Introduction
I knew my story was rough. Finding housing in Colorado's mountain towns meant competing for scraps - overpriced rooms in shared houses, waitlists months long, landlords who never responded, listings that disappeared before you could apply. I assumed my experience was an outlier. A bad stretch. Something that would smooth out.
Then I started looking at the data.
What I found wasn't a personal bad-luck story. It was a statewide systemic crisis, backed by federal data, academic research, and local reporting across every region of Colorado. The numbers didn't just confirm what I experienced - they revealed something much larger: a state where the gap between wages and housing costs has become structurally unsustainable, where entire communities are hollowing out, and where the people who keep Colorado running - teachers, ski patrollers, restaurant workers, nurses, firefighters - are being priced out of the places they serve.
This report consolidates original research across 12 mountain counties and 6 major cities in Colorado. Every statistic is sourced to a specific federal dataset, academic study, government report, or verified news article. The goal is simple: present the reality of housing in Colorado with the rigor it deserves, so that the people affected - and the people in a position to help - can see the full picture.
The data speaks for itself.
Colorado: The Big Picture
Before examining individual counties and cities, the statewide numbers frame the scale of the problem.
Statewide Housing Supply
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide housing shortfall (2023) | 106,000 units | CDOLA Press Release |
| New homes needed per year to prevent gap from growing | 34,100/year | CDOLA |
| Peak shortfall estimate (2019) | 140,000 units | Colorado Newsline |
| State housing board investment (H1 2025) | $68.4 million for 2,228 homes | CDOLA |
Wages vs. Housing Costs
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Wage increase (since 2000) | +26% | CHFA Gap White Paper (PDF) |
| Mortgage payment increase (since 2000) | +71% | CHFA Gap White Paper |
| Home price increase (since 2000) | +223% | CHFA Gap White Paper |
| Rent increase (since 2000) | +164% | CHFA Gap White Paper |
| Personal income increase (since 2000) | +144% | CHFA Gap White Paper |
| Largest housing affordability gap on record | 2023 | CHFA Gap White Paper |
| Colorado statewide 2BR housing wage | $37.47/hour | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Colorado statewide 2BR Fair Market Rent | $1,948/month | NLIHC Out of Reach |
Cost-Burdened Renters
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado renters spending >30% of income on housing | 52.5% | USAFacts / ACS |
| Extremely Low Income renters (0-30% AMI) cost-burdened | 89% | NLIHC CO Profile (PDF) |
| Affordable rental homes per 100 ELI households | 26 | NLIHC CO Profile |
| Statewide shortage of affordable rental homes | 134,281 units | NLIHC CO Profile |
| Affordable units short (0-50% AMI) | 175,240 units | NLIHC Housing Needs by State |
| Total renter households in Colorado | 783,361 | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Severely cost-burdened CO renters (>50% income) | 22.9% | CHFA White Paper |
| Construction cost increase (2025) | +36% | Bell Policy Center Housing Primer 2025 |
Employment and Homelessness
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Employed people in homeless shelters (national) | 53% | University of Chicago / Harris School of Public Policy (2023) |
| Unsheltered people with earnings (national) | 40% | UChicago News |
| Study | "Learning About Homelessness Using Linked Survey and Administrative Data" | BFI Working Paper (PDF) |
Minimum Wage Reference
| Jurisdiction | 2026 Minimum Wage | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado (statewide) | $15.16/hr | CDLE |
| Denver | $19.29/hr | City of Denver |
| Boulder | $16.82/hr | City of Boulder |
| Colorado (2025) | $14.81/hr | CDLE |
The Mountain Towns
Twelve counties. Resort economies. Second-home markets. Some of the most stunning landscapes in the country - and some of the most dysfunctional housing markets.
The pattern across Colorado's mountain towns is strikingly consistent: homes exist, but nobody who works there can live in them. Vacancy rates soar because housing stock is absorbed by second homes and short-term rentals, while the workers who staff the ski resorts, restaurants, schools, and hospitals commute from hours away - or leave entirely.
Summit County
Key Towns: Breckenridge, Frisco, Silverthorne, Dillon, Keystone 2025 AMI (family of 4): $139,600 - Summit Daily
Summit County is the epicenter of Colorado's mountain housing crisis. It is the most thoroughly documented case study of what happens when a resort economy's housing stock is captured by vacation and investment use.
Rent Data
| Fiscal Year | 2BR FMR | YoY Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2019 | $1,464 | - | RentData.org |
| FY 2020 | $1,414 | -3.4% | RentData.org |
| FY 2021 | $1,607 | +13.65% | RentData.org |
| FY 2022 | $1,797 | +11.82% | RentData.org |
| FY 2023 | $1,860 | +3.51% | RentData.org |
| FY 2024 | $2,220 | +19.35% | RentData.org |
| FY 2025 | $2,291 | +3.2% | RentData.org |
| FY 2026 (est.) | $2,467 | +7.7% | RentData.org |
- Cumulative increase FY2020-FY2025: +62% ($1,414 to $2,291)
- More expensive than 98-100% of all FMR areas in Colorado - RentData.org
- Market-rate 1BR (Breckenridge, 2024): $2,650 (up 26.19% YoY) - RentHop
- Long-term rental 1BR unfurnished: $2,000/month - Summit Mountain Properties
- Average 1BR in 2018: $957. Current: $2,000+. That is a 100%+ increase - Summit Daily
Wages vs. Housing
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR Housing Wage | $42.69/hr | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Hours/week at min wage to afford 2BR | 84 hours | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| MIT Living Wage (1 adult, 0 children) | $28.63/hr | MIT Living Wage Calculator |
| MIT Living Wage (1 adult, 1 child) | $55.55/hr | MIT Living Wage Calculator |
| % of waiter/waitress salary consumed by rent at $1,800/mo | 85% | Summit Daily / CO Dept of Labor |
