Denver's low property tax (0.55%) is a significant advantage. The same monthly payment that buys a $300K home in Texas buys a $450K home in Denver. Still stressed, but more manageable than coastal cities.
At today's 6.7% mortgage rate with 20% down, the monthly PITI on Denver's median home is $3,381. To keep housing under 36% of gross income (the back-end DTI threshold most lenders use), you need $121,000/year — 161% of the city's median income.
The local median income of $75,000 leaves a gap of $46,000/year. This means the median household needs to earn 61% more to comfortably qualify for the median home.
These are market averages. Your situation depends on your income, debts, and credit.
← All CitiesSource: BLS OEWS 2024, Zillow ZHVI May 2026, FRC Underwriting Model. Not financial advice. Educational analysis only.
Prices and salaries tell you what a house costs here. They do not tell you whether a lender will approve the loan.
A 61.3-point spread between the busiest FHA lenders here.
Loans under $150K denied at 55.9% versus 21.8% above $250K.
CFPB HMDA 2025, computed by FinanceRateCalc. Covers the highest-volume lenders published per market, not all lenders. Rates reflect applicant mix as well as lender practice — historical observations, not predictions. CC BY 4.0, not independently reproduced.