There is no single Denver home price. There are fourteen of them.
The Denver metro’s median sale price depends entirely on which city, which neighborhood, and which data source you’re looking at. The Colorado Association of Realtors reported a Q1 2026 Denver metro median of $575,000. Redfin’s city-level data for Denver proper shows $620,000–$635,000 for the same period. Aurora comes in at $460,000–$478,000. Highlands Ranch reaches $695,000. All three numbers are correct — they’re measuring different things.
This guide gives you the real number for each major Front Range city, sourced from live data through May/June 2026, with context on what the market is actually doing and what it means for buyers at different income and savings levels.
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2026 data note: Redfin data reflects actual closed sales from MLS records. Zillow’s Home Value Index is a smoothed statistical model. REcolorado reports closed sale data for the metro as a whole. The three sources will differ by 3%–10% on the same city. When ranges appear in the table below, they reflect this multi-source reality rather than imprecision. |
All data sourced from Redfin (primary), cross-referenced with Zillow and REcolorado. Data windows vary by city (January–May 2026). YoY change reflects year-over-year median sale price movement. Updated quarterly.
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City / Area |
Median Sale Price¹ |
YoY Change |
Days on Market |
Competition |
What First-Time Buyers Should Know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Highlands Ranch |
~$695,000 |
~−4% |
27 days |
Competitive |
Established suburb, top-rated schools. Prices cooling from 2024 peaks. Douglas County school district appeal keeps demand steady. |
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Parker |
~$658,000 |
−5.2% |
15 days |
Very competitive |
5.2% YoY price drop creates negotiating opportunity. Fast-moving market despite price correction. Newer inventory, family-oriented. |
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Arvada |
~$625,000 |
−5.3% |
14 days |
Very competitive |
Fastest-selling major suburb. Olde Town Arvada core pulls prices up. Outer Arvada still accessible. Strong demand despite price drop. |
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Castle Rock |
~$644,000 |
−3.2% |
25 days |
Very competitive |
Douglas County's second-largest city. Prices easing 3.2% from prior year highs. Newer master-planned communities dominate inventory. |
|
Littleton |
~$629,000 |
−0.9% |
18 days |
Competitive |
Most stable pricing in the south metro: only 0.9% YoY decline. Historic downtown, proximity to mountains appeals to established buyers. |
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Denver (city) |
~$620,000–$635,000 |
−1% to +3% |
18 days |
Competitive |
Wide range by neighborhood. Westwood and Montbello under $450K; Washington Park and Hilltop at $1M+. Median masks extreme variation. |
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Lakewood |
~$570,000 |
−2.0% |
17 days |
Very competitive |
Fast-selling westside market. Green Mountain, Belmar area hold value well. More affordable than Arvada with comparable western access. |
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Broomfield |
~$566,000–$577,000 |
−3.8 to −4.9% |
35–69 days |
Somewhat competitive |
Longer days on market than most metro. More supply per buyer relative to demand. Better negotiating position for buyers. |
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Englewood |
~$549,000 |
+2.4% |
Recent |
Competitive |
One of few markets trending up. Adjacent to Denver with South Broadway access. Limited inventory. Rising prices reflect desirability. |
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Westminster |
~$530,000–$540,000 |
−1 to −2.5% |
35 days |
Somewhat competitive |
North metro midpoint. Adams County and Jefferson County split. Southeast Westminster (Redfin) up 8.5% — price by specific neighborhood. |
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Thornton |
~$517,000–$542,000 |
−4.8% to +2.1% |
Varies |
Somewhat competitive |
Wide range by data source. North Denver's most affordable large city. Strong inventory for first-time buyers. CHFA DPA programs fully applicable. |
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Brighton (CO) |
~$480,000–$520,000 |
Slight +/− |
30–78 days |
Somewhat competitive |
Adams County seat, fast-growing outer suburb. Longer days on market signals real buyer leverage. More negotiating room than closer-in markets. |
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Aurora |
~$460,000–$478,000 |
−3.2 to −5.2% |
40 days |
Moderate |
Denver metro’s most affordable large city. Broadest inventory selection at lower price points. DPA programs (CHFA, MetroDPA, Aurora city DPA) all applicable. Best access for $90K–$110K income buyers. |
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Commerce City |
~$400,000–$450,000 |
Mixed |
80+ days |
Moderate/slow |
Adams County, adjacent to northeast Denver. Most affordable in the closer-in metro. Very long days on market = strong buyer negotiating position. Growing infrastructure. |
¹Ranges reflect multi-source variation (Redfin vs. Zillow vs. REcolorado) and intra-city neighborhood variation. Color coding: navy = $620K+ | blue = $550K–$619K | green = $480K–$549K | gold = $400K–$479K | red = below $480K
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The Aurora finding: At $460K–$478K with 40 days on market and a 3.2% YoY price decline, Aurora is the Denver metro’s most accessible large city for first-time buyers. Three DPA programs are active: CHFA, MetroDPA, and the City of Aurora’s own 4%–10% program through October 2026. This combination — lower prices, DPA access, and real negotiating leverage — makes Aurora the primary market for buyers with 620+ credit and household income in the $90K–$110K range. |
The Colorado Association of Realtors’ Q1 2026 Market Trends Report put the Denver metro median sale price at $575,000 for closed transactions. The median sale price has held flat at $575,000 for three consecutive first quarters, reflecting a market that has stabilized after the 2022 peak and the subsequent 2023–2024 correction.