| FIRC clients spending >50% income on rent | 50%+ | Summit Daily |
| Renters working two jobs | 39% | Summit Daily |
| Renters working three jobs | 29% | Summit Daily |
| Households spending >30% income on housing | ~40% | CBS Colorado |
| Households calling affordable living a serious/critical problem | 60%+ | CBS Colorado |
Vacancy, Second Homes, and Short-Term Rentals
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Housing that is vacant (vacation/second homes) | 70% | Summit Daily |
| Occupied year-round | 30% | Summit Daily |
| Breckenridge homes with local mailing addresses | 24% | Summit Daily |
| Breckenridge housing with STR licenses | 56% | Summit Daily |
| STRs owned by non-residents | 68% | Summit Daily |
| Apartment vacancy rate (Q1 2024) | 0% | CHFA Statewide Apartment Survey |
Housing Deficit
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Housing units needed (5-year) | 2,528 (1,218 rental + 1,310 for-sale) | Summit Daily |
| Units currently planned | 804 rental + 555 for-sale | Summit Daily |
Summit County's Area Median Income ($139,600 for a family of 4) now exceeds Pitkin County (Aspen) - but officials note the figure is inflated by wealthy remote workers, not reflective of the local workforce. - Summit Daily
Eagle County
Key Towns: Vail, Avon, Edwards, Minturn, Eagle, Gypsum Population (2023 est.): ~55,400 - U.S. Census Bureau Median Home Price (2024): ~$1.2M (Vail Valley ~$1.5M) - Epic Colorado Life
Rent Data (2BR FMR)
| Year | 2BR FMR | YoY Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $1,715 | +19.6% | RentData.org |
| 2022 | $1,944 | +13.4% | RentData.org |
| 2023 | $2,030 | +4.4% | RentData.org |
| 2024 | $2,319 | +14.2% | RentData.org |
| 2025 | $2,174 | -6.3% | RentData.org |
- 5-year increase: +26.8% ($1,715 to $2,174)
- More expensive than 97% of U.S. FMR areas - RentData.org
Wages vs. Housing
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR Housing Wage | $44.60/hr | NLIHC Out of Reach 2024 (PDF) |
| Hours/week at min wage for 2BR | 83 hours | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Annual income needed for 2BR | ~$92,800 | Derived from NLIHC data |
Vacancy and STRs
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Vacancy rate (2020 Census) | ~37% | Colorado Sun |
| Full-time resident occupancy | ~50% | Aspen Journalism / NW CO Council of Governments |
| Total STRs | ~5,000 | Vail Daily |
| Vail licensed STRs | 2,506 | Town of Vail |
| County-level STR ordinance | None (left to municipalities) | Eagle County |
Housing Deficit
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Housing shortfall | 4,500 units | Vail Daily / Eagle County Housing Assessment |
| Rental vacancy rate (Eagle, Garfield, Summit combined) | Below 2% | Post Independent |
| Available apartments (3 counties combined) | ~30 units | Post Independent |
Pitkin County
Key Towns: Aspen, Snowmass Village Population (2023 est.): ~17,100 - World Population Review Mean Single-Family Home Value (2024): $13.3M - Aspen Times Cost of Living vs. National Average: 220.4% - Aspen Times
Rent Data (2BR FMR)
| Year | 2BR FMR | YoY Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $1,711 | +8.4% | RentData.org |
| 2022 | $1,851 | +8.2% | RentData.org |
| 2023 | $1,910 | +3.2% | RentData.org |
| 2024 | $2,060 | +7.9% | RentData.org |
| 2025 | $2,174 | +5.5% | RentData.org |
- 5-year increase: +27.1% ($1,711 to $2,174). Rents have risen every single year.
Wages vs. Housing
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR Housing Wage | $39.62/hr | NLIHC Out of Reach 2024 (PDF) |
| Hours/week at min wage for 2BR | 84 hours | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Wage gap (family of 4) | $37,200/year | Aspen Times |
| Income needed (family of 4) | $148,512 | Aspen Times |
| Actual median wage | $111,291 | Aspen Times |
Vacancy and STRs
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Vacancy rate (2020 Census) | ~39.4% | Aspen Journalism |
| Single-family homes as second homes (Aspen) | 58% (up from 45% in 2003) | Aspen Daily News |
| Aspen STR permits | 790 | Aspen Journalism |
| STR cap | 120 nights/year; no new STRs allowed | Pitkin County Ordinance |
| Vacancy tax | Under consideration (Feb 2026) | Aspen Public Radio |
Workforce Crisis
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Workforce commuting in from outside county | 62% | Aspen Times |
| Workers commuting 50+ miles one-way | 24% | Aspen Times |
| Home price increase 2018-2024 | +183% | Aspen Times |
| Affordable housing serving workforce | Less than 1/5 | ColoradoBiz |
| Voter-approved housing mill levy (1A) | 1.5 mills (~$8.5M/yr) | Aspen Daily News |
Garfield County
Key Towns: Glenwood Springs, Rifle, Carbondale, New Castle Population (2023 est.): ~62,000 - Data USA Avg Single-Family Home Value (Glenwood, 2024): $892,497 (up 333% since 2004) - Post Independent
Garfield County is not a resort town. It is the bedroom community - where workers priced out of Eagle and Pitkin counties land. And now prices here are rising too.
Rent Data (2BR FMR)
| Year | 2BR FMR | YoY Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $1,212 | +6.3% | RentData.org |
| 2022 | $1,387 | +14.4% | RentData.org |
| 2023 | $1,357 | -2.2% | RentData.org |
| 2024 | $1,537 | +13.3% | RentData.org |
| 2025 | $1,599 | +4.0% | RentData.org |
- 5-year increase: +31.9%. More expensive than 94% of U.S. FMR areas.
Key Data
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR Housing Wage | $25.73/hr | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Hours/week at min wage for 2BR | 67 hours | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Renter households cost-burdened (Glenwood) | 44% | Post Independent |
| Vacancy rate (2020 Census) | ~7.2% (92.8% occupancy) | Colorado Sun / Aspen Journalism |
| Median household income (Glenwood, 2024) | $80,806 (up only 49% since 2010) | Post Independent |
| Accommodations tax (Glenwood, 2022) | 2.5%, generates ~$1.7M/yr for workforce housing | Post Independent |
The commute corridor from Rifle to Glenwood Springs to Carbondale to Aspen defines daily life for thousands of workers in the I-70 corridor.
