Real Estate Investing in Nucla, Colorado (81424)

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

Montrose County • Population: 1,166 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 81424 (Nucla, CO)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

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: 23.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Lower household income: $34,821 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

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

What’s happening in Nucla, CO (81424)?

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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 $257,070
Avg Monthly Rent $936
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $34,821
% Renters 21.5%

Market Analysis: 81424 Nucla

This part of Montrose County is not an easy win. The 81424 ZIP posts softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Rent of $936/mo on a $257K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 81424 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

On the rental side, 81424 offers a low basis, the region around Nucla has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Employment concentration in 81424 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategy in 81424 is an operator game, not a passive one. On balance, entry prices of $257K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Nucla:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $936/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
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 81424

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$95,241/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $191,406 $1,040 3.9% +8.5% $95,703
3BR $285,723 $1,450 3.7% +8.9% $95,241

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$279K$243K$208K$172K$136K$100KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 81424 Compare?

Metric 81424 Nucla Montrose, CO Colorado
Home Value $257,070 $257,070 N/A $535,778
5-Year CAGR 6.0% 6.0% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $936 $936 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 81424? 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 81424 (Nucla, CO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.0%
Strong

📉 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 $257,070
Monthly Rent $936
Price-to-Rent 22.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.4%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 8.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
23.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 81424

Population: 1,166

💰 Median Household Income
$34,821
This area
$34,821
State
$79,719
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
21.5%
This area
21.5%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-25.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.0%
This area
18.0%
State
5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
57.0 years
This area
57.0 years
State
-0.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
23.0%
This area
23.0%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.0%
Black/African American 1.2%
Hispanic/Latino 0.8%
Other/Mixed 0.8%
👶 Under 18
18.6%
This area
18.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
40.9%
This area
40.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.8%
This area
12.8%
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 81424

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
11.1:1 Avg Class Size
$26,188 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Nucla High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
63 Students
👨‍🏫
9.9:1 Class Size
💰
$26,188 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Nucla Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
31 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$26,188 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 tenant pool like in Nucla, CO?

The tenant pool in Nucla, CO is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $936/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Should investors consider Nucla, CO?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Nucla, CO reflects its $257K prices and $936/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within CO.

Is vacancy a concern in Nucla, CO?

Rental vacancy in Nucla, CO is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Is Nucla, CO landlord-friendly?

CO ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Nucla generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

Is housing expensive in Nucla, CO?

Nucla, CO home values average about $257K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $936/mo in monthly income.

You know 81424 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 81424 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 81424 ranks in Montrose, CO

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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