ZIP Code · CO

ZIP 81401

Part of Montrose, CO

Pop. 24,228·Montrose County·100th most expensive ZIP in Colorado

Median rent (all units)

$1,886/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

+1.2%

vs US Median

-$46

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 81401 · $1,886

More expensive than 55% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$890

1 BR

$900

2 BR

$1,180

3 BR

$1,640

4 BR+

$1,980

Research median

$1,180/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

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($71,286) is $1,782 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,640); a 4-bedroom is $1,980.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 81401. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$22,632/yr

At $1,886/mo median

Location

CityMontrose

StateCO

CountyMontrose County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (0.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +1.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 81401 (Montrose, CO) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 29.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

24,228

Median income

$71,286

Median age

46.3

Renters

28.5%

Age distribution

20.4%

17%

23.8%

12.8%

26%

Under 1820.4%

18–3417%

35–5423.8%

55–6412.8%

65+26%

Gender

49.1%

50.9%

Male49.1%

Female50.9%

Race & ethnicity

78.5%

20.5%

White78.5%

Black0.6%

Hispanic20.5%

Asian0.7%

Education (25+)

30.7%

32.4%

29.5%

No HS diploma7.4%

HS diploma30.7%

Some college32.4%

Bachelor's+29.5%

Housing tenure

71.5%

28.5%

Owner71.5%

Renter28.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 81401 in Montrose, CO has changed in 5 years

Income

$53,985 → $71,286

up 32.0%

Population

23,497 → 24,228

up 3.1%

Renter share

28.3% → 28.5%

+0.2 pts

Bachelor's+

26.8% → 29.5%

+2.7 pts

Census figures show median household income at $71,286 today, compared with $53,985 five years earlier. The population has grown by 3.1% since 2021, moving from about 23,497 residents to roughly 24,228. College-educated residents now make up 29.5% of adults here, versus 26.8% in 2021.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 81401

About renting in ZIP 81401

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 81401 covers Montrose, CO. The median rent here is $1,886/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $900/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,180/mo.

At 32% of local median household income ($71,286/yr), ZIP 81401 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 81401?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $75,000/year (about $36/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,886/mo in ZIP 81401. The local median household income is $71,286/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.