Routt County
Key Towns: Steamboat Springs (~13,000), Hayden, Oak Creek Population (2023 est.): ~25,000 - World Population Review 1BR rent (Steamboat, 2025): $2,300+/mo - Yampa Valley Housing Authority
Rent Data (2BR FMR)
| Year | 2BR FMR | YoY Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $1,395 | +13.6% | RentData.org |
| 2022 | $1,602 | +14.8% | RentData.org |
| 2023 | $1,695 | +5.8% | RentData.org |
| 2024 | $1,956 | +15.4% | RentData.org |
| 2025 | $1,892 | -3.3% | RentData.org |
- 5-year increase: +35.6%
Key Data
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR Housing Wage | $25.50/hr | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Hours/week at min wage for 2BR | 66 hours | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Residents cost-burdened (Steamboat) | 47% | Steamboat Pilot |
| Vacancy rate (2020 Census) | ~37% | Colorado Sun |
| Licensed STRs (Steamboat) | ~2,295-2,370 | AirROI |
| Est. housing as STR/vacation rental | ~30% | Unofficial Networks |
| Housing shortage | 3,100 units | HUD / KUNC |
| Workforce commuting in | ~57% | HUD Case Study |
| Young professionals fearing displacement | 67%+ | Colorado Trust |
| Teachers/staff considering leaving | 41.6% | Steamboat Pilot |
| Fastest declining age group | 25-45 year olds | Steamboat Pilot |
Steamboat Springs is losing its middle class. Two-thirds of young professionals say housing costs may force them out. The Brown Ranch project - a planned large-scale workforce housing development - represents the community's biggest bet on reversing the trend. - Brown Ranch
Grand County
Key Towns: Winter Park, Granby, Grand Lake, Fraser, Hot Sulphur Springs Population (2023 est.): ~15,800 - Data USA Total Housing Units: 16,633 - 2020 Census / Grand County Profile
Grand County has the highest vacancy rate of any county in this study - and one of the starkest examples of the ghost town paradox.
Rent Data (2BR FMR)
| Year | 2BR FMR | YoY Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $1,144 | +12.9% | RentData.org |
| 2022 | $1,279 | +11.8% | RentData.org |
| 2023 | $1,253 | -2.0% | RentData.org |
| 2024 | $1,332 | +6.3% | RentData.org |
| 2025 | $1,323 | -0.7% | RentData.org |
- 5-year increase: +15.6%. Rent growth has plateaued - but only because there is almost nothing to rent.
Key Data
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR Housing Wage | $25.35/hr | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Hours/week at min wage for 2BR | 66 hours | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Vacancy rate (2020 Census) | 57.9% - highest of all counties studied | Colorado Sun |
| Market-rate homes occupied by permanent residents | 36% | Sky-Hi News |
| Housing gap (by 2027) | 645-730 units | Sky-Hi News |
| Affordability gap | $180,000 between build cost and what workforce can afford | Sky-Hi News |
| Home price increase since 2012 | More than doubled (some tripled) | SnowBrains |
COVID-19 remote workers permanently changed this market. Winter Park Resort had to build its own workforce housing (Conifer Commons) because there was literally nowhere for employees to live. - Winter Park Resort
Park County
Key Towns: Fairplay (pop. 851), Bailey, Alma Population (2024 est.): 18,316 - U.S. Census Bureau Total Housing Units: 14,112 - 2020 Census
Key Data
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR FMR (FY2026) | $2,089 (Denver MSA rate) | HUD FMR Schedule |
| 2BR Housing Wage | $31.04/hr | NLIHC Out of Reach 2025 |
| Hours/week at min wage for 2BR | 84 hours | NLIHC Out of Reach 2025 |
| Vacancy rate (2020 Census) | 44%+ | Colorado Sun |
| Median home price (2024) | $538,737 | Park County Housing Needs Assessment 2025 |
Park County uses Denver MSA FMR rates despite being a rural mountain county. Summit County's extreme costs force workers to relocate to Park County and commute back. About half of all housing sits empty while the county faces an affordable housing crisis. - CPR News (2019)
Lake County
Key Towns: Leadville (pop. 2,624), Twin Lakes Population (2024 est.): 7,369 - U.S. Census Bureau Total Housing Units: 4,303 - 2020 Census
Lake County has the most extreme housing wage figure of any county in this study.
Key Data
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR FMR (HUD, FY2026) | $1,343 | HUD FMR Schedule |
| 2BR Housing Wage | $41.15/hr - highest of all 6 rural counties studied | NLIHC Out of Reach 2025 |
| Hours/week at min wage for 2BR | 111 hours | NLIHC Out of Reach 2025 |
| Vacancy rate (2020 Census) | 28.5% | Census QuickFacts |
| Active STR listings (Leadville) | 209-307 | AirROI |
| Leadville STR cap | 12% of total housing stock | Leadville STR Ordinance |
111 hours per week. There are not enough hours in a five-day work week to cover that number. Freeport-McMoRan (Climax Mine parent company) purchased the American National Bank Building and its 21 apartments in 2022 to house mine employees, displacing existing tenants. The Silver King Leadville hotel was converted to 56-unit workforce housing ($5M financing, 2024). - JLL, Lake County
Gunnison County
Key Towns: Crested Butte, Gunnison (~7,000), Mt. Crested Butte Population (2024 est.): ~17,400 - U.S. Census Bureau Total Housing Units: 12,131 - 2020 Census
Key Data
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR FMR (FY2026) | $1,334 | HUD FMR Schedule |
| 2BR FMR (FY2021) | $1,012 (32% increase in 5 years) | RentData.org |
| 2BR Housing Wage | $30.75/hr | NLIHC Out of Reach 2025 |
| Hours/week at min wage for 2BR | 83 hours | NLIHC Out of Reach 2025 |
| County vacancy rate (2020 Census) | 41.2% | Gunnison Times |
| Mt. Crested Butte vacancy | 45% | Gunnison Times |
| City of Gunnison vacancy | 9% | U.S. Census Bureau 2020 |
| Units needed (North Valley) | ~600 | Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority |
| Average construction cost | ~$500,000 | Gunnison County Housing Authority |
San Miguel County
Key Towns: Telluride (pop. 2,658), Mountain Village, Norwood Population (2024 est.): 7,728 - U.S. Census Bureau
San Miguel County is home to the most extreme price-to-income ratio in the state.
