Denver rent prices, which seemed to be stabilizing earlier this year after a long stretch of increases, have now risen for the fourth consecutive month, according to a new report from ApartmentList.com. In addition, prices are up on a year-to-year basis in ten out of ten metro-Denver areas surveyed by the site.
The analysis sums up the data with this blunt statement: "Denver rents increase sharply over the past month."
There's a modicum of good news in the numbers, particularly for those looking to rent in Denver proper. While rents within the city limits circa May rose on both a month-to-month and year-to-year basis, as was the case with the nine other communities put under the microscope, the rate was fairly modest by metro-area standards: 0.9 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively.
Moreover, Denver rent lags behind the national rate of increase — something that's not the case for Colorado as a whole, as seen in the following graphic:
In addition, renting in Denver remains less expensive than in quite a few other major cities, including San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Seattle and Portland.
Still, the report overall paints a pricey picture of metro-area rent. After a decline in January, rent costs in Denver edged higher in February, March, April and May.
Moreover, adjacent communities don't offer any relief. Only one of nine suburbs had a lower year-to-year rent increase than Denver, with the top spot coming in at more than three times the Mile High City's total.
Continue to count down the communities scrutinized by ApartmentList.com, ranked from the smallest to the largest year-to-year rent increase. That's followed by a graphic offering more details about Denver-area rental trends.
Which are currently pointing in one direction: up.
Number 10: Westminster
Median one-bedroom price: $1,220
Median two-bedroom price: $1,550
Month-to-month price change: 0.9 percent
Year-to-year price change: 1.3 percent
Number 9: Denver
Median one-bedroom price: $1,040
Median two-bedroom price: $1,310
Month-to-month price change: 0.9 percent
Year-to-year price change: 1.7 percent
Number 8: Littleton
Median one-bedroom price: $1,440
Median two-bedroom price: $1,820
Month-to-month price change: 0.3 percent
Year-to-year price change: 1.9 percent
Number 7 (tie): Arvada
Median one-bedroom price: $1,150
Median two-bedroom price: $1,460
Month-to-month price change: 1.1 percent
Year-to-year price change: 2.2 percent
Number 7 (tie): Englewood
Median one-bedroom price: $1,180
Median two-bedroom price: $1,500
Month-to-month price change: 0.8 percent
Year-to-year price change: 2.2 percent
Continue to see the five metro-Denver areas with the highest year-to-year rent increases in May 2017.
Number 5: Aurora
Median one-bedroom price: $1,210
Median two-bedroom price: $1,530
Month-to-month price change: 1.7 percent
Year-to-year price change: 3.2 percent
Number 4: Lone Tree
Median one-bedroom price: $1,530
Median two-bedroom price: $1,940
Month-to-month price change: 1.5 percent
Year-to-year price change: 3.5 percent
Number 3: Broomfield
Median one-bedroom price: $1,300
Median two-bedroom price: $1,630
Month-to-month price change: 2.1 percent
Year-to-year price change: 4.1 percent
Number 2: Thornton
Median one-bedroom price: $1,440
Median two-bedroom price: $1,820
Month-to-month price change: 0.9 percent
Year-to-year price change: 4.7 percent
Number 1: Golden
Median one-bedroom price: $1,200
Median two-bedroom price: $1,510
Month-to-month price change: 0.3 percent
Year-to-year price change: 6.1 percent