 11.1 mi
C+
Red Rocks Community College
7,382 students · 11.9 mi
D
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
321 students · 12.1 mi
B
University of Colorado Boulder
41,432 students · 12.5 mi
C
Naropa University
1,117 students · 12.9 mi
C+
Colorado School of Trades
108 students · 13.1 mi
C+
Elevate Salon Institute-Westminster
115 students · 13.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,324 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How expensive is real estate in Golden, CO?

Expect median prices around $871K in Golden, CO. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been consistent.

Is Golden, CO a friendly market for rental owners?

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

What are rental rates like in Golden, CO?

Expect rents around $2,784/mo per month in Golden, CO. With home values at $871K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What is the best play in Golden, CO?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Golden, CO. With home values at $871K and rents near $2,784/mo, other strategies can work but produce reliable rather than outsized returns.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Golden, CO?

Golden, CO draws a even-keeled base of working renters. Demand at the $2,784/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

You know 80403 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 80403 ranks in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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