Key Data
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR FMR (FY2026) | $1,645 | HUD FMR Schedule |
| 2BR Housing Wage | $22.02/hr | NLIHC Out of Reach 2025 |
| Hours/week at min wage for 2BR | 59 hours | NLIHC Out of Reach 2025 |
| Vacancy rate (2020 Census) | ~45% | Colorado Sun |
| Full-time resident occupancy (Telluride) | 55% | Telluride Foundation |
| Median home price vs. median household income | 37x | Fortune (Feb 2024) |
| Income needed to afford median home (Telluride-Mountain Village, 2025) | ~$670,000/yr | San Miguel Regional Housing Authority |
| STR licenses (Telluride) | 750+ | Town of Telluride |
| Unearned income share (county) | 48% (investments/retirement) | Telluride Foundation |
| Units needed by 2034 | 1,100+ | San Miguel Regional Housing Authority |
Telluride drew down millions in municipal bonds for affordable housing. Nearly half the county's income comes from investments, not local jobs. - Fortune
Clear Creek County
Key Towns: Georgetown, Idaho Springs (pop. 1,780), Silver Plume Population (2024 est.): ~9,500 - U.S. Census Bureau Total Housing Units: 5,672 - 2020 Census
Key Data
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR FMR (FY2026) | $2,089 (Denver MSA rate) | HUD FMR Schedule |
| 2BR Housing Wage | $25.08/hr | NLIHC Out of Reach 2025 |
| Hours/week at min wage for 2BR | 68 hours | NLIHC Out of Reach 2025 |
| Vacancy rate (2020 Census) | 22.6% | U.S. Census Bureau 2020 |
| Affordable housing shortfall | 40% | Clear Creek County Housing Baseline |
| Employees commuting from outside county | 49% | Denver7 News |
| Average home price (2023) | $577,686 | Clear Creek County Housing Baseline |
| Non-Primary Resident STR cap | 4.5% of total residences | Clear Creek County |
Clear Creek County formed a Regional Housing Authority in February 2025 - all 5 county jurisdictions signed an IGA in November 2024. - Colorado Community Media
La Plata County
Key Towns: Durango (~19,000), Bayfield, Ignacio Population (2024 est.): ~56,000 - U.S. Census Bureau Total Housing Units: 28,613 - 2020 Census
Key Data
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR FMR (FY2026) | $1,589 | HUD FMR Schedule |
| 2BR Housing Wage | $25.44/hr | NLIHC Out of Reach 2025 |
| Hours/week at min wage for 2BR | 69 hours | NLIHC Out of Reach 2025 |
| Vacancy rate (2020 Census) | 16.7% | U.S. Census Bureau 2020 |
| Median home value (2024) | $666,000 (up 55% in 5 years) | Durango Herald |
| Median home listing price (2024) | $870,000 | La Plata County Workforce Housing Investment Strategy 2024 (PDF) |
| Workers commuting from outside county | Nearly one-third | Durango Herald |
| STRs in Durango area | ~900 | Durango Telegraph |
| County STR regulation | None in unincorporated areas | Durango Telegraph |
Job growth has outpaced housing production consistently. The Regional Housing Alliance warns the shortage threatens both workforce and community character. - Durango Herald
Mountain Towns at a Glance
Fair Market Rent and Housing Wages
| County | 2BR FMR (latest) | Housing Wage | Hours/Wk at Min Wage | 5-Year FMR Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit | $2,291 (FY2025) | $42.69/hr | 84 hrs | +62% |
| Eagle | $2,174 (FY2025) | $44.60/hr | 83 hrs | +26.8% |
| Pitkin | $2,174 (FY2025) | $39.62/hr | 84 hrs | +27.1% |
| Garfield | $1,599 (FY2025) | $25.73/hr | 67 hrs | +31.9% |
| Routt | $1,892 (FY2025) | $25.50/hr | 66 hrs | +35.6% |
| Grand | $1,323 (FY2025) | $25.35/hr | 66 hrs | +15.6% |
| Park | $2,089 (FY2026)* | $31.04/hr | 84 hrs | - |
| Lake | $1,343 (FY2026) | $41.15/hr | 111 hrs | - |
| Gunnison | $1,334 (FY2026) | $30.75/hr | 83 hrs | +32% |
| San Miguel | $1,645 (FY2026) | $22.02/hr | 59 hrs | +10% |
| Clear Creek | $2,089 (FY2026)* | $25.08/hr | 68 hrs | - |
| La Plata | $1,589 (FY2026) | $25.44/hr | 69 hrs | - |
*Denver MSA rate - actual local conditions may differ
Vacancy Rates and Second Homes
| County | 2020 Census Vacancy | Full-Time Occupancy | Key STR Stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit | 70% | 30% | 56% of Breckenridge has STR licenses |
| Eagle | ~37% | ~50% | ~5,000 STRs, no county ordinance |
| Pitkin | ~39.4% | ~60.6% | 790 Aspen permits, 120-night cap |
| Garfield | 7.2% | 92.8% | Bedroom community, not resort |
| Routt | ~37% | ~50% | ~2,300 STRs, ~30% of housing |
| Grand | 57.9% | 36% of market-rate | Highest vacancy studied |
| Park | 44%+ | ~50% | Registration only, no cap |
| Lake | 28.5% | ~71.5% | 12% cap in Leadville |
| Gunnison | 41.2% | ~59% | 45% vacant in Mt. Crested Butte |
| San Miguel | ~45% | 55% | 750+ STRs in Telluride |
| Clear Creek | 22.6% | ~77.4% | 4.5% non-primary resident cap |
| La Plata | 16.7% | ~83.3% | ~900 STRs, no county regulation |
The Front Range
Colorado's Front Range cities have the largest absolute housing shortages. While mountain towns face unique vacancy dynamics, Front Range cities face the raw math of population growth outpacing construction.
