Denver County Colorado Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Denver County CO was $1,433 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Denver County was $1,440 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Denver County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Denver County rental vacancy rates, Denver County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Denver County.
Real Gross Rent in Denver County Colorado (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Colorado Median Gross Rent | $1,369 | +4.34% | +11.66% |
| Denver County CO Median Gross Rent | $1,433 | +5.83% | +11.87% |
Denver County CO Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,433, real median gross rent in Denver County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,440, real average gross rent in Denver County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Denver County CO Median, Denver County CO Average, Colorado Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Denver County
| Date | US Median |
Colorado Median |
Denver County CO Median |
Denver County CO Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,369 | $1,433 | $1,440 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,312 | $1,354 | $1,374 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,279 | $1,326 | $1,345 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,226 | $1,281 | $1,299 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,179 | $1,161 | $1,226 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,077 | $1,048 | $1,131 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,023 | $946 | $1,054 |
| 2012 | $940 | $994 | $928 | $1,000 |
| 2011 | $941 | $972 | $917 | $992 |
| 2010 | $955 | $964 | $906 | $978 |
| 2009 | $960 | $970 | $944 | $1,009 |
| 2007 | $927 | $926 | $853 | $909 |
| 2005 | $910 | $946 | $880 | $926 |
Denver County Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Denver County Colorado was 3.30% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Denver County Colorado
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Colorado | 4.60% | -0.67% | +0.31% |
| Denver County CO | 3.30% | -1.74% | -0.21% |
Trends in Denver County CO Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Denver County peaked in 2005 at 9.50%. Since then it has fallen by 6.20% to 3.30%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Denver County CO, Colorado, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Denver County
| Date | US | Colorado | Denver County CO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.60% | 3.30% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.27% | 5.04% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.18% | 5.17% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 4.29% | 3.51% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 4.47% | 4.17% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.85% | 4.06% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.26% | 4.70% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.69% | 3.93% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 5.63% | 4.65% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.72% | 5.52% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 8.00% | 7.64% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 8.63% | 9.48% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 9.35% | 9.50% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Denver County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Denver County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 22.73% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Denver County Colorado Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Colorado | 21.30% | -0.20% | -0.09% |
| Denver County CO | 22.73% | -0.61% | -1.29% |
Trends in Denver County CO Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Denver County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2016 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 24.02%. Since then it has fallen by 1.29% to 22.73%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Denver County CO, Colorado, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Denver County Colorado
| Date | US | Colorado | Denver County CO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 21.30% | 22.73% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 21.50% | 23.34% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 21.53% | 23.66% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 21.39% | 24.02% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.86% | 22.63% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.97% | 21.69% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.81% | 21.09% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.74% | 20.73% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.50% | 21.51% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.16% | 21.59% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.42% | 21.41% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.13% | 19.60% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.93% | 19.94% |
Renter Fraction in Denver County Colorado
You can calculate the renter fraction in Denver County in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Denver County as a fraction of total Denver County households. In 2019 50.19% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Denver County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Colorado | 34.15% | -0.71% | -1.09% |
| Denver County CO | 50.19% | -0.55% | +0.19% |
Trends in the Denver County CO Renter Fraction
The Denver County household renter fraction peaked in in 2012 at 52.48% and is now 2.29% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Denver County CO, Colorado, US
History of Denver County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Colorado | Denver County CO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 34.15% | 50.19% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 34.86% | 50.74% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 34.80% | 49.97% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 35.24% | 50.00% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 36.25% | 50.62% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 36.14% | 51.85% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 35.49% | 49.02% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 35.97% | 52.48% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 35.62% | 51.24% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 34.06% | 49.72% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 32.99% | 47.58% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 31.17% | 43.53% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 32.18% | 45.34% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
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