Rents are 13% below what Lakewood'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 $1,800 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 Lakewood usually run 1.2% below trend in December and 1.1% above it in August, about $41 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Lakewood is 3.3% below its high of $1,861 in August 2024, at $1,800 as of September 2026.
Rent in Lakewood changed -0.6% 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 Lakewood rose 28.4% while median household income rose 34.5% ($66,740 to $89,792). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Lakewood is 21.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 4 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($89,792) is $2,245 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,036); a 3-bedroom is $2,656.
The priciest of 7 ZIP codes in Lakewood, 80226 ($1,901/mo), costs 23% more than the cheapest, 80214 ($1,541/mo).
Glendale, 9 miles away, rents for 20% less ($1,433/mo), about $4,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lakewood. 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.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Lakewood, CO is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 45.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Lakewood, CO has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Lakewood, CO has climbed from $1,523 to $1,800, a 18.2% change over five years. Median household income rose from $75,343 to $89,792 between 2021 and 2024, a 19.2% shift. Taken together, the five-year picture in Lakewood, CO reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
Discussions about Lakewood
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Lakewood on your salary?
At $1,800/mo, how Lakewood rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Lakewood rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Lakewood. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Lakewood
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Lakewood is $1,800/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,551/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,036/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,700/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,656/mo.
At 24% of local median household income ($89,792/yr), Lakewood ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Lakewood?
Is rent going up or down in Lakewood?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Lakewood?
Has rent outpaced income in Lakewood?
Which Lakewood neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Lakewood rent compare to other cities in Colorado?
At $1,800/mo, rent takes ~24% of Lakewood's median household income ($89,792/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Lakewood.
No discussions yet.