Denver
City Population (2025 est.): 716,234 - World Population Review Metro Population (2025): 2,995,000 - MacroTrends Median Household Income: $86,869 - FRED Denver Minimum Wage (2026): $19.29/hr - City of Denver
Rent Data (Denver-Aurora-Lakewood MSA, 2BR FMR)
| Fiscal Year | 2BR FMR | YoY Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2019 | $1,508 | +6.35% | RentData.org |
| FY 2020 | $1,566 | +3.85% | RentData.org |
| FY 2021 | $1,605 | +2.49% | RentData.org |
| FY 2022 | $1,659 | +3.36% | RentData.org |
| FY 2023 | $1,856 | +11.87% | RentData.org |
| FY 2024 | $2,201 | +18.59% | RentData.org |
| FY 2025 | $2,140 | -2.77% | RentData.org |
| FY 2026 | $2,089 | -2.38% | HUD FY2026 FMR Schedule (PDF) |
- Cumulative FY2019-FY2026: +38.5% ($1,508 to $2,089)
- Single biggest jump: FY2023-FY2024 at +18.59%
- Denver MSA is more expensive than 98% of FMR areas nationally
- Market-rate apartment average rent (Q4 2025): $1,754/month (fell to early 2022 levels) - Denver Post
- ~20,000 new apartments delivered in 2024 (nearly double historical average), market absorbed only 14,000 - Denver Post
- Median single-family home price (Jan 2026): $615,000 - Denver Post
Wages vs. Housing
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR Housing Wage | $41.15/hr | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Annual income needed for 2BR | $85,600 | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Hours/week at CO min wage ($14.81) for 2BR | 111 hours | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Hours/week at 2026 state min wage ($15.16) for 2BR | ~106 hours | Calculated from NLIHC methodology |
| Hours/week at Denver min wage ($19.29) for 2BR | ~84 hours | Calculated from NLIHC methodology |
| MIT Living Wage (1 adult, 0 children) | $26.20/hr | MIT Living Wage Calculator |
| Cost-burdened renters (>30% income) | 50%+ | Bell Policy / Harvard JCHS |
Housing Shortage
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Housing units needed (Denver region, 2023-2032) | 216,000 | DRCOG Regional Housing Needs Assessment (PDF) |
| Affordable units needed (0-60% AMI, region) | 303,000 | DRCOG RHNA |
| Mayor Johnston's 2026 goal | 2,500 affordable + 5,000 market-rate | KUNC |
Short-Term Rentals
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Active STR listings | ~3,675 | AirROI |
| Citations issued (2024) | 850+ | Steadily |
| Illegal STRs shut down (2024) | ~200 | Steadily |
| Penalty per violation per day | $1,000 | City of Denver |
Boulder
County Population (2024 est.): 330,262 - Colorado Demographics Median Household Income: $102,772 - Census ACS 2023 Boulder Minimum Wage (2026): $16.82/hr - City of Boulder
Rent Data (Boulder MSA, 2BR FMR)
| Fiscal Year | 2BR FMR | YoY Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2019 | $1,516 | +3.76% | RentData.org |
| FY 2020 | $1,717 | +13.26% | RentData.org |
| FY 2021 | $1,724 | +0.41% | RentData.org |
| FY 2022 | $1,748 | +1.39% | RentData.org |
| FY 2023 | $1,911 | +9.32% | RentData.org |
| FY 2024 | $2,217 | +16.01% | RentData.org |
| FY 2025 | $2,059 | -7.13% | RentData.org |
| FY 2026 | $2,124 | +3.16% | HUD FY2026 FMR Schedule |
- Cumulative FY2019-FY2026: +40.1% ($1,516 to $2,124)
Wages vs. Housing
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR Housing Wage | $39.60/hr | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Hours/week at CO min wage ($14.81) for 2BR | 107 hours | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Hours/week at 2026 state min wage ($15.16) for 2BR | ~108 hours | Calculated |
| Hours/week at Boulder min wage ($16.82) for 2BR | ~97 hours | Calculated |
| MIT Living Wage (1 adult, 0 children) | $26.36/hr | MIT Living Wage Calculator |
Housing Shortage
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Housing units needed (Boulder City, by 2032) | 10,700 (23% increase in supply) | Boulder Reporting Lab |
| Affordable units needed (of 10,700) | ~9,000 (below AMI) | Boulder Reporting Lab |
| Cost-burdened renters (Boulder City, 2022) | 62% | Boulder Reporting Lab / DRCOG |
| In-commuters daily | ~60,000 (half the workforce) | Better Boulder |
| Employment growth vs population (2010-2020) | Employment grew 2x faster | Better Boulder |
| Median home price (Boulder City, Dec 2025) | $993,000 | Norada Real Estate |
| Permanently affordable homes (Dec 2024) | 4,094 (8.7% of housing) | City of Boulder Dashboard |
| Goal: % affordable by 2035 | 15% | City of Boulder |
| CU enrollment increase (2011-2021) | +6,000 students (+20%) | Better Boulder |
Fort Collins
City Population (2020 Census): 169,810 - Wikipedia Median Household Income (city): $83,598 - Census QuickFacts Fort Collins Minimum Wage (2026): $18.50/hr - City of Fort Collins Major Factor: Colorado State University (33,000+ students)
Rent Data (Fort Collins MSA, 2BR FMR)
| Fiscal Year | 2BR FMR | YoY Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2019 | $1,253 | +13.29% | RentData.org |
| FY 2020 | $1,244 | -0.7% | RentData.org |
| FY 2021 | $1,351 | +8.6% | RentData.org |
| FY 2022 | $1,421 | +5.18% | RentData.org |
| FY 2023 | $1,539 | +8.3% | RentData.org |
| FY 2024 | $1,646 | +6.95% | RentData.org |
| FY 2025 | $1,695 | +2.98% | RentData.org |
| FY 2026 | $1,732 | +2.18% | HUD FY2026 FMR Schedule |
- Cumulative FY2020-FY2026: +39.2% ($1,244 to $1,732)
Wages vs. Housing
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR Housing Wage | $32.60/hr | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Hours/week at state min wage ($15.16) for 2BR | ~86 hours | Calculated from NLIHC methodology |
| Hours/week at Fort Collins min wage ($18.50) for 2BR | ~71 hours | Calculated from NLIHC methodology |
| MIT Living Wage (1 adult, 0 children) | ~$22.53/hr | MIT Living Wage Calculator |
| Rent increase 2010-2020 | +125% | Bell Policy Center Housing Primer 2025 |
