The Denver metro is home to 2,977,085 people (up 4.5% over five years), with a median household income of $102,339. Typical rent of $1,900/month works out to 22.3% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Denver's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 20.5% |
| Professional & management | 16.9% |
| Retail trade | 9.8% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 8.6% |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | 8.3% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 22.3% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Denver market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,900/month suggests a household income around $76,000/year. The metro's median household income is $102,339.
By workforce share: Education & health care (20.5%), Professional & management (16.9%), Retail trade (9.8%) (Census ACS 5-year).