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Best Cities for Rental Property in Colorado

18 Colorado cities ranked by estimated cap rate. The average cap rate across Colorado markets is 2.7%, with median home prices averaging $611K and rents averaging $2,042/mo. Sterling leads with a 4.3% cap rate at a $250K median price. Colorado's low average property tax rate of 0.51% gives investors a significant cash flow advantage.

2.7%
Avg Cap Rate
$611K
Avg Price
$2,042/mo
Avg Rent
18
Cities Tracked

Colorado Rental Market Analysis

Colorado offers 18 investable rental markets tracked by CapRateCity. The state average cap rate of 2.7% is near the 3.81% national average. No cities pass the 1% rule at median prices, so value-add strategies are essential.

Prices and rents: Colorado home prices average $611K, which is 83% above the national average of $333K. Rents average $2,042/mo.

Taxes and costs: Property taxes average 0.51% across Colorado, below the 1.08% national average — a meaningful cash flow advantage that adds roughly $3,482 per year to NOI on an average-priced property. Colorado Springs has the lowest rate at 0.49%.Vacancy averages 4.9%, tighter than the national average — favorable for landlords.

Growth outlook: Population growth across Colorado averages 1.28% per year, led by Colorado Springs at 1.8%. Home values are appreciating at 2.5% annually on average. Strong population growth is driving housing demand and supporting both rent increases and price appreciation across the state.

Bottom line: Colorado is primarily an appreciation market. Cash flow investing requires below-median purchases or value-add strategies. Consider whether the growth and appreciation potential justifies tighter margins.

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How Colorado Compares to National Averages

Metric
Colorado
National Avg
Avg Cap Rate
2.7%
3.8%
Avg Home Price
$611K
$333K
Avg Rent
$2,042/mo
$1,524/mo
Property Tax
0.51%
1.08%
Vacancy Rate
4.9%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
1.28%/yr
0.92%/yr

Colorado Cities by Cap Rate Tier

4% – 5% (1)3% – 4% (6)Below 3% (11)

All 18 Colorado Cities Ranked

1
Sterling, CO4.3% cap rate
$250K median$1,220/mo rent0.51% tax1.3% growth
2
Pueblo, CO3.8% cap rate
$285K median$1,300/mo rent0.53% tax0.5% growth
3
Grand Junction, CO3.4% cap rate
$420K median$1,720/mo rent0.51% tax1.3% growth
4
Ca, CO3.2% cap rate
$335K median$1,330/mo rent0.51% tax1.3% growth
5
Montrose, CO3.1% cap rate
$485K median$1,860/mo rent0.51% tax1.3% growth
6
Fort Morgan, CO3.0% cap rate
$320K median$1,220/mo rent0.51% tax1.3% growth
7
Colorado Springs, CO3.0% cap rate
$450K median$1,690/mo rent0.49% tax1.8% growth
8
Fort Collins, CO2.9% cap rate
$545K median$1,970/mo rent0.5% tax1.5% growth
9
Breckenridge, CO2.7% cap rate
$975K median$3,440/mo rent0.51% tax1.3% growth
10
Greeley, CO2.6% cap rate
$495K median$1,710/mo rent0.52% tax1.8% growth
11
Lakewood, CO2.4% cap rate
$565K median$1,840/mo rent0.5% tax0.8% growth
12
Denver, CO2.4% cap rate
$565K median$1,840/mo rent0.51% tax1.1% growth
13
Aurora, CO2.4% cap rate
$565K median$1,840/mo rent0.52% tax1.3% growth
14
Boulder, CO2.3% cap rate
$715K median$2,240/mo rent0.51% tax1.3% growth
15
Durango, CO2.2% cap rate
$660K median$2,020/mo rent0.51% tax1.3% growth
16
Glenwood Springs, CO2.1% cap rate
$960K median$2,880/mo rent0.51% tax1.3% growth
17
Edwards, CO1.9% cap rate
$1.3M median$3,630/mo rent0.51% tax1.3% growth
18
Steamboat Springs, CO1.8% cap rate
$1.1M median$3,010/mo rent0.51% tax1.3% growth

Other West States

New Mexico (12 cities · 5.0% avg)Alaska (2 cities · 4.1% avg)Arizona (17 cities · 3.5% avg)Hawaii (5 cities · 3.1% avg)Nevada (11 cities · 3.1% avg)California (38 cities · 3.0% avg)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Colorado a good state for rental property investing?
Colorado has an average cap rate of 2.7% across 18 cities. The best-performing city is Sterling at 4.3%. Average home prices of $611K are above the national average. Property taxes at 0.51% are investor-friendly.
What is the best city to buy rental property in Colorado?
Sterling leads Colorado with a 4.3% cap rate, $250K median price, and $1,220/mo rent. The best city depends on your strategy — cash flow investors should look at the top of this ranking, while growth-focused investors may prefer Colorado Springs (1.8% population growth). Use the calculators on each city page to model specific deals.
What are property taxes like in Colorado?
Property taxes in Colorado average 0.51%, which is below the 1.08% national average. The lowest rate is in Colorado Springs at 0.49%. On an average-priced home of $611K, annual taxes are approximately $3,115.
How many Colorado cities pass the 1% rule?
0 of 18 Colorado cities (0%) pass the 1% rule at median prices. None pass at median prices, meaning investors should target below-median properties or use value-add strategies to improve returns. The 1% rule says monthly rent should be at least 1% of purchase price.

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