Real Estate Investing in Florence, Colorado (81226)

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

Fremont County • Population: 7,933 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 81226 (Florence, CO)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Florence, CO (81226)?

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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 $299,108
Avg Monthly Rent $1,223
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $58,487
% Renters 27.6%

Market Analysis: 81226 Florence

ZIP 81226 in Florence, CO carries a robust set of headwinds. Home values near $299K and rents of $1,223/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

From an investor standpoint, the numbers look inviting — $299K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 81226 is substantial and deserves full respect.

From a cash-flow lens, 81226 offers a low basis, the region around Florence has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Resident income in 81226 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategically, 81226 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 Florence:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.1× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,223/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 81226

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+6.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$88,618/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $166,892 $920 4.0% +3.2% $166,892
2BR $233,667 $1,200 3.7% +6.2% $116,833
3BR $319,158 $1,540 3.5% +6.5% $106,386
4BR $354,470 $1,600 3.2% +5.6% $88,618

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$318K$277K$237K$197K$156K$116KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 81226 Compare?

Metric 81226 Florence Colorado
Home Value $299,108 $299,108 $535,778
5-Year CAGR 3.5% 3.5% 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,223 $1,223 -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.2% -
💡 Why Invest in 81226? 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 81226 (Florence, CO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $299,108
Monthly Rent $1,223
Price-to-Rent 20.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.9%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 6.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.5% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
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
7.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 81226

Population: 7,933

💰 Median Household Income
$58,487
This area
$58,487
State
$79,719
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.6%
This area
27.6%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.3%
This area
1.3%
State
-25.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.5%
This area
14.5%
State
5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.3 years
This area
43.3 years
State
-0.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.8%
This area
7.8%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 82.2%
Other/Mixed 8.8%
Black/African American 8.5%
Hispanic/Latino 3.4%
Asian 0.7%
👶 Under 18
11.0%
This area
11.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.3%
This area
16.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.9%
This area
9.9%
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 81226

B Avg School Grade
2 Schools
17.1:1 Avg Class Size
$11,320 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Florence Jr./Sr. High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
592 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$11,320 Per Student
B Good

Fremont Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
475 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,320 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

How does Florence, CO stack up for property investment?

Florence, CO sits at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $299K and average rents around $1,223/mo. That combination puts it in the resilient tier for investor interest.

What type of investing works in Florence, CO?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Florence, CO best. The market produces reliable results for that approach at the $299K price point.

Is Florence, CO a friendly market for rental owners?

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

Is Florence, CO a good market for FHA house hackers?

Florence, CO offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,223/mo rent level.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Florence, CO?

Florence, CO sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader CO rental market.

You know 81226 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 81226 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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How 81226 ranks in Ca-¦on City, CO

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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