Denver Rental
Market Intelligence

Market Overview

Denver is the anchor market for VacancyHawk's Colorado coverage, and the data tells a story of a city in transition. With 13 scored properties spread across five distinct ZIP codes, Denver's 8-signal monitoring shows this market in the "Transitioning" zone. This is not a crisis, but it is a clear signal that the market has shifted from the landlord-favorable conditions of prior years.

Average rents of $2,211 are actually below several suburban peers like Thornton ($2,584) and Arvada ($2,330), reflecting Denver's broader mix of property types including older bungalows, small multifamily buildings, and converted units. The 39-day average time to lease is consistent with a market where renters have options and are willing to shop around before signing.

Denver Open Data and Colorado Judicial Branch records show steady eviction filing activity in several of the ZIP codes we track. This is a leading indicator that some tenants are under financial stress, which can translate into turnover risk for landlords who are not proactively monitoring their properties' competitive position.

ZIP Code Breakdown

Denver's rental market varies dramatically by neighborhood. Here is how each tracked ZIP code performs.

Key Findings

• West Denver (80204) outperforms. The Sun Valley and West Colfax corridor scores highest at 66, benefiting from proximity to downtown employment centers and ongoing neighborhood investment. Properties here lease faster and face less pricing pressure than other Denver ZIPs.
• Westwood/Barnum (80219) is the softspot. Scoring just 61, this area shows elevated days on market and more competitive pricing dynamics. Landlords in 80219 are more likely to face extended vacancy if they price above the Rentometer median for the area.
• Denver rents sit below suburban peers. At $2,211, Denver's average rent is $373 less than Thornton and $119 less than Arvada. This gap partly reflects housing stock age, but it also means Denver landlords have less room to absorb vacancy costs. A single month of vacancy at $2,211 wipes out roughly 4% of annual gross income.

Other Colorado Markets