ZIP Code · CO

ZIP 80226

Part of Lakewood, CO

Pop. 31,573·Jefferson County·95th most expensive ZIP in Colorado

Median rent (all units)

$1,901/mo

Year-over-Year

-1.4%

Month-over-Month

+0.7%

vs US Median

-$31

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 80226 · $1,901

More expensive than 56% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,510

1 BR

$1,620

2 BR

$1,930

3 BR

$2,520

4 BR+

$2,820

Research median

$1,930/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

January. Asking rents in ZIP 80226 usually run 1.3% below trend in January and 0.9% above it in July, about $42 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 80226 is 4.9% below its high of $1,999 in July 2024, at $1,901 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Colorado

Rent in ZIP 80226 changed -1.4% 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 80226 rose 31.4% while median household income rose 29.1% ($63,772 to $82,300). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 80226 is 21.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 4 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($82,300) is $2,058 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,930); a 3-bedroom is $2,520.

Rank in Lakewood

7th cheapest of 7 ZIP codes in Lakewood.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 80232, 2 miles away, rents for 10% less ($1,704/mo), about $2,400 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 80226. 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

$22,812/yr

At $1,901/mo median

Location

CityLakewood

StateCO

CountyJefferson County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (-1.4% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 80226 (Lakewood, CO) is roughly split between renters and owners, 37.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

31,573

Median income

$82,300

Median age

37.8

Renters

47.9%

Age distribution

16.5%

28.3%

26.5%

17.2%

Under 1816.5%

18–3428.3%

35–5426.5%

55–6411.6%

65+17.2%

Gender

48.9%

51.1%

Male48.9%

Female51.1%

Race & ethnicity

68.5%

26.4%

White68.5%

Black2.4%

Hispanic26.4%

Asian3.3%

Education (25+)

25.7%

27.6%

37.6%

No HS diploma9.1%

HS diploma25.7%

Some college27.6%

Bachelor's+37.6%

Housing tenure

52.1%

47.9%

Owner52.1%

Renter47.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 80226 in Lakewood, CO has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,595 → $1,901

up 19.2%

Income

$68,547 → $82,300

up 20.1%

Population

32,232 → 31,573

down 2.0%

Renter share

46.2% → 47.9%

+1.7 pts

Bachelor's+

38.6% → 37.6%

-1.0 pts

Median age

36.4 → 37.8

+1.4 yrs

Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 80226 in Lakewood, CO has increased from $1,595 to $1,901, a 19.2% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $68,547 in 2021 to $82,300 more recently. The population has contracted by 2.0% since 2021, moving from about 32,232 residents to roughly 31,573. Renters now make up 47.9% of households, compared with 46.2% five years ago. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 80226 in Lakewood, CO market of 2021.

Community

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About renting in ZIP 80226

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 80226 covers Lakewood, CO. The median rent here is $1,901/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,620/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,930/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($82,300/yr), ZIP 80226 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 80226?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $76,000/year (about $37/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,901/mo in ZIP 80226. The local median household income is $82,300/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 80226?

Rent in ZIP 80226 has fallen 1.4% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 4.9% below its high of $1,999 in July 2024.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 80226?

Asking rents in ZIP 80226 are usually lowest in January, about 1.3% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 0.9% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $42 a month. This pattern comes from 8 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 80226?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 80226 rose 31.4% while median household income rose 29.1%, from $63,772 to $82,300. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 80226 compare to other ZIPs in Colorado?

ZIP 80226 is in the middle among Colorado ZIP codes for rent, ranking #95 of 168 at $1,901/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 80226 changed -1.4%, against a typical +1.3% across the 155 Colorado ZIP codes Zillow tracks.