Can An Elementary School Teacher Afford Rent in Highlands Ranch, CO?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.9% of gross income.
Highlands Ranch rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).
About rent and an elementary school teacher salary
Teacher affordability is one of the sharpest local-rent lenses available, because public-school pay scales are set by state and district while rent is set by local market conditions. The result is that two teachers with identical credentials can face very different rent burdens depending on where they teach. At the national-average teacher salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,677 a month in rent — comfortable in most of the Midwest and South, tight in mid-cost cities, and out of reach without roommates in the most expensive coastal markets. The per-city pages below combine local rent with local teacher-pay estimates to show where the math works.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Colorado cities have lower median rent than Highlands Ranch, which improves the affordability math on an elementary school teacher salary:
Compare with full rent data for Highlands Ranch
View full rent data for Highlands Ranch, CO →Frequently asked questions
Can an elementary school teacher afford rent in Highlands Ranch, CO?
Median rent in Highlands Ranch is $2,635 a month. A typical elementary school teacher in Colorado earns about $70,434 a year, which makes that rent 44.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can an elementary school teacher afford in Highlands Ranch?
Using the 30% rule, an elementary school teacher salary in Colorado (~$70,434/yr) supports up to $1,761 a month in rent. Highlands Ranch's current median rent is $2,635/mo, which is $874/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does an elementary school teacher work to cover rent in Highlands Ranch?
At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, an elementary school teacher in Colorado works roughly 77.8 hours a month to cover Highlands Ranch's median rent of $2,635.
Where is rent cheaper than Highlands Ranch for an elementary school teacher?
Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Louisville ($2,634/mo), Evergreen ($2,632/mo), Boulder ($2,632/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an elementary school teacher salary.