ZIP Code · CO

ZIP 80246

Part of Denver, CO

Pop. 13,097·Denver County·158th most expensive ZIP in Colorado

Median rent (all units)

$1,360/mo

Year-over-Year

-0.4%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

-$572

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 80246 · $1,360

More affordable than 83% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$999

1 BR

$1,069

2 BR

$1,271

3 BR

$1,664

4 BR+

$1,855

Research median

$1,271/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 80246 usually run 1.4% below trend in January and 1.2% above it in August, about $35 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 80246 is 8.8% below its high of $1,492 in March 2024, at $1,360 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Colorado

Rent in ZIP 80246 changed -0.4% 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 80246 rose 24.1% while median household income rose 18.1% ($56,954 to $67,235). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 80246 is 8.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($67,235) is $1,681 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($1,730).

Rank in Denver

1st cheapest of 27 ZIP codes in Denver.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 80246. 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

$16,320/yr

At $1,360/mo median

Location

CityDenver

StateCO

CountyDenver 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 (-0.4% YoY, +0.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 80246 (Denver, CO) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 59.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

13,097

Median income

$67,235

Median age

32.5

Renters

80.1%

Age distribution

44.1%

27.5%

Under 1811.7%

18–3444.1%

35–5427.5%

55–648%

65+8.7%

Gender

50.6%

49.4%

Male50.6%

Female49.4%

Race & ethnicity

61.2%

21.8%

White61.2%

Black10.4%

Hispanic21.8%

Asian2.6%

Other4%

Education (25+)

14.4%

22.7%

59.4%

No HS diploma3.5%

HS diploma14.4%

Some college22.7%

Bachelor's+59.4%

Housing tenure

19.9%

80.1%

Owner19.9%

Renter80.1%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 80246 in Denver, CO has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,232 → $1,360

up 10.4%

Income

$59,238 → $67,235

up 13.5%

Population

12,878 → 13,097

up 1.7%

Renter share

78.2% → 80.1%

+1.9 pts

Bachelor's+

56.1% → 59.4%

+3.3 pts

Median age

33 → 32.5

-0.5 yrs

Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 80246 in Denver, CO has increased from $1,232 to $1,360, a 10.4% change over five years. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 80246 in Denver, CO now reports about $67,235, up from $59,238 in 2021. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 1.7% since 2021, moving from about 12,878 residents to roughly 13,097. Renters now make up 80.1% of households, compared with 78.2% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 59.4% of adults here, versus 56.1% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 80246 in Denver, CO reflects that arc in its own way.

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About renting in ZIP 80246

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 80246 covers Denver, CO. The median rent here is $1,360/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,069/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,271/mo.

At 24% of local median household income ($67,235/yr), ZIP 80246 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 80246?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $54,000/year (about $26/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,360/mo in ZIP 80246. The local median household income is $67,235/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 80246?

Rent in ZIP 80246 has been roughly flat over the past year as of September 2026, a -0.4% change. It sits 8.8% below its high of $1,492 in March 2024.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 80246?

Asking rents in ZIP 80246 are usually lowest in January, about 1.4% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 1.2% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $35 a month. This pattern comes from 8 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 80246?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 80246 rose 24.1% while median household income rose 18.1%, from $56,954 to $67,235. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 80246 compare to other ZIPs in Colorado?

ZIP 80246 is one of the more affordable among Colorado ZIP codes for rent, ranking #158 of 168 at $1,360/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 80246 changed -0.4%, against a typical +1.3% across the 155 Colorado ZIP codes Zillow tracks.