Two important distinctions: First, the metro median includes all property types (single-family homes, condos, townhomes). The single-family home median runs higher, at approximately $615,000. The attached home segment (condos and townhomes) brings the blended median down. Second, the “Denver metro” includes 11 counties and 48 cities. Denver city proper runs significantly higher than the metro average per Redfin’s city-level data, while outer Adams County cities pull it lower.
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“The Denver metro median is a statistical average of 48 cities and 11 counties. It tells you roughly where the market sits, not what you’ll pay. The city-level data in the table above tells you what you’ll actually pay.” |
The Denver metro has shifted from the frenzied seller’s market of 2021–2022 to what the Colorado Association of Realtors calls a “more balanced” market. For buyers, that shift is real and measurable.
|
Market Indicator |
Current Figure |
What It Means for Buyers |
|---|---|---|
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Denver metro median sale price (Q1 2026) |
$575,000 |
Colorado Association of Realtors / REcolorado. Single-family home median: $615,000. Attached homes (condos/townhomes): $380,000–$420,000 range. |
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Colorado statewide median (April 2026) |
$548,191 |
Redfin statewide data. Down 2.1% year-over-year, reflecting a market correction from 2024 peaks. |
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Homes with price reductions (Denver metro) |
15.9% of listings |
April 2026. Compared to 10.7% nationally. More price cut inventory than the US average means more negotiating leverage. |
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Sale-to-list price ratio (Colorado) |
98.1% |
April 2026, Redfin. Homes selling 1.9% below list on average. In 2022, this ran 104%–107%. A structural shift toward buyer balance. |
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Homes selling above list price |
19.3% in Colorado |
April 2026. Down from 35%+ in 2022. Well-priced move-in-ready homes still generate competition; overpriced listings sit. |
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Months of supply (attached homes) |
5.1 months |
April 2026 report. Condos and townhomes are in buyer’s market territory. Single-family homes: 3.2 months (balanced market zone). |
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Median days on market (statewide) |
47 days (Colorado) |
April 2026. Metro Denver city: 18 days. Outer suburbs: 35–80 days. Days on market measures how quickly homes are being absorbed. |
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Active inventory (Colorado) |
38,448 listings |
April 2026, up 0.1% year-over-year. More inventory than the 2022 peak, giving buyers meaningful choice they didn’t have 2 years ago. |
While single-family homes remain in balanced-to-seller territory (3.2 months of supply), attached homes have crossed into buyer’s market conditions at 5.1 months of supply and 68 days on market. HOA dues and rising insurance costs have made condos and townhomes harder to sell — which means buyers in the sub-$450,000 price range have real negotiating leverage on properties that have sat. Per REcolorado Q1 2026 data, the average days on market for attached homes rose 26% year-over-year.
The ‘Denver’ median hides a $1 million gap between its cheapest and most expensive neighborhoods. A buyer targeting Denver city needs to know which Denver, not just the city name.
|
Denver Neighborhood |
Approx. Price Range |
Price per Sq. Ft. |
What Buyers Should Know |
|---|---|---|---|
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Washington Park / Cherry Creek |
$900,000–$1.5M+ |
$500+/sq ft |
Denver's most expensive established neighborhoods. Very competitive; waived contingencies common. Washington Park at $900K+ is benchmark premium. |
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Hilltop / Congress Park |
$750,000–$1.1M |
$380–$450/sq ft |
Southeast-central Denver. Historic character drives premium. Highly competitive; limited inventory. |
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Park Hill / Central Park |
$575,000–$800,000 |
$320–$400/sq ft |
Northeast Denver. Wide range within the area: older Park Hill under $650K; Central Park (Stapleton) newer construction at higher price points. Multiple offers common. |
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Sloan Lake / Jefferson Park |
$550,000–$850,000 |
$370–$480/sq ft |
West of downtown; popular with younger buyers. Townhomes and condos at lower end; single-family $700K+. Fast-moving market. |
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East Colfax / Whittier |
$420,000–$600,000 |
$290–$360/sq ft |
Transitional northeast neighborhoods. Lower entry point within the city for single-family. More days on market than core neighborhoods. |
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Westwood / Barnum / Harvey Park |
$360,000–$475,000 |
$250–$310/sq ft |
Southwest and west Denver. Most accessible neighborhoods for sub-$500K single-family within city limits. More inventory, more negotiating room. |
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Montbello / Green Valley Ranch |
$340,000–$450,000 |
$220–$280/sq ft |
Far northeast Denver. Newer attached and single-family inventory at lower price points. Longer commutes to central core; growing community infrastructure. |
Neighborhood data sourced from Redfin neighborhood-level reports and SoFi’s Denver market analysis. Ranges reflect recent 3–6-month sales data. Individual property prices vary significantly within each neighborhood based on size, condition, and lot.
