State rental market reference · Data updated October 18, 2026
Colorado rental market for DSCR investors: rent, taxes and insurance by county
What a rental in Colorado rents for, what it costs to carry, and whether it stays rented, from official data for all 64 counties. Read it before you price a deal here.
Colorado at a glance
What does a rental rent for?
$2,169 a month
HUD's FY2027 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent where most of Colorado's renters live, from $1,014 (Conejos County) to $2,766 (Summit County). It is the government figure for a modest 2-bedroom unit, utilities included, not the rent for a house.
What will property taxes cost?
0.48% of value a year
Homeowners in Colorado pay a median $2,602 a year on a median home value of $539,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024). A rental can be taxed at a different rate than an owner's home; the local tax bill is the real number.
What will insurance cost?
$1,860 a year
The median that homeowners with a mortgage in Colorado report paying for homeowners insurance (Census ACS 2020–2024). It is not a landlord quote: a rental policy usually costs more, and flood cover is extra.
Will it stay rented?
5.1% rental vacancy
Share of Colorado's rental homes vacant and for rent (Census ACS 2020–2024), across 802,483 renter households. Lower means rentals fill faster.
Are jobs growing?
Employment down 3.4% in a year
Employed residents in August 2026 against a year earlier; unemployment 4.6% (BLS, not seasonally adjusted, so compare the same month a year apart).
Is new supply coming?
33,754 homes permitted in 2025
About 14.2 new homes per 1,000 households; 52% single-family (Census Building Permits Survey). More new homes means more competition for tenants and buyers.
How often does it flood?
3,655 flood claims since 2005
National Flood Insurance Program claims on properties in Colorado since 2005, $82.9 million paid (FEMA). Claims show where water has reached insured buildings; they are not a flood map, so check the FEMA flood zone for the address.
What it means for a DSCR rental in Colorado
A lender's DSCR is the monthly rent divided by the full monthly payment: principal, interest, property taxes, insurance and any HOA dues. Many lenders accept 1.00x; 1.20x leaves a cushion.
Take a home at Colorado's median value of $539,400, bought with 25% down on a 7.5% 30-year loan, with the state's typical tax rate and insurance:
- Principal and interest ($404,550 loan)
- $2,829
- Property taxes
- $216
- Insurance
- $155
- Full monthly payment
- $3,199
- Rent for a 1.20x DSCR
- $3,840 a month
The government 2-bedroom figure where most of Colorado's renters live is $2,169 a month, below the $3,840 that home needs. A house usually rents for more than a 2-bedroom unit, so price the house you are looking at with its own rent. The last column of the table below gives the same figure for each county.
Rules and costs a landlord faces in Colorado
Each line quotes the official source it comes from and the date it was last checked. These are general rules, not legal advice; local rules can add to them.
- How long before you can file to evict for unpaid rent?
10 calendar days' notice for unpaid rent before an eviction can be filed.
Once you have been given the Demand for Compliance or it has been posted on the property, you have ten days to come into compliance with the rental agreement or to move.
Colorado Judicial Branch (Legal Help Center), checked October 18, 2026
- How fast must the deposit come back?
Within 30 days after the tenancy ends.
Thirty days after the lease ends or the tenant returns the property to the landlord, the landlord must return the security deposit to the tenant or mail the tenant a written statement of the exact reasons why the landlord is keeping part or all of the deposit.
Colorado Judicial Branch (Legal Help Center), checked October 18, 2026
- What does the state charge to record a purchase?
State tax: $0.01 per $100.
The documentary fee is computed at the rate of one cent for each one hundred dollars of consideration ($0.01 per $100), § 39-13-102, C.R.S.
Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Property Taxation (Assessors' Reference Library), checked October 18, 2026
- Is a rental taxed like the owner's home?
A rental does not get the owner's homestead benefit.
Colorado offers a property tax exemption for seniors 65+ who have owned and occupied their primary residence for at least 10 consecutive years prior to Jan. 1 of the application year. The program exempts up to 50% of the first $200,000 of actual value of the home from taxation.
Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Property Taxation, checked October 18, 2026
Market hubs in Colorado
DSCRInfo does not publish a monthly market hub in Colorado yet. The figures above and the table below cover every county; the market hubs cover other states.
