Real Estate Investing in Parachute, Colorado (81635)

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

Garfield County • Population: 7,155 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 81635 (Parachute, 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: 13.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 27.3 — 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 Parachute, CO (81635)?

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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 $424,357
Avg Monthly Rent $1,296
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $65,951
% Renters 29.1%

Market Analysis: 81635 Parachute

Investors eyeing 81635 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $424K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The investment case in 81635 is significant only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $424K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Within CO, ZIP 81635 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Garfield County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and healthy enough to shape underwriting.

A durable renter share of 29% in 81635 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Strategically, 81635 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Parachute:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,296/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
Glenwood Springs, CO Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.7%
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 Glenwood Springs, CO metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 81635

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$134,842/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $363,368 $1,440 2.9% +8.7% $181,684
3BR $404,525 $2,020 3.6% +8.9% $134,842
4BR $543,001 $2,220 2.9% +8.5% $135,750

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$453K$382K$312K$241K$170K$99KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 81635 Compare?

Metric 81635 Parachute Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
Home Value $424,357 $424,357 N/A $535,778
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.4% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,296 $1,296 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.4% - -

Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles

Compare other nearby markets to see if a neighbor offers a better fit.

💡 Why Invest in 81635? 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 81635 (Parachute, CO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Glenwood Springs, CO metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
67%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $424,357
Monthly Rent $1,296
Price-to-Rent 27.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.7%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
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: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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
13.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 81635

Population: 7,155

💰 Median Household Income
$65,951
This area
$65,951
State
$79,719
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
29.1%
This area
29.1%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
State
-25.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.0%
This area
22.0%
State
5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
30.2 years
This area
30.2 years
State
-0.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.9%
This area
13.9%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 77.5%
Other/Mixed 21.2%
Hispanic/Latino 19.4%
Black/African American 1.2%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
27.5%
This area
27.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.3%
This area
16.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
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 81635

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
15.0:1 Avg Class Size
$14,372 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Bea Underwood Elementary School

📚 02 – 05 Elementary
👥
374 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,372 Per Student
A Very Good

Grand Valley High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
300 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,372 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Grand Valley Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
229 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,372 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Grand Valley Center for Family Learning

📚 Pre-K – 01 Elementary
👥
268 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,372 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

How high is vacancy risk in Parachute, CO?

Vacancy in Parachute, CO is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,296/mo.

Is housing expensive in Parachute, CO?

Typical homes in Parachute, CO go for around $424K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% predictable price movement.

How does Parachute, CO rate as a rental market?

Our data puts Parachute, CO at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $424K and rents around $1,296/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

How do experienced investors play Parachute, CO?

Parachute, CO investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($424K prices, $1,296/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

How much is rent in Parachute, CO?

Average rent in Parachute, CO is approximately $1,296/mo per month. Against $424K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

You know 81635 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 81635 ranks in Glenwood Springs, CO

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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