ZIP Code · CO

ZIP 80026

Part of Lafayette, CO

Pop. 32,701·Boulder County·46th most expensive ZIP in Colorado

Median rent (all units)

$2,200/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.3%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

+$268

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 80026 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 80026 · $2,200

More expensive than 70% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,620

1 BR

$1,880

2 BR

$2,220

3 BR

$2,950

4 BR+

$3,390

Research median

$2,220/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

December. Asking rents in ZIP 80026 usually run 2.3% below trend in December and 1.9% above it in July, about $92 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 80026 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2018.

Past year vs. the rest of Colorado

Rent in ZIP 80026 changed +1.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 155 Colorado ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.3%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 80026 rose 32.4% while median household income rose 41.2% ($85,130 to $120,187). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 80026 is 30.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

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 ($120,187) is $3,005 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,950); a 4-bedroom is $3,390.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 80021, 8 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,919/mo), about $3,400 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 80026. 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.

Annual cost

$26,400/yr

At $2,200/mo median

Location

CityLafayette

StateCO

CountyBoulder County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.3% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.3% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 80026 (Lafayette, CO) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 64% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

32,701

Median income

$120,187

Median age

Renters

34.1%

Age distribution

21.1%

21.5%

27.5%

13.2%

16.6%

Under 1821.1%

18–3421.5%

35–5427.5%

55–6413.2%

65+16.6%

Gender

48.9%

51.1%

Male48.9%

Female51.1%

Race & ethnicity

75.4%

18.1%

White75.4%

Black0.8%

Hispanic18.1%

Asian3.8%

Other2%

Education (25+)

20.2%

64%

No HS diploma4.7%

HS diploma11.1%

Some college20.2%

Bachelor's+64%

Housing tenure

65.9%

34.1%

Owner65.9%

Renter34.1%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 80026 in Lafayette, CO has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,738 → $2,200

up 26.6%

Income

$98,807 → $120,187

up 21.6%

Population

32,607 → 32,701

up 0.3%

Renter share

29.2% → 34.1%

+4.9 pts

Bachelor's+

62.1% → 64%

+1.9 pts

Rent in ZIP 80026 in Lafayette, CO has increased 26.6% since 2021, going from about $1,738 per month to roughly $2,200 today. Census figures show median household income at $120,187 today, compared with $98,807 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 5.0 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. About 34.1% of households rent today, against 29.2% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 80026

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 80026

About renting in ZIP 80026

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 80026 covers Lafayette, CO. The median rent here is $2,200/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,880/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,220/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($120,187/yr), ZIP 80026 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 80026?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $88,000/year (about $42/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,200/mo in ZIP 80026. The local median household income is $120,187/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 80026?

Rent in ZIP 80026 has risen 1.3% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2018.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 80026?

Asking rents in ZIP 80026 are usually lowest in December, about 2.3% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 1.9% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $92 a month. This pattern comes from 8 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 80026?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 80026 rose 32.4% while median household income rose 41.2%, from $85,130 to $120,187. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 80026 compare to other ZIPs in Colorado?

ZIP 80026 is one of the pricier among Colorado ZIP codes for rent, ranking #46 of 168 at $2,200/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 80026 changed +1.3%, against a typical +1.3% across the 155 Colorado ZIP codes Zillow tracks.