Colorado by county
All 64 counties, most renter households first. "Rent for 1.20x" is the monthly rent a home at that county's median value needs on the example loan above. A dash means the source publishes no reliable figure there.
| County | 2-bed FMR | Property tax | Insurance / yr | Rental vacancy | Jobs, 1 yr | Permits | Flood claims | Rent for 1.20x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver County | $2,169 | 0.45% | $1,780 | 5.5% | -3.6% | 4,727 | 122 | $4,330 |
| El Paso County | $1,621 | 0.41% | $1,890 | 3.9% | -3.3% | 5,707 | 565 | $3,280 |
| Arapahoe County | $2,169 | 0.52% | $2,030 | 5.5% | -3.6% | 3,599 | 139 | $4,030 |
| Jefferson County | $2,169 | 0.48% | $2,100 | 4.9% | -3.6% | 1,118 | 211 | $4,530 |
| Adams County | $2,169 | 0.61% | $1,900 | 3.5% | -3.5% | 2,608 | 67 | $3,530 |
| Larimer County | $1,759 | 0.50% | $1,760 | 3.3% | -2.2% | 2,436 | 365 | $4,040 |
| Boulder County | $2,033 | 0.53% | $2,130 | 4.0% | -4.0% | 2,001 | 1,630 | $5,370 |
| Douglas County | $2,169 | 0.55% | $2,390 | 4.4% | -3.6% | 2,398 | 59 | $5,120 |
| Weld County | $1,647 | 0.52% | $1,780 | 6.1% | -3.0% | 2,993 | 148 | $3,390 |
| Pueblo County | $1,263 | 0.50% | $1,710 | 2.6% | -3.7% | 226 | 31 | $2,150 |
| Mesa County | $1,282 | 0.38% | $1,060 | 3.4% | -4.0% | 810 | 19 | $2,630 |
| Broomfield County | $2,169 | 0.60% | $2,110 | 3.3% | -3.6% | 970 | 10 | $4,790 |
| Eagle County | $2,607 | 0.42% | $1,430 | 16.1% | -3.9% | 223 | 17 | $5,780 |
| Garfield County | $1,781 | 0.42% | $1,310 | 3.0% | -3.2% | 294 | 6 | $3,670 |
| La Plata County | $1,821 | 0.26% | $1,370 | 5.8% | -2.3% | 376 | 42 | $4,010 |
| Montrose County | $1,321 | 0.36% | $990 | 4.9% | -1.5% | 279 | 4 | $2,680 |
| Fremont County | $1,436 | 0.36% | $1,370 | 1.9% | -3.4% | 107 | 20 | $2,290 |
| Morgan County | $1,261 | 0.52% | $2,150 | 2.9% | -1.3% | 55 | 18 | $2,520 |
| Summit County | $2,766 | 0.32% | $1,610 | 41.9% | -4.1% | 318 | 12 | $6,380 |
| Pitkin County | $2,597 | 0.36% | $1,230 | 6.7% | -2.6% | 36 | 6 | $7,700 |
| Alamosa County | $1,149 | 0.43% | $1,000 | 3.7% | -0.7% | 56 | 2 | $1,710 |
| Delta County | $1,266 | 0.31% | $1,050 | 3.7% | -2.8% | 58 | 1 | $2,370 |
| Gunnison County | $1,437 | 0.29% | $1,370 | 7.6% | -4.7% | 138 | 14 | $4,230 |
| Logan County | $1,249 | 0.46% | $2,080 | 1.9% | -2.9% | 5 | 25 | $1,860 |
| Routt County | $2,384 | 0.32% | $1,740 | 23.3% | -5.3% | 218 | 17 | $5,830 |
Show the other 39 counties
| County | 2-bed FMR | Property tax | Insurance / yr | Rental vacancy | Jobs, 1 yr | Permits | Flood claims | Rent for 1.20x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montezuma County | $1,280 | 0.29% | $1,190 | 2.8% | -4.7% | 24 | 17 | $2,300 |
| Chaffee County | $1,755 | 0.29% | $1,360 | 2.5% | -1.9% | 175 | 2 | $4,520 |
| Otero County | $1,059 | 0.31% | $1,670 | 12.3% | -3.2% | 8 | 20 | $1,280 |
| Teller County | $1,474 | 0.35% | $2,140 | 3.2% | -3.1% | 118 | 4 | $3,400 |
| Las Animas County | $1,291 | 0.23% | $1,740 | 0.3% | -5.9% | 30 | 2 | $1,720 |
| Grand County | $1,844 | 0.34% | $1,600 | 21.3% | +0.6% | 311 | 2 | $4,150 |
| San Miguel County | $1,631 | 0.26% | $1,450 | 8.3% | -5.1% | 51 | 9 | $4,870 |
| Rio Grande County | $1,220 | 0.39% | $1,160 | 6.7% | -1.9% | 42 | 4 | $1,720 |
| Moffat County | $1,225 | 0.40% | $1,060 | 8.0% | -5.8% | 24 | 0 | $2,040 |
| Prowers County | $1,050 | 0.30% | $1,530 | 4.8% | -2.1% | 16 | 3 | $1,210 |
| Yuma County | $1,132 | 0.47% | $2,140 | 0.0% | +4.0% | 4 | 4 | $1,650 |