| Wage increase 2010-2020 | +25% | Bell Policy Center Housing Primer 2025 |
| Rent-to-wage growth ratio | 5:1 | Calculated from Bell Policy data |
| Cost-burdened renters | ~59% | Fort Collins AHSP (PDF) |
| Corporate landlord ownership (CO statewide) | ~20% of apartments (3rd highest in US) | CPR/KUNC |
Housing Shortage
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Housing units needed per year (2023-2028) | 1,580-2,197 | Common Sense Institute |
| Home affordability | Lowest in 20+ years | Common Sense Institute |
| Median home price (Dec 2025) | $555,000 | Redfin |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2% | Census QuickFacts |
In Fort Collins, rents grew five times faster than wages over the past decade. Even the highest-paid food service workers in the city cannot afford Fair Market Rent. - Common Sense Institute
Colorado Springs
City Population (2020 Census): 481,713 - World Population Review County Population (2023): 736,008 - Data USA Median Household Income: $87,470 - Data USA
Rent Data (2BR FMR)
| Fiscal Year | 2BR FMR | YoY Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2019 | $1,064 | +4.31% | RentData.org |
| FY 2020 | $1,141 | +7.24% | RentData.org |
| FY 2021 | $1,200 | +5.17% | RentData.org |
| FY 2022 | $1,302 | +8.50% | RentData.org |
| FY 2023 | $1,484 | +13.98% | RentData.org |
| FY 2024 | $1,734 | +16.85% | RentData.org |
| FY 2025 | $1,778 | +2.54% | RentData.org |
- Cumulative FY2020-FY2025: +55.8% ($1,141 to $1,778)
Wages vs. Housing
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR Housing Wage | $34.19/hr | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Hours/week at 2026 min wage ($15.16) for 2BR | ~90 hours | Calculated |
| MIT Living Wage (1 adult, 0 children) | ~$23.04/hr | MIT Living Wage Calculator |
| Cost-burdened renters | 53% | CO Springs Gazette |
| Renters who can afford average rent | 36% | CSI Report |
| Hours of work for median mortgage (2024) | 86 hours (was 43 in 2015 - doubled) | CSI Report |
Housing Shortage
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Current housing shortage | 27,712 units | City of Colorado Springs |
| Units needed by 2035 | 60,034 additional homes | City of Colorado Springs |
| Permits needed per year | ~8,500 | CPR |
| Permits actually issued per year | ~3,000 | CPR |
| Construction deficit | 5,500 units/year underbuild | CPR |
| Median home price (Jan 2026) | $469,500 | CO Springs Gazette |
| Households that can afford to buy | ~30% | CSI Report |
| Home price increase (10 years) | +82.6% | CSI Report |
Homelessness
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PIT Count 2025 | 1,745 people (record high) | CO Springs Gazette |
| PIT Count 2024 | 1,146 people | CPR |
| YoY increase | +52.3% | CO Springs Gazette |
| Chronically homeless (2025 vs 2024) | 644 vs 282 | CO Springs Gazette |
| Broader annual estimate (2024) | 6,846 adults and children | CO Springs Gazette |
Front Range at a Glance
| Metric | Denver | Boulder | Fort Collins | CO Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2BR FMR (FY2026) | $2,089 | $2,124 | $1,732 | $1,778 |
| 2BR Housing Wage | $41.15/hr | $39.60/hr | $32.60/hr | $34.19/hr |
| Hours/wk at state min wage | ~106 hrs | ~108 hrs | ~86 hrs | ~90 hrs |
| Median Home Price | $615,000 | $993,000 | $555,000 | $469,500 |
| Cost-Burdened Renters | 50%+ | 62% | ~59% | 53% |
| Housing Units Needed | 216,000 (region) | 10,700 (city) | 1,580-2,197/yr | 60,034 (by 2035) |
| Local Min Wage (2026) | $19.29/hr | $16.82/hr | $15.16 (state) | $15.16 (state) |
The Western Slope and Southern Colorado
If Front Range cities represent scale, and mountain towns represent vacancy paradoxes, the Western Slope and Southern Colorado represent the collapse of the "affordable alternative" narrative. Grand Junction and Pueblo were long considered Colorado's affordable options. The data shows that era is ending.
Grand Junction
City Population (2020 Census): ~65,000 - GJ Sentinel Mesa County Population (2020): 155,703 - Wikipedia Median Household Income (GJ, 2023): $66,676 - Data USA
Rent Data (Grand Junction MSA, 2BR FMR)
| Fiscal Year | 2BR FMR | YoY Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2019 | $842 | -0.24% | RentData.org |
| FY 2020 | $1,035 | +22.92% | RentData.org |
| FY 2021 | $1,018 | -1.64% | RentData.org |
| FY 2022 | $1,026 | +0.79% | RentData.org |
| FY 2023 | $1,066 | +3.9% | RentData.org |
| FY 2024 | $1,123 | +5.35% | RentData.org |
| FY 2025 | $1,245 | +10.86% | RentData.org |
| FY 2026 | $1,249 | +0.32% | HUD FY2026 FMR Schedule |
- Cumulative FY2019-FY2026: +48.3% ($842 to $1,249)
Key Data
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR Housing Wage | $23.94/hr | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Hours/week at 2026 min wage ($15.16) for 2BR | ~63 hours | Calculated from NLIHC methodology |
| Housing deficit (Grand Junction) | 897-2,413 units | Common Sense Institute |
| Housing shortage for renters <$25K (Mesa County) | 3,736 units | Colorado Sun |
| Overcrowded households (Mesa County) | ~1,400 | Colorado Sun |
| Home cost increase (8 years) | +87% | Common Sense Institute |
| Homelessness increase since 2019 | +43% | Common Sense Institute |
| Unsheltered rate | Over 60% | Common Sense Institute |
| Unhoused population (2023) | 2,000+ | Common Sense Institute |
| Vacancy rate (CSI report) | 1.9% | Common Sense Institute |
| Median home price (2025) | $402,000 | Redfin |
| STR cap (downtown GJ) | 7% of residential lots | KKCO11 |
| STR cap (other GJ areas) | 3% of residential lots | KKCO11 |
Pueblo
City Population (2020 Census): 111,642 - Census County Population (2025 est.): 170,009 - World Population Review Median Household Income (2023): $62,250 - Data USA Poverty Rate: 15.4% - Data USA
Pueblo has long been considered Colorado's affordable city. The data tells a different story.
