City Report · CO

Aspen

Pop. 6,756·1st most expensive in Colorado·Aspen rents are up 9.8% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$17,626/mo

Year-over-Year

+9.8%

Month-over-Month

+1.9%

vs US Median

+$15,694

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Aspen · $17,626

More expensive than 100% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

286% of income

EXPENSIVE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $17,626/mo, rent takes about 286% of the local median household income, well above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$705,000/yr

Local median income

$74,033/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Aspen's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Colorado

Rent in Aspen changed +9.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 60 Colorado cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.4%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($74,033) is $1,851 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($1,650); a 1-bedroom is $2,020.

Cheaper nearby

Basalt, 18 miles away, rents for 78% less ($3,800/mo), about $165,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Aspen. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$211,512/yr

At $17,626/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 9.8% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+9.8% YoY, +1.9% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Aspen, CO is majority owner-occupied, 69.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

6,756

Median income

$74,033

Median age

43.7

Renters

42.9%

Age distribution

26.2%

32.7%

14%

17.4%

Under 189.7%

18–3426.2%

35–5432.7%

55–6414%

65+17.4%

Gender

50.6%

49.4%

Male50.6%

Female49.4%

Race & ethnicity

83.9%

13.4%

White83.9%

Black1.4%

Hispanic13.4%

Asian1.8%

Education (25+)

20.2%

69.6%

No HS diploma1.2%

HS diploma9%

Some college20.2%

Bachelor's+69.6%

Housing tenure

57.1%

42.9%

Owner57.1%

Renter42.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Aspen, CO has changed in 5 years

Income

$89,625 → $74,033

down 17.4%

Population

7,019 → 6,756

down 3.7%

Renter share

40% → 42.9%

+2.9 pts

Bachelor's+

65% → 69.6%

+4.6 pts

Median age

41.2 → 43.7

+2.5 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $89,625 in 2021 to $74,033 more recently. Census counts show Aspen, CO losing about 263 residents over the five-year window, down 3.7% on net. The renter share has risen from 40% to 42.9%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 65% to 69.6% across the same window.

Community

Discussions about Aspen

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View Aspen rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Aspen on your salary?

At $17,626/mo, how Aspen rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $99,204/yr · Rent = 213.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $70,434/yr · Rent = 300.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $81,134/yr · Rent = 260.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $145,016/yr · Rent = 145.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Lawyer

Avg $185,294/yr · Rent = 114.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Firefighter

Avg $65,951/yr · Rent = 320.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $59,546/yr · Rent = 355.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $73,395/yr · Rent = 288.2% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Aspen rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Aspen. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Aspen

About renting in Aspen, CO

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Aspen is $17,626/mo as of October 2026.

At 286% of local median household income ($74,033/yr), Aspen ranks as expensive compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Aspen?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $705,000/year (about $339/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $17,626/mo in Aspen. The local median household income is $74,033/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Aspen?

Rent in Aspen has risen 9.8% over the past year.

How does Aspen rent compare to other cities in Colorado?

Aspen is one of the pricier among Colorado cities for rent, ranking #1 of 68 tracked cities at $17,626/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Aspen changed +9.8%, against a typical +1.4% across the 60 Colorado cities Zillow tracks.