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Colorado: Short-Term vs Long-Term Rental Returns

Colorado's ski resorts and outdoor recreation drive strong short-term rental demand, particularly in mountain communities.

Published March 21, 2026

What Could You Earn?

Estimated gross income for a typical 3-bedroom house in Colorado, based on median values. These are starting points. In the dashboard you can adjust everything to match your own property and circumstances.

Typical property price
$401K
Long-term rental income
$1,936/mo
before expenses
Short-term rental income
$3,519/mo
before expenses
Short-term earns roughly
$1,583/mo more
before expenses and regulations

Key Takeaways

  • Mountain resort counties (Summit, Eagle, Pitkin) have the highest nightly rates but also the strictest regulations and highest property prices.
  • Denver requires a primary residence license for short-term rentals, effectively banning investor-owned STRs in the city.
  • Front Range cities offer more affordable entry points with steady long-term rental demand as an alternative to STR.
Interested in a specific area?
See the full short-term vs long-term comparison with adjustable assumptions.
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How Short-Term and Long-Term Compare by Area

Estimated monthly income for a 3-bedroom house in each area, before expenses. Click any area to see the full breakdown in the dashboard.

City / area Price Long-term /month Short-term /month Short-term rules
Douglas County
Colorado
$479K $2,339 $3,561 Low View details →
Boulder County
Colorado
$518K $2,136 $4,108 Low View details →
Jefferson County
Colorado
$438K $2,093 $3,726 Low View details →
Denver County
Colorado
$456K $2,077 $3,797 Low View details →
Adams County
Colorado
$376K $2,051 $3,477 Low View details →
Arapahoe County
Colorado
$392K $1,953 $3,715 Low View details →
Larimer County
Colorado
$420K $1,918 $3,635 Low View details →
Park County
Colorado
$411K $1,835 $2,858 Low View details →
El Paso County
Colorado
$339K $1,830 $3,264 Low View details →
Weld County
Colorado
$367K $1,714 $3,001 Low View details →
Mesa County
Colorado
$345K $1,468 $2,460 Low View details →
Pueblo County
Colorado
$216K $1,314 $2,455 Low View details →

All figures are estimates based on median values for a 3-bedroom house in each area. Individual properties will vary. Use the dashboard to adjust assumptions to your own situation.

Compare Any Location

The dashboard covers 626 counties across Colorado. Search for any area and adjust property price, rent, nightly rate, occupancy, mortgage rate, and expenses to match your investment.

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Data last updated: March 2026

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