Real Estate Investing in Palisade, Colorado (81526)

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

Mesa County • Population: 5,397 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 81526 (Palisade, CO)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

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
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 31.2 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Palisade, CO (81526)?

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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 $570,327
Avg Monthly Rent $1,523
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $79,801
% Renters 20.9%

Market Analysis: 81526 Palisade

The 81526 ZIP in Palisade, CO is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $570K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 81526 comes in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

ZIP 81526's metrics run below Mesa County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

On balance, 5,397 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 81526 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Palisade:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,523/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Grand Junction, CO Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
60 days
Average time to sell
Average
11.5%
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 Grand Junction, CO metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 81526

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+9.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$171,140/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $437,376 $1,160 1.9% +8.9% $218,688
3BR $552,866 $1,610 2.1% +8.7% $184,289
4BR $684,558 $1,950 2.1% +9.2% $171,140

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$602K$516K$430K$344K$258K$172KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,984$1,885$1,786$1,687$1,587$1,488Sep 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 81526 Compare?

Metric 81526 Palisade Grand Junction, CO Colorado
Home Value $570,327 $570,327 N/A $535,778
5-Year CAGR 5.6% 5.6% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,523 $1,523 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.1% 2.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 81526? 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 81526 (Palisade, CO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.6%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Grand Junction, CO metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
59%
Days Pending
1/2
60 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $570,327
Monthly Rent $1,523
Price-to-Rent 31.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.2%
Cap Rate 2.1%
5-Year IRR 7.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.1%). 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
7.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 81526

Population: 5,397

💰 Median Household Income
$79,801
This area
$79,801
State
$79,719
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.9%
This area
20.9%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
-25.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
32.3%
This area
32.3%
State
5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
51.5 years
This area
51.5 years
State
-0.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.6%
This area
7.6%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.0%
Other/Mixed 8.7%
Hispanic/Latino 5.7%
Black/African American 0.2%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
16.1%
This area
16.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.0%
This area
22.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.0%
This area
6.0%
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 81526

B Avg School Grade
2 Schools
16.6:1 Avg Class Size
$13,239 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Taylor Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
301 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,239 Per Student
C+ Average

Palisade High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,069 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,239 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.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

2 Nearby 1,529 Off-Campus Students
C
Intellitec College-Grand Junction
1,160 students · 11.1 mi
C+
Colorado Mesa University
8,995 students · 11.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,529 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Palisade, CO a smart market for rental property?

Yes - Palisade, CO a 3.0/5 investability score. With $570K home prices against $1,523/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

How strong is tenant demand in Palisade, CO?

The tenant pool in Palisade, CO is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,523/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Are there empty rentals in Palisade, CO?

Palisade, CO carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect predictable absorption at market rents of $1,523/mo.

What price range are homes in Palisade, CO?

Homes in Palisade, CO typically sell near $570K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which reliable long-term demand.

How much rent can I charge in Palisade, CO?

Rental rates in Palisade, CO average $1,523/mo. Tenant demand and $570K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

You know 81526 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 81526 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 81526 ranks in Grand Junction, CO

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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