Rent Data (Pueblo MSA, 2BR FMR)
| Fiscal Year | 2BR FMR | YoY Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2019 | $875 | +13.64% | RentData.org |
| FY 2020 | $838 | -4.23% | RentData.org |
| FY 2021 | $836 | -0.24% | RentData.org |
| FY 2022 | $1,052 | +25.84% | RentData.org |
| FY 2023 | $1,124 | +6.84% | RentData.org |
| FY 2024 | $1,158 | +3.02% | RentData.org |
| FY 2025 | $1,258 | +8.64% | RentData.org |
- Cumulative FY2021-FY2025: +50.5% ($836 to $1,258)
- Single biggest jump: FY2021-FY2022 at +25.84%
Key Data
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2BR Housing Wage (NLIHC 2025) | $32.60/hr | NLIHC Out of Reach |
| Hours/week at 2026 min wage ($15.16) for 2BR | ~86 hours | Calculated |
| Cost-burdened renters | >50% | CPR |
| Median home price (Pueblo city, Dec 2025) | $257,000 | Redfin |
| Child poverty rate (2025) | 17.3% | World Population Review |
| STR listings | 483 (89% entire homes) | AirDNA |
Homelessness
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PIT Count 2023 | 359 people | Yahoo/KOAA |
| PIT Count 2021 | 204 people | KOAA |
| Increase 2021-2023 | +75% | Yahoo/KOAA |
If Pueblo is not affordable, nowhere in Colorado is.
Five Themes Across the Data
Across 12 mountain counties, 4 Front Range cities, and 2 Western Slope/Southern Colorado cities, five patterns repeat themselves:
1. The Ghost Town Paradox
Colorado mountain towns have more housing than people - but the housing is locked up in second homes, vacation rentals, and investment properties. The workers who keep these communities running cannot find a place to live.
The data:
- Grand County: 57.9% of housing is vacant - Colorado Sun
- Summit County: 70% vacant, 0% apartment vacancy for workers - Summit Daily, CHFA
- San Miguel County: 45% vacant, only 55% year-round residents - Colorado Sun
- Park County: 44%+ vacant - Colorado Sun
- Gunnison County: 41.2% vacant - Gunnison Times
- Pitkin County: 39.4% vacant, 58% of Aspen single-family homes are second homes - Aspen Journalism, Aspen Daily News
2. The Three-Job Rent Check
At Colorado's minimum wage, workers in most areas need to work far more than 40 hours a week to afford a basic two-bedroom apartment.
The data (hours/week at minimum wage to afford 2BR):
All figures use the Colorado state minimum wage ($15.16/hr in 2026) as the baseline for consistent comparison across markets. Denver and Boulder have higher local minimums - adjusted figures shown in parentheses. All 12 mountain counties use the state minimum wage with no local ordinances.
- Lake County: 111 hours - NLIHC
- Boulder: ~108 hours at state min; ~97 hours at Boulder local min ($16.82/hr) - Calculated from NLIHC data
- Denver: ~106 hours at state min; ~84 hours at Denver local min ($19.29/hr) - Calculated from NLIHC data
- Colorado Springs: ~90 hours - Calculated from NLIHC data
- Fort Collins: ~86 hours at state min; ~71 hours at Fort Collins local min ($18.50/hr) - Calculated from NLIHC data
- Pueblo: ~86 hours - Calculated from NLIHC data
- Summit County: 84 hours - NLIHC
- Pitkin County: 84 hours - NLIHC
- Park County: 84 hours - NLIHC
- Eagle County: 83 hours - NLIHC
- Gunnison County: 83 hours - NLIHC
Even with Denver's higher local minimum wage ($19.29/hr - the highest in the state), a minimum-wage worker still needs 84 hours per week. That matches Summit County, where workers earn state minimum and 39% work two jobs while 29% work three. - Summit Daily
3. The Commuter Trap
When workers cannot afford to live where they work, they drive - creating hour-plus commutes over mountain passes, often in winter conditions.
The data:
- Pitkin County: 62% of workers commute in; 24% drive 50+ miles one-way - Aspen Times
- Routt County: ~57% of workforce commutes in - HUD
- Boulder: ~60,000 daily in-commuters (half the workforce) - Better Boulder
- Clear Creek County: 49% of employees commute from outside - Denver7
- La Plata County: Nearly one-third commute from outside - Durango Herald
The I-70 corridor from Rifle through Glenwood Springs and Carbondale to Aspen defines daily life for thousands of workers.
4. Airbnb vs. Workforce
Communities are waking up and fighting back with STR caps, vacancy taxes, and creative housing solutions. But the tension between tourism revenue and workforce housing remains acute.
The data:
- Summit County: 56% of Breckenridge has STR licenses; 68% of STRs owned by non-residents - Summit Daily
- Eagle County: ~5,000 STRs, no county-level ordinance - Vail Daily
- Routt County: ~30% of housing is vacation rentals; vacancy tax under proposal - Unofficial Networks, Yampa Valley Bugle
- Pitkin County: Strict 120-night cap, no new STR permits - Pitkin County
- Denver: 850 citations, 200 illegal STRs shut down in 2024 - Steadily
- Lake County: 12% STR cap in Leadville; hotel converted to workforce housing - Leadville STR Ordinance
5. The Price Tag Mismatch
Home prices and local wages have completely decoupled. The people buying are from somewhere else. The people who live and work locally cannot afford to own - and increasingly cannot afford to rent.
The data:
- Telluride: Median home price is 37x median household income - Fortune
- Pitkin County: Mean single-family home value $13.3M; home prices +183% in 6 years - Aspen Times
- Boulder: Median home $993,000; 62% of renters cost-burdened - Norada, Boulder Reporting Lab
- La Plata County: Home prices up 55% in 5 years - Durango Herald
- Fort Collins: Rents +125% in a decade, wages only +25% - Bell Policy
- Colorado Springs: Hours of work for median mortgage doubled from 43 to 86 in 9 years - CSI
- Statewide: Wages +26% vs. mortgage payments +71% - CHFA
Why This Matters
The data across these 18 markets paints a clear picture: Colorado's housing crisis is not confined to one region, one income level, or one type of market. It touches resort towns and working-class cities alike. It affects renters and would-be homeowners. It is driving out teachers, first responders, restaurant workers, and young professionals.
The numbers point to several conclusions:
The supply problem is real but not the whole story. Colorado is 106,000 units short. Construction costs have increased 36%. The state needs 34,100 new homes per year. But in mountain towns, the issue is not just a lack of housing - it is that existing housing has been absorbed by uses that do not serve the local workforce.
Trust is a missing piece. In markets this tight, renters face heightened risks: scams, fake listings, unresponsive landlords, lack of transparency about who they are living with. When 39% of workers in Summit County work two jobs and 29% work three, every dollar and every hour matters. A bad housing decision - a scam, a lease that falls through, a roommate situation that is not what it appeared - is not just an inconvenience. It can be devastating.
