Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Highlands Ranch, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 81.7% of gross income.

Highlands Ranch rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Highlands Ranch median rent
$2,650/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Colorado)
$38,924/yr
Rent as % of income
81.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,244, and the 30% rule supports up to $973/mo in rent. Highlands Ranch's median rent of $2,650 exceeds that threshold by $1,677/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 141.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a retail salesperson salary

Retail pay sits below the rent threshold needed for solo apartment living in most US metros, which is the central tension behind the widely studied retail-housing affordability gap. At the national-average retail salary, the 30% rule supports about $927 a month in rent — below the median one-bedroom rent in nearly every metro tracked here. The per-city pages show which markets are least out of reach.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Colorado cities have lower median rent than Highlands Ranch, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Commerce City, CO
$2,641/mo (81.4% of income)
Commerce City, CO
$2,641/mo (81.4% of income)
Louisville, CO
$2,634/mo (81.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Highlands Ranch

View full rent data for Highlands Ranch, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Highlands Ranch, CO?

Median rent in Highlands Ranch is $2,650 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Colorado earns about $38,924 a year, which makes that rent 81.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a retail salesperson afford in Highlands Ranch?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Colorado (~$38,924/yr) supports up to $973 a month in rent. Highlands Ranch's current median rent is $2,650/mo, which is $1,677/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a retail salesperson work to cover rent in Highlands Ranch?

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a retail salesperson in Colorado works roughly 141.6 hours a month to cover Highlands Ranch's median rent of $2,650.

Where is rent cheaper than Highlands Ranch for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Commerce City ($2,641/mo), Commerce City ($2,641/mo), Louisville ($2,634/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Colorado state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Highlands Ranch, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.