Real Estate Investing in Montrose, Colorado (81401)

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

Montrose County • Population: 23,719 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 81401 (Montrose, CO)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (51/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.0% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Montrose, CO (81401)?

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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 $433,747
Avg Monthly Rent $1,985
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,904
% Renters 27.8%

Market Analysis: 81401 Montrose

The 81401 ZIP covers a section of Montrose that demands careful diligence. Prices near $434K 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 81401 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Regionally, 81401 sits on the difficult end of the CO spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Demographically, 81401 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. robust returns are possible in 81401, 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 Montrose:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,985/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Montrose, CO Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.4%
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 Montrose, CO metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 81401

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
2.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+9.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$122,795/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $261,741 $900 2.5% +7.6% $261,741
2BR $327,759 $1,180 2.6% +8.4% $163,880
3BR $430,765 $1,640 2.7% +8.3% $143,588
4BR $491,178 $1,980 2.9% +8.3% $122,795
5BR $618,309 +9.3% $123,662

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$456K$392K$328K$263K$199K$135KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,112$1,984$1,856$1,728$1,599$1,471Jan 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 81401 Compare?

Metric 81401 Montrose Montrose, CO Colorado
Home Value $433,747 $521,391 N/A $535,778
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.4% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,985 $1,650 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 2.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 81401? 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 81401 (Montrose, CO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Montrose, CO metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
66%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $433,747
Monthly Rent $1,985
Price-to-Rent 18.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 9.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +7.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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
10.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 81401

Population: 23,719

💰 Median Household Income
$57,904
This area
$57,904
State
$79,719
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.8%
This area
27.8%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-25.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
28.7%
This area
28.7%
State
5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.4 years
This area
47.4 years
State
-0.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.0%
This area
10.0%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 84.0%
Other/Mixed 14.9%
Hispanic/Latino 11.4%
Asian 0.7%
Black/African American 0.4%
👶 Under 18
20.5%
This area
20.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.1%
This area
25.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.9%
This area
8.9%
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 81401

C+ Avg School Grade
12 Schools
20.2:1 Avg Class Size
$12,038 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Northside Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
338 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,038 Per Student
B Good

Centennial Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
555 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,038 Per Student
B Good

Columbine Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
508 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,038 Per Student
B Good

Oak Grove Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
387 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,038 Per Student
B Good

Pomona Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
328 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,038 Per Student
B Good

Peak Virtual Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
221 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,038 Per Student
B Good

Cottonwood Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
412 Students
👨‍🏫
18.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,038 Per Student
B Good

Johnson Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
528 Students
👨‍🏫
18.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,038 Per Student
C+ Average

Montrose High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,275 Students
👨‍🏫
20.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,038 Per Student
C Below Average

Black Canyon High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
118 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,038 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Early Childhood Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
170 Students
👨‍🏫
32.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,038 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Vista Charter School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
177 Students
👨‍🏫
36.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,038 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

Are rents high in Montrose, CO?

Montrose, CO rentals go for roughly $1,985/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $434K acquisition costs.

What is the renter demographic in Montrose, CO?

Montrose, CO offers a stable renter base at the $1,985/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

How does Montrose, CO stack up for property investment?

Yes - Montrose, CO a 3.0/5 investability score. With $434K home prices against $1,985/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

How tight is the rental market in Montrose, CO?

Vacancy risk in Montrose, CO is elevated. That supports even-keeled cash flow for typical rental holds.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Montrose, CO?

Montrose, CO investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($434K prices, $1,985/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

You know 81401 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 81401 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 81401 ranks in Montrose, CO

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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