Real Estate Investing in Brighton, Colorado (80601)

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

Adams County • Population: 41,301 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 80601 (Brighton, 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 Brighton, CO (80601)?

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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 $493,557
Avg Monthly Rent $1,994
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $86,320
% Renters 30.8%

Market Analysis: 80601 Brighton

The 80601 ZIP covers a section of Brighton that demands careful diligence. Prices near $494K 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 80601 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Put differently, 80601 offers a low basis, the region around Brighton has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The 80601 ZIP's population of 41,301 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that comes in at the need for careful underwriting.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. robust returns are possible in 80601, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Brighton:

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 5.7× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,994/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 80601

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+5.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$116,870/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $355,726 $1,980 4.0% +3.9% $177,863
3BR $475,704 $2,590 3.9% +4.7% $158,568
4BR $537,725 $2,890 3.9% +4.8% $134,431
5BR $584,348 +5.0% $116,870

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$562K$479K$397K$315K$232K$150KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,199$2,038$1,876$1,715$1,554$1,392Mar 2017Nov 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 80601 Compare?

Metric 80601 Brighton Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Colorado
Home Value $493,557 $493,557 N/A $535,778
5-Year CAGR 1.6% 1.6% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,994 $1,994 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.2% - -
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 80601 (Brighton, CO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+1.6%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $493,557
Monthly Rent $1,994
Price-to-Rent 20.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.9%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 4.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR +1.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -3.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.1% ▼
5-Year CAGR +1.3% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). 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)
+1.6%
Flat
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 80601

Population: 41,301

💰 Median Household Income
$86,320
This area
$86,320
State
$79,719
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.8%
This area
30.8%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
State
-25.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.2%
This area
22.2%
State
5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.6 years
This area
34.6 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 68.8%
Other/Mixed 26.5%
Hispanic/Latino 20.7%
Black/African American 3.1%
Asian 1.7%
👶 Under 18
27.5%
This area
27.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
10.4%
This area
10.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.8%
This area
5.8%
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 80601

B Avg School Grade
16 Schools
17.3:1 Avg Class Size
$13,491 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

South Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
344 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,426 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Vikan Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
565 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,426 Per Student
B Good

Elaine S. Padilla Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
592 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,426 Per Student
B Good

Northeast Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
469 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,426 Per Student
B Good

Overland Trail Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
559 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,426 Per Student
B Good

Southeast Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
512 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,426 Per Student
B Good

Bright Beginnings

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
103 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,426 Per Student
B Good

27J Online Academy

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
271 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,426 Per Student
B Good

Eagle Ridge Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
571 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,426 Per Student
B Good

Foundations Academy

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
767 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,426 Per Student
B Good

Ascent Classical Academy of 27J

📚 K – 07 School Charter
👥
222 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,972 Per Student
B Good

Mary E Pennock Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
619 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,426 Per Student
C+ Average

Horizon High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,981 Students
👨‍🏫
19.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,916 Per Student
C+ Average

Brighton High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,773 Students
👨‍🏫
19.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,426 Per Student
C+ Average

Innovations & Options

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
235 Students
👨‍🏫
21.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,426 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Bromley East Charter School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
1,215 Students
👨‍🏫
26.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,426 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

4 Nearby 10,611 Off-Campus Students
C
Empire Beauty School-Thornton
104 students · 7.9 mi
C+
Front Range Community College
21,096 students · 12.9 mi
C
Lincoln College of Technology-Denver
1,104 students · 13.1 mi
D
Pima Medical Institute-Denver
764 students · 13.7 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Are tenants stable in Brighton, CO?

Working renters make up the core of the Brighton, CO tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

How strong is Brighton, CO for real estate investors?

Brighton, CO scores 2.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $494K and rents near $1,994/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What is the median home value in Brighton, CO?

Typical homes in Brighton, CO go for around $494K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% consistent price movement.

How strict are landlord regulations in Brighton, CO?

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

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Brighton, CO?

Expect elevated vacancy in Brighton, CO. Rents at $1,994/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

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How 80601 ranks in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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