Rents are 10% below what Wheat Ridge'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 $1,881 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 Wheat Ridge usually run 0.9% below trend in December and 0.9% above it in June, about $34 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in Wheat Ridge is 0.3% below its high of $1,886 in April 2025, at $1,881 as of September 2026.
Rent in Wheat Ridge changed +1.1% 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 Wheat Ridge rose 31.4% while median household income rose 57.1% ($57,659 to $90,564). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Wheat Ridge is 28.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($90,564) is $2,264 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,990); a 3-bedroom is $2,590.
Federal Heights, 8 miles away, rents for 20% less ($1,508/mo), about $4,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Wheat Ridge. 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
Wheat Ridge, CO is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 47.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Wheat Ridge, CO has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Wheat Ridge, CO paid around $1,535 a month. That figure now sits near $1,881, up 22.5% from the 2021 baseline. Household income in the area moved from $73,231 to $90,564 across the same window, up 23.7% versus 2021. The renter share has eased from 47.2% to 45.6%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 41.2% to 47.8% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Wheat Ridge, CO look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Wheat Ridge on your salary?
At $1,881/mo, how Wheat Ridge rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Wheat Ridge rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Wheat Ridge. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Wheat Ridge
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Wheat Ridge is $1,881/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,500/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,990/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,660/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,590/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($90,564/yr), Wheat Ridge ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Wheat Ridge?
At $1,881/mo, rent takes ~25% of Wheat Ridge's median household income ($90,564/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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