Real Estate Investing in Silver Cliff, Colorado (81252)

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

Custer County • Population: 4,413 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 81252 (Silver Cliff, CO)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 49.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 35.0 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Silver Cliff, CO (81252)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $419,922
Avg Monthly Rent $999
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $62,284
% Renters 13.7%

Market Analysis: 81252 Silver Cliff

The 81252 ZIP covers a section of Silver Cliff that demands careful diligence. Prices near $420K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

The 81252 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

ZIP 81252's metrics run below Custer County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

The demographic picture in 81252 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Silver Cliff averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

New investors are better served looking at Silver Cliff's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 81252. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Silver Cliff:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $999/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
🏠

Property Strategy for 81252

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
2.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$161,382/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $224,714 $850 2.7% +5.8% $224,714
2BR $363,428 $1,110 2.2% +7.8% $181,714
3BR $509,318 $1,360 1.9% +8.3% $169,773
4BR $645,527 $1,740 1.9% +7.5% $161,382

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$450K$383K$316K$250K$183K$116KMar 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 81252 Compare?

Metric 81252 Silver Cliff Colorado
Home Value $419,922 $419,922 $535,778
5-Year CAGR 5.4% 5.4% 4.9%
Avg Rent $999 $999 -
Cap Rate 1.9% 1.9% -
💡 Why Invest in 81252? 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 81252 (Silver Cliff, CO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.4%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $419,922
Monthly Rent $999
Price-to-Rent 35.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.9%
Cap Rate 1.9%
5-Year IRR 7.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.9%). 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
49.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 81252

Population: 4,413

💰 Median Household Income
$62,284
This area
$62,284
State
$79,719
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.7%
This area
13.7%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-25.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
37.3%
This area
37.3%
State
5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
58.0 years
This area
58.0 years
State
-0.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
49.5%
This area
49.5%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.1%
Other/Mixed 3.8%
Hispanic/Latino 3.0%
Black/African American 1.7%
Asian 1.4%
👶 Under 18
18.0%
This area
18.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
29.2%
This area
29.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.6%
This area
5.6%
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 81252

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
10.9:1 Avg Class Size
$16,255 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Custer County Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
152 Students
👨‍🏫
9.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,255 Per Student
A Very Good

Custer County High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
115 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,255 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Custer Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
78 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,255 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 is the average home sale price in Silver Cliff, CO?

Silver Cliff, CO home values average about $420K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $999/mo in monthly income.

What are vacancy rates like in Silver Cliff, CO?

Vacancy risk in Silver Cliff, CO is elevated. That supports consistent cash flow for typical rental holds.

Is Silver Cliff, CO a good place for real estate investing?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Silver Cliff, CO reflects its $420K prices and $999/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within CO.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Silver Cliff, CO?

Landlord-friendliness in Silver Cliff, CO is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

What investment strategy works best in Silver Cliff, CO?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Silver Cliff, CO best. The market produces steady results for that approach at the $420K price point.

You know 81252 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 81252 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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