Cost of Living in Arapahoe County, Colorado
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Arapahoe County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Arapahoe County ranks #3,066 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 2%)
Sourced county brief
Arapahoe County Median Gross Rent Estimated at $1,891 Per Month
In Arapahoe County, the median gross rent was estimated at $1,891 per month according to the 2020-2024 ACS 5-year data. This amount is $588 above the Colorado unweighted county mean of $1,303 per month. The official GRAPI—representing the median gross rent as a percentage of household income for renters—was 32.9%, which is 3.3 percentage points higher than the unweighted county mean of 29.6%. For homeownership, the median home value was $561,200, while the unweighted county mean across the state was $427,513. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $2,025, compared to an unweighted state county mean of $1,272. The median household income for all households was $101,087, while the median renter-household income was $67,407. These data points provide a statistical record of the county's housing costs during the reporting period. See ACS table B25064 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Arapahoe County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 32.9% of renter household income in Arapahoe County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,891 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,025. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $75,640 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Colorado unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,303 per month. Arapahoe County's $1,891 median is 45.2% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Arapahoe County
Rent Burden
22.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,359
per month
Owner Cost Burden
24.0%
of gross income
The median home in Arapahoe County may be a stretch
Median home value is $561,200. Estimated monthly cost: $4,480 vs. your max of $2,359.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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