Real Estate Investing in Hugo, Colorado (80821)

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

Lincoln County • Population: 1,250 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 80821 (Hugo, CO)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (53/100)

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 vacancy: 15.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Hugo, CO (80821)?

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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 $244,924
Avg Monthly Rent $936
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $79,643
% Renters 25.1%

Market Analysis: 80821 Hugo

ZIP 80821 in Hugo, CO carries a solid set of headwinds. Home values near $245K and rents of $936/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $245K asset, 80821 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Within CO, ZIP 80821 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Lincoln County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and durable enough to shape underwriting.

Employment concentration in 80821 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategically, 80821 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Hugo:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $936/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$268K$231K$194K$157K$119K$82KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 80821 Compare?

Metric 80821 Hugo Colorado
Home Value $244,924 $244,924 $535,778
5-Year CAGR 2.1% 2.1% 4.9%
Avg Rent $936 $936 -
Cap Rate 3.0% 3.0% -

Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles

Compare other nearby markets to see if a neighbor offers a better fit.

💡 Why Invest in 80821? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 80821 (Hugo, CO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.1%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $244,924
Monthly Rent $936
Price-to-Rent 21.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.6%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 5.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). 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
15.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 80821

Population: 1,250

💰 Median Household Income
$79,643
This area
$79,643
State
$79,719
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.1%
This area
25.1%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-25.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.6%
This area
27.6%
State
5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.4 years
This area
37.4 years
State
-0.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.3%
This area
15.3%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.5%
Other/Mixed 4.3%
Hispanic/Latino 1.5%
Black/African American 1.2%
👶 Under 18
29.0%
This area
29.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.6%
This area
19.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
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 80821

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
12.7:1 Avg Class Size
$16,221 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Genoa-Hugo School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
229 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,221 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What real estate strategy is ideal for Hugo, CO?

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

How tight is the rental market in Hugo, CO?

Vacancy risk in Hugo, CO is elevated. That supports measured cash flow for typical rental holds.

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

Tenant demand in Hugo, CO is solid. The local workforce $936/mo rents across most rental classes.

How viable is house hacking in Hugo, CO?

House hacking in Hugo, CO is a challenging. With home values around $245K and rents at $936/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

What do landlords charge for rent in Hugo, CO?

Expect rents around $936/mo per month in Hugo, CO. With home values at $245K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

You know 80821 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 80821 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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