| Park County | $2,169 | 0.33% | $1,860 | 8.3% | -3.9% | 152 | 2 | $3,710 |
| Archuleta County | $1,542 | 0.35% | $1,260 | 17.3% | -1.9% | 124 | 7 | $3,300 |
| Clear Creek County | $2,169 | 0.39% | $1,890 | 5.2% | -3.4% | 21 | 8 | $4,260 |
| Kit Carson County | $1,241 | 0.49% | $2,070 | 5.8% | +4.6% | 4 | 0 | $1,830 |
| Saguache County | $1,059 | 0.32% | $1,170 | 3.1% | -7.2% | 70 | 1 | $1,520 |
| Huerfano County | $1,116 | 0.28% | $1,850 | 2.4% | -4.7% | 47 | 2 | $1,810 |
| Conejos County | $1,014 | 0.40% | $1,250 | 2.3% | +2.5% | 20 | 3 | $1,420 |
| Lake County | $1,485 | 0.42% | $1,560 | 0.0% | -4.3% | 46 | 1 | $3,280 |
| Rio Blanco County | $1,165 | 0.33% | $1,240 | 3.4% | -2.8% | 15 | 2 | $1,940 |
| Bent County | $1,150 | 0.35% | $1,350 | 1.5% | -1.1% | 1 | 0 | $1,110 |
| Lincoln County | $1,070 | 0.44% | $1,760 | 5.1% | +1.1% | 10 | 2 | $1,840 |
| Phillips County | $1,137 | 0.56% | $2,120 | 0.0% | +2.3% | 6 | 1 | $1,980 |
| Washington County | $1,297 | 0.39% | $1,820 | 3.0% | +2.4% | 3 | 0 | $1,690 |
| Elbert County | $2,169 | 0.45% | $2,600 | 3.1% | -2.7% | 333 | 2 | $5,050 |
| Baca County | $1,014 | 0.44% | $1,530 | 5.7% | +2.8% | 2 | 0 | $980 |
| Ouray County | $1,640 | 0.28% | $1,610 | 19.1% | -2.7% | 76 | 0 | $5,020 |
| Crowley County | $1,405 | 0.45% | $1,330 | 0.0% | -2.9% | 0 | 1 | $920 |
| Custer County | $1,202 | 0.39% | $1,720 | 2.0% | -0.9% | 78 | 0 | $2,790 |
| Gilpin County | $2,169 | 0.23% | $1,630 | 17.2% | -3.8% | 22 | 1 | $3,910 |
| Costilla County | $1,014 | 0.32% | $1,360 | 0.0% | -2.3% | 114 | 2 | $1,360 |
| Sedgwick County | $1,014 | 0.45% | $1,620 | 7.4% | -3.7% | 0 | 0 | $1,170 |
| Dolores County | $1,332 | 0.27% | $1,420 | 3.7% | -2.1% | 0 | 0 | $1,770 |
| Cheyenne County | $1,167 | 0.47% | $1,790 | 1.8% | +3.3% | 4 | 0 | $1,450 |
| Jackson County | $1,485 | 0.17% | $1,450 | 18.1% | -5.1% | 2 | 0 | $1,690 |
| San Juan County | $1,344 | 0.32% | – | 3.4% | -7.3% | 21 | 0 | – |
| Kiowa County | $1,319 | 0.58% | $1,550 | – | +2.1% | 7 | 0 | $1,260 |
| Hinsdale County | $1,316 | 0.31% | $1,430 | – | -5.2% | 8 | 0 | $3,030 |
| Mineral County | $1,485 | 0.35% | $1,200 | – | -4.8% | 9 | 0 | $2,980 |
Where these numbers come from
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents, in effect from October 1, 2026: the rent and utilities of a modest 2-bedroom unit, set for housing vouchers. It is not a house rent. Where HUD publishes by town (New England), the county shows the range. HUD Fair Market Rents
- Property tax, insurance, vacancy and home value
- Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. Property tax is the median tax paid divided by the median home value of owner-occupied homes. Insurance is the median that owners with a mortgage report paying, not a landlord quote. Rental vacancy is homes vacant for rent divided by all rental homes. Figures from too few homes are left blank. American Community Survey
- Jobs
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics: employed residents in August 2026 against the same month a year earlier, not seasonally adjusted. BLS LAUS
- Permits
- Census Building Permits Survey: new housing units authorized in 2025, all building sizes. Building Permits Survey
- Flood claims
- FEMA National Flood Insurance Program claims with a loss in 2005 or later, and the net amount paid. Only insured buildings appear. Check a flood zone
These are screening figures for comparing places, not a quote, an appraisal or a loan offer. Colorado total flood payments since 2005: $82.9 million.