ZIP Code · CO

ZIP 80304

Part of Boulder, CO

Pop. 25,383·Boulder County·27th most expensive ZIP in Colorado

Median rent (all units)

$2,512/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.0%

Month-over-Month

+1.1%

vs US Median

+$580

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 80304 · $2,512

More expensive than 80% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,700

1 BR

$1,960

2 BR

$2,320

3 BR

$3,080

4 BR+

$3,540

Research median

$2,320/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

December. Asking rents in ZIP 80304 usually run 2% below trend in December and 1.3% above it in July, about $83 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 80304 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2017.

Past year vs. the rest of Colorado

Rent in ZIP 80304 changed +3.0% 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 80304 rose 31.3% while median household income rose 27.7% ($99,132 to $126,558). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 80304 is 35.3% 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 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($126,558) is $3,164 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($3,080); a 4-bedroom is $3,540.

Rank in Boulder

3rd cheapest of 5 ZIP codes in Boulder.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 80503, 10 miles away, rents for 24% less ($1,898/mo), about $7,400 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 80304. 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

$30,144/yr

At $2,512/mo median

Location

CityBoulder

StateCO

CountyBoulder County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.0% YoY, +1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 80304 (Boulder, CO) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 77% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

25,383

Median income

$126,558

Median age

42.8

Renters

30%

Age distribution

17.8%

21.4%

29.7%

13.4%

17.7%

Under 1817.8%

18–3421.4%

35–5429.7%

55–6413.4%

65+17.7%

Gender

48.7%

51.3%

Male48.7%

Female51.3%

Race & ethnicity

79.9%

12.7%

White79.9%

Hispanic12.7%

Asian3.4%

Other3.8%

Education (25+)

77%

No HS diploma5%

HS diploma7.2%

Some college10.9%

Bachelor's+77%

Housing tenure

70%

30%

Owner70%

Renter30%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 80304 in Boulder, CO has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,997 → $2,512

up 25.8%

Income

$98,985 → $126,558

up 27.9%

Population

25,332 → 25,383

up 0.2%

Renter share

32.1% → 30%

-2.1 pts

Bachelor's+

75.9% → 77%

+1.1 pts

Median age

41.9 → 42.8

+0.9 yrs

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 80304 in Boulder, CO paid around $1,997 a month. That figure now sits near $2,512, up 25.8% from the 2021 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $98,985 in 2021 to $126,558 more recently. The renter share has eased from 32.1% to 30%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 80304 in Boulder, CO market of 2021.

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About renting in ZIP 80304

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 80304 covers Boulder, CO. The median rent here is $2,512/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,960/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,320/mo.

At 24% of local median household income ($126,558/yr), ZIP 80304 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 80304?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $100,000/year (about $48/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,512/mo in ZIP 80304. The local median household income is $126,558/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 80304?

Rent in ZIP 80304 has risen 3.0% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2017.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 80304?

Asking rents in ZIP 80304 are usually lowest in December, about 2% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 1.3% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $83 a month. This pattern comes from 9 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 80304?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 80304 rose 31.3% while median household income rose 27.7%, from $99,132 to $126,558. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 80304 compare to other ZIPs in Colorado?

ZIP 80304 is one of the pricier among Colorado ZIP codes for rent, ranking #27 of 168 at $2,512/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 80304 changed +3.0%, against a typical +1.3% across the 155 Colorado ZIP codes Zillow tracks.