Rents are 9% below what Arvada's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,088 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Arvada usually run 1.2% below trend in December and 1.1% above it in July, about $48 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Arvada is 0.3% below its high of $2,094 in April 2025, at $2,088 as of September 2026.
Rent in Arvada changed +0.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 60 Colorado cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Arvada rose 31.7% while median household income rose 38.5% ($84,717 to $117,348). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Arvada is 31.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 5 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($117,348) is $2,934 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,373); a 3-bedroom is $3,095.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Arvada, 80005 ($2,547/mo), costs 39% more than the cheapest, 80004 ($1,833/mo).
Westminster, 5 miles away, rents for 10% less ($1,872/mo), about $2,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Arvada. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Arvada, CO is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 51.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Arvada, CO has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Arvada, CO stood at $1,669 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,088, reflecting a 25.1% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $96,677 to $117,348 across the same window, up 21.4% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 51.6% of adults here, versus 45.4% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Arvada, CO look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Arvada on your salary?
At $2,088/mo, how Arvada rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Arvada rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Arvada. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Arvada
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Arvada is $2,088/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,808/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,373/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,983/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,095/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($117,348/yr), Arvada ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Arvada?
At $2,088/mo, rent takes ~21% of Arvada's median household income ($117,348/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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