Real Estate Investing in Dolores, Colorado (81323)

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

Montezuma County • Population: 5,193 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 81323 (Dolores, 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: 19.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 33.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Dolores, CO (81323)?

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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 $484,060
Avg Monthly Rent $1,200
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $67,277
% Renters 27.3%

Market Analysis: 81323 Dolores

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Dolores's 81323 ZIP stands at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $484K pricing implies.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 81323 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

ZIP 81323's metrics run below Montezuma County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Resident income in 81323 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

seems to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Dolores:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,200/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 81323

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$146,256/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $341,006 $870 1.8% $341,006
2BR $407,187 $1,130 2.0% +7.8% $203,594
3BR $495,396 $1,500 2.2% +7.5% $165,132
4BR $585,025 $1,770 2.2% +8.1% $146,256

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$507K$444K$382K$319K$256K$194KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 81323 Compare?

Metric 81323 Dolores Colorado
Home Value $484,060 $484,060 $535,778
5-Year CAGR 4.6% 4.6% 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,200 $1,200 -
Cap Rate 1.9% 1.9% -
💡 Why Invest in 81323? 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 81323 (Dolores, CO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.6%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $484,060
Monthly Rent $1,200
Price-to-Rent 33.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.0%
Cap Rate 1.9%
5-Year IRR 6.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 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
19.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 81323

Population: 5,193

💰 Median Household Income
$67,277
This area
$67,277
State
$79,719
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.3%
This area
27.3%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.7%
This area
0.7%
State
-25.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
28.4%
This area
28.4%
State
5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.0 years
This area
47.0 years
State
-0.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.4%
This area
19.4%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 88.8%
Other/Mixed 7.7%
Hispanic/Latino 3.4%
Black/African American 3.4%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
19.3%
This area
19.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.1%
This area
22.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.1%
This area
14.1%
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 81323

B Avg School Grade
4 Schools
14.0:1 Avg Class Size
$12,784 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Dolores Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
172 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,784 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Dolores Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
261 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,784 Per Student
B Good

Teddy Bear Preschool

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
58 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,784 Per Student
B Good

Dolores High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
189 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,784 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

Should investors worry about vacancy in Dolores, CO?

Dolores, CO carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect even-keeled absorption at market rents of $1,200/mo.

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

Tenant quality in Dolores, CO ranks as solid. Landlords generally report even-keeled occupancy at market rents of $1,200/mo.

What is the typical rental rate in Dolores, CO?

Rent in Dolores, CO is around $1,200/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $484K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Dolores, CO?

House hacking works a challenging in Dolores, CO. Rents of $1,200/mo against $484K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

Is Dolores, CO a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Dolores, CO rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $484K and rents near $1,200/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

You know 81323 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 81323 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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