Price data alone doesn’t tell you where the best opportunities are. The combination of price level, days on market, YoY price trend, and available DPA programs creates a different buyer opportunity picture for each range.
|
Price Range |
Where to Look in Denver Metro |
Buyer Opportunity Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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$300,000–$399,000 |
Commerce City, outer Brighton, Federal Heights, Northglenn, Westwood-adjacent attached |
Most negotiating power in the metro. 80+ days on market in many Commerce City listings. VA, FHA + CHFA DPA applicable. Seller financing more common at this price tier. |
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$400,000–$480,000 |
Aurora (wide selection), outer Brighton, Harvey Park, Barnum (Denver), Green Valley Ranch |
Aurora DPA still active through Oct 2026. CHFA DPA covers down payment at 620+. MetroDPA applicable for income-qualifying buyers. Broadest first-time buyer inventory range. |
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$480,000–$580,000 |
Thornton, Westminster, Englewood, outer Lakewood, Broomfield |
High inventory relative to demand in this range. DPA programs at upper end of eligibility. 15.9% of metro listings have price cuts; look for 30+ days on market. Seller concessions more negotiable. |
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$580,000–$660,000 |
Lakewood, Arvada (outer), Castle Rock (outer), Littleton |
Price reductions in the 3%–5% YoY range create opportunity. Conventional financing primary path; income needs $145K–$165K at 28% ratio. Seller financing available for right-motivated seller. |
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$660,000+ |
Central Parker, Arvada (Olde Town), Highlands Ranch, Littleton (premium), Cherry Creek adjacent |
Income requirement $165K+. Lower first-time buyer inventory. Assumable mortgages from 2020–2022 valuable here — $700K home at 3% vs 6.53% saves $300K+ over 30 years on same payment. |
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The leverage is in the sitting inventory: 15.9% of Denver metro listings had price cuts as of April 2026 — 50% more than the national rate. Any property that has been listed 30+ days is a property the seller has accepted isn’t selling at the original price. These are the properties where buyer contingencies, seller concessions, and price negotiations are available. A well-prepared buyer with pre-approval in hand has real options that didn’t exist in 2021. |
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Go Deeper: How Much Income Do You Need to Buy in Denver? | Colorado First-Time Homebuyer Programs | Every Way to Buy a Home in Colorado |
Denver’s housing affordability problem didn’t emerge in 2026. The metro’s median home price roughly doubled between 2015 and 2022, driven by population migration from high-cost coastal cities, sustained low mortgage rates, and constrained supply. At the 2022 peak, Denver’s metro median exceeded $600,000 and the 30-year mortgage rate began rising from 3% to over 7%.
What followed was a two-year correction that played out differently across price tiers. Entry-level properties and condos corrected more significantly. High-demand single-family neighborhoods in central Denver and desirable suburbs held value better. By early 2026, the metro median had settled into the $575,000–$585,000 range, down from the 2022 peak but well above pre-pandemic levels.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Home Ownership Affordability Monitor documents this trajectory in real time. Denver remains among the less affordable major metros relative to local income — Colorado’s median household income of $87,900 (U.S. Census Bureau) supports a comfortable purchase of approximately $280,000–$285,000 at current rates. The $290,000 gap between median income buying power and metro median price is the structural driver of demand for DPA programs, creative finance, and geographic flexibility.
The Denver metro’s price range — $400K to $695K across major cities — sits above the income-qualified purchase range for a significant portion of Colorado households. This is precisely where creative finance paths create access that conventional lending does not.
Properties that have been on the market 45+ days in the $380,000–$520,000 range represent the best seller financing candidates. A seller with an unsold property is a seller who has received market feedback that their price or terms need adjustment. In these situations, a seller financing offer — faster close, no bank underwriting delays, motivated buyer with down payment — can be more attractive to a seller than a lower cash offer.
Sellers in any Denver suburb who purchased in 2020–2022 with FHA or VA loans may carry rates of 2.75%–3.5%. At today’s 6.53% rate, assuming one of these loans on a $500,000 purchase saves approximately $500–$700/month compared to a new origination. The qualifying income requirement at 3% drops from approximately $143,000 to approximately $96,000 for the same $500,000 property. This is real buying power accessible through Gravvity’s network.