Verification creates value. When housing is scarce, trust becomes the differentiator. Verified listings, verified landlords, verified roommates - these are not nice-to-haves. They are the foundation of a housing market that works for people, not just investors.
The data demands action. Not just from government programs and nonprofit advocacy - but from the infrastructure people use to find housing. The platforms, the tools, the systems. They need to be built with trust at their core.
That is why Rookd exists. Not as a solution to the housing supply crisis - that requires policy, investment, and construction. But as a trust layer for the housing that does exist. A way to verify that the listing is real, the landlord is legitimate, and the person you are sharing a home with is who they say they are.
Because in a market this broken, trust is not optional. It is essential.
Methodology and Notes
Data Sources
This report draws from five primary categories of data:
- Federal housing data: HUD Fair Market Rents via RentData.org and HUD FMR Schedules
- National Low Income Housing Coalition: Housing wages, hours-per-week calculations, and cost-burden data from NLIHC Out of Reach (2024 and 2025 editions)
- MIT Living Wage Calculator: County-level living wage data from livingwage.mit.edu
- U.S. Census Bureau: Population, vacancy rates, and housing unit counts from the 2020 Decennial Census and American Community Survey
- Colorado state agencies and local reporting: CHFA, CDOLA, Bell Policy Center, Common Sense Institute, and local newspapers (Summit Daily, Vail Daily, Aspen Times, Steamboat Pilot, Denver Post, Colorado Sun, and others)
Minimum Wage Notes
- Colorado state minimum wage (2026): $15.16/hr - applies statewide and in all 12 mountain counties studied
- Colorado state minimum wage (2025): $14.81/hr - used in NLIHC 2024 Out of Reach data
- NLIHC 2024 Out of Reach data uses $14.81/hr and FY2025 FMR values
- NLIHC 2025 Out of Reach data uses FY2026 FMR values
- Where "hours/week at min wage" figures are listed as "calculated," they use $15.16/hr applied to the most recent FMR using the NLIHC 30%-of-income methodology
- Local minimum wages (higher than state rate):
- Denver: $19.29/hr - City of Denver
- Boulder County (unincorporated): $16.82/hr - Boulder County
- Boulder City: $15.57/hr - City of Boulder
- Fort Collins: $18.50/hr - City of Fort Collins
- Edgewater: $18.17/hr
- No mountain county has a local minimum wage ordinance. All 12 mountain counties in this report (Summit, Eagle, Pitkin, Garfield, Routt, Grand, Park, Lake, Gunnison, San Miguel, Clear Creek, La Plata) use the state minimum wage.
- Denver and Boulder city-level calculations in this report show figures at both the state minimum and the applicable local minimum for transparency
FMR Notes
- HUD Fair Market Rent represents the 40th percentile of rents in an area - meaning 40% of units rent at or below FMR. Actual market rents, especially in resort areas, are often significantly higher.
- FMR fiscal years begin October 1 of the prior calendar year (e.g., FY2025 FMR applies starting October 1, 2024)
- Some rural counties (Park, Clear Creek) use metro-area FMR rates (Denver MSA) that may not reflect local conditions
Vacancy Rate Notes
- Vacancy rates are from the 2020 Census, the most recent decennial census available
- In mountain resort counties, "vacant" housing is almost entirely composed of second homes, vacation properties, and investment units - not abandoned or condemned housing
- Low rental vacancy rates in working-community counties (Garfield at 7.2%, Larimer at 2%) indicate extreme market tightness
Complete Source Index
Federal Data
| Source | URL |
|---|---|
| HUD Fair Market Rents | https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr.html |
| HUD FY2026 FMR Schedule (PDF) | https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmr2026/FY2026_FMR_Schedule.pdf |
| RentData.org | https://www.rentdata.org/ |
| NLIHC Out of Reach - Colorado | https://nlihc.org/oor/state/co |
| NLIHC 2024 Out of Reach Colorado (PDF) | https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/oor/2024_OOR-colorado.pdf |
| NLIHC 2025 Out of Reach Full Report (PDF) | https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/oor/2025_OOR_FullReport.pdf |
| NLIHC Colorado Housing Profile (PDF) | https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/SHP_CO.pdf |
| NLIHC Housing Needs by State - Colorado | https://nlihc.org/housing-needs-by-state/colorado |
| MIT Living Wage Calculator | https://livingwage.mit.edu/ |
| U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts | https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/ |
State and Regional
Local Government
News and Reporting
| Source | URL |
|---|---|
| Summit Daily | https://www.summitdaily.com/ |
| Vail Daily | https://www.vaildaily.com/ |
| Aspen Times | https://www.aspentimes.com/ |
| Aspen Journalism | https://aspenjournalism.org/ |
| Steamboat Pilot | https://www.steamboatpilot.com/ |
| Sky-Hi News | https://www.skyhinews.com/ |
| Post Independent | https://www.postindependent.com/ |
| Denver Post | https://www.denverpost.com/ |
| Colorado Sun | https://coloradosun.com/ |
| CPR News | https://www.cpr.org/ |
| Boulder Reporting Lab | https://boulderreportinglab.org/ |
| CO Springs Gazette | https://gazette.com/ |
| Durango Herald | https://www.durangoherald.com/ |
| GJ Sentinel | https://www.gjsentinel.com/ |
Academic and Research
| Source | URL |
|---|---|
| University of Chicago - Homelessness Study | https://harris.uchicago.edu/news-events/news/new-study-delivers-comprehensive-snapshot-us-homeless-populations-economic-well |
| BFI Working Paper (PDF) | https://bfi.uchicago.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BFI_WP_2023-41.pdf |
| Better Boulder Housing Analysis (PDF) | https://betterboulder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Better-Boulder-Housing-Availability-and-Affordability-Analysis.pdf |
STR Data Platforms
| Source | URL |
|---|---|
| AirROI | https://www.airroi.com/ |
| AirDNA | https://www.airdna.co/ |
| Airbtics | https://airbtics.com/ |
Real Estate Market Data
| Source | URL |
|---|---|
| Redfin | https://www.redfin.com/ |
| Zillow | https://www.zillow.com/ |
| Norada Real Estate | https://www.noradarealestate.com/ |
This report was researched and compiled by John Cronin, founder of Rookd - a verified housing platform launching in Colorado. Every statistic in this report includes a named source and verifiable URL. No data was fabricated or estimated without clear notation.
Last updated: February 2026