Answers based on June 2026 market data.
What is the average home price in Denver in 2026?
The Denver metro median sale price for Q1 2026 was $575,000 per the Colorado Association of Realtors, holding flat from the same period the previous two years. Denver city proper runs higher at $620,000–$635,000 per Redfin’s city-level data. Aurora, the most accessible major suburb, runs $460,000–$478,000. Highlands Ranch, at the upper end, is approximately $695,000. The number varies significantly by city and data source — the table in this guide covers 14 major metros with current figures.
Is Denver housing market going up or down in 2026?
Broadly flat with slight downward pressure in most markets, and modest upward movement in a few. Of the 14 cities tracked in this guide, 11 showed negative YoY changes ranging from −0.9% (Littleton) to −5.3% (Arvada). Englewood was the notable exception, showing +2.4% YoY growth. The Colorado Association of Realtors reported the metro median held flat at $575,000 through Q1 2026, matching the two prior first quarters. Per REcolorado’s April 2026 market report, inventory is rising and days on market are extending, signaling continued buyer-favorable conditions.
What is the most affordable city in the Denver metro in 2026?
Commerce City ($400K–$450K range) is the most affordable market in the closer-in metro, with over 80 days on market for many listings. Aurora is the most affordable large city with meaningful inventory breadth at $460K–$478K, per Redfin’s Aurora market data. Both markets have DPA programs available. Brighton, slightly farther out in Adams County, also offers sub-$520K inventory with more days on market and buyer negotiating leverage.
How is Denver housing data different from what I see on Zillow vs. Redfin vs. REcolorado?
These sources use different methodologies. Redfin reports the median price of actual closed transactions from MLS data, usually with a 1–3 month lag. Zillow’s Home Value Index is a statistical model (the Zestimate) applied to estimated values of all homes, not just sold ones; it is smoothed and lags the market. REcolorado is the region’s primary MLS, providing closed sale data for the full 11-county metro. All three are legitimate; they simply measure different things. In a moving market, Redfin’s closed-sale data is typically the most current signal of where prices are actually transacting. Verify current figures directly at Redfin Denver or the Denver Metro Association of Realtors.
Is now a good time to buy a home in Denver in 2026?
Better conditions for buyers exist now than at any point since early 2020. Price reductions on 15.9% of Denver metro listings, days on market extending, and a sale-to-list ratio of 98.1% all indicate that buyers have negotiating power they lacked during the 2021–2022 peak. The caveat: interest rates remain elevated at 6.53% (Freddie Mac, May 2026), which reduces purchasing power at any given income level. The best environment is one where the buyer has prepared: credit at or above 620, savings for down payment and closing costs, and a realistic price target calibrated to their income. Those buyers face a real window of opportunity in 2026.
What income do I need to buy at Denver’s median price?
At Denver’s $620K–$635K median, 5% down, and 6.53% rate: the 28% housing cost ratio requires approximately $192,000 annual household income. Colorado’s median household income is $87,900 per the U.S. Census Bureau. That income comfortably supports a $280,000–$285,000 purchase. The $335,000 gap between median income buying power and the Denver city median price explains why most first-time buyers target Aurora, Thornton, and outer suburban markets rather than Denver proper. See the full income-to-price guide at Gravvity.com/blog/how-much-income-to-buy-a-house-in-denver.
All data sourced from official MLS-based providers and updated quarterly. Prices reflect recent closed sales unless noted. Market conditions change monthly — verify with current source data before acting.
1. Redfin — Denver City Housing Market (May–June 2026)
2. Redfin — Aurora Housing Market (March 2026)
3. Redfin — Lakewood Housing Market (April 2026)
4. Redfin — Littleton Housing Market (May 2026)
5. Redfin — Arvada Housing Market (March 2026)
6. Redfin — Castle Rock Housing Market (April 2026)
7. Redfin — Parker Housing Market (March 2026)
8. Redfin — Westminster Housing Market (February 2026)
9. Redfin — Thornton Housing Market
10. Redfin — Highlands Ranch Housing Market
11. Denver Metro Association of Realtors — Market Trends Reports
12. Colorado Association of Realtors — Q1 2026 Market Trends (via Denver7)
13. Redfin — Colorado Statewide Housing Market (April 2026)
14. Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta — Home Ownership Affordability Monitor
15. U.S. Census Bureau — Colorado QuickFacts
16. Freddie Mac — Primary Mortgage Market Survey
Disclaimer: All prices are from recent closed sales data and represent median figures. Individual property prices vary. Market conditions change continuously. Verify current data before making any real estate decision. This is not financial or investment advice. Data updated quarterly by Gravvity.