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Colorado Springs, CO Rent Report: Market Rent vs. HUD Fair Market Rent by ZIP

Sep 30, 20263 min read

The median of the 20 tracked ZIP-level rent indices for Colorado Springs is $1,718 a month; the newest ZIP observation is July 2026. This is an unweighted summary of ZIP indices, not a citywide rent estimate. ZIP 80909 has the lowest index at $1,211 and ZIP 80925 the highest at $2,506. Unit mix, observation dates and coverage can differ.

Across El Paso County, typical rent is $1,780 as of August 2026. That is up 2.3% from a year earlier and up 13.3% over five years.

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom in El Paso County is $1,735. HUD marks this area for Small Area FMRs; check the applicable ZIP and housing authority schedule. In 14 of 20 tracked Colorado Springs ZIPs, the two-bedroom HUD reference exceeds the all-size rent index. This comparison does not establish what a voucher tenancy will pay for a particular unit.

This report compares ZIP-level rent indices and bedroom-specific HUD references for Colorado Springs, CO. The tables read our loaded Zillow and HUD data. Neither measure establishes an individual property's market rent or an approved voucher rent.

Market rent and voucher rent by ZIP code in Colorado Springs

Each row is one tracked ZIP code. The last column compares a two-bedroom HUD reference with Zillow's all-size rent index. A positive number is not a matched-unit premium or proof that a voucher tenancy can support more rent. Check bedroom-matched comparable rentals and the authority's adopted schedule separately.

ZIP codeAll-size ZORIZORI monthHUD 2BR referenceHUD 3BR referenceHUD basis / year2BR reference vs ZORI
80903$1,747July 2026$1,620$2,250ZIP SAFMR / FY2026-7.3%
80904$1,653July 2026$1,530$2,130ZIP SAFMR / FY2026-7.4%
80905$1,529July 2026$1,540$2,140ZIP SAFMR / FY2026+0.7%
80906$1,707July 2026$1,880$2,610ZIP SAFMR / FY2026+10.1%
80907$1,561July 2026$1,430$1,990ZIP SAFMR / FY2026-8.4%
80908$2,223July 2026$1,900$2,680ZIP SAFMR / FY2026-14.5%
80909$1,211July 2026$1,500$2,090ZIP SAFMR / FY2026+23.9%
80910$1,505July 2026$1,590$2,210ZIP SAFMR / FY2026+5.6%
80915$1,706July 2026$1,570$2,180ZIP SAFMR / FY2026-8.0%
80916$1,459July 2026$1,650$2,290ZIP SAFMR / FY2026+13.1%
80917$1,455July 2026$1,550$2,160ZIP SAFMR / FY2026+6.5%
80918$1,535July 2026$1,790$2,490ZIP SAFMR / FY2026+16.6%
80919$1,729July 2026$1,910$2,660ZIP SAFMR / FY2026+10.5%
80920$1,959July 2026$2,150$2,990ZIP SAFMR / FY2026+9.7%
80922$2,002July 2026$2,130$2,960ZIP SAFMR / FY2026+6.4%
80923$1,960July 2026$2,140$2,980ZIP SAFMR / FY2026+9.2%
80924$1,914July 2026$2,400$3,360ZIP SAFMR / FY2026+25.4%
80925$2,506July 2026$2,430$3,380ZIP SAFMR / FY2026-3.0%
80927$2,272July 2026$2,600$3,620ZIP SAFMR / FY2026+14.4%
80951$2,267June 2026$2,320$3,230ZIP SAFMR / FY2026+2.3%

Market rent is the Zillow Observed Rent Index, which covers all unit sizes. Dates and HUD geography are shown for each row. The percentage compares a bedroom-specific HUD reference with an all-size index; it is not a matched-unit premium, an adopted payment standard or an approved rent. Check bedroom-matched comps, the authority's schedule and utility allowance before underwriting.

For the plain average and the full ZIP list, see average rent in Colorado Springs by ZIP code.

HUD Fair Market Rents for El Paso County

HUD Fair Market Rent is a gross-rent reference that includes tenant-paid utilities. It is not the housing authority's adopted payment standard or an approval for a particular unit. Confirm the applicable schedule, utility allowance and rent-reasonableness review with the administering authority.

Unit sizeFY2026 Fair Market Rent
Studio$1,196
1 bedroom$1,464
2 bedroom$1,735
3 bedroom$2,413
4 bedroom$2,744

El Paso County, HUD fiscal year 2026. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. These are the latest figures loaded into RentalCalcs, not an authority's adopted payment standards or a rent approval.

If you have not worked with these numbers before, how Section 8 rent is calculated walks through payment standards, utility allowances and the tenant's share.

How rents in El Paso County have moved

Observation monthAll-home-types ZORIChange from prior row
December 2015$1,048
December 2016$1,116+6.5%
December 2017$1,198+7.3%
December 2018$1,261+5.3%
December 2019$1,337+6.1%
December 2020$1,427+6.7%
December 2021$1,617+13.3%
December 2022$1,689+4.5%
December 2023$1,728+2.3%
December 2024$1,756+1.6%
December 2025$1,734-1.3%
August 2026$1,780+2.7%

El Paso County typical rent, last published month of each year. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (all home types, smoothed and seasonally adjusted), refreshed monthly. A partial-year observation compared with the prior December is not a same-month year-over-year change.

What this means if you own a rental in Colorado Springs

  • Check the local comparison set. The highest tracked ZIP index is 2.1 times the lowest. Check unit type and bedroom-matched comps before using that spread to price a property.
  • Verify the voucher calculation independently. HUD references and all-size ZORI describe different things. Obtain the housing authority's payment standard and utility allowance, then check rent reasonableness for the actual unit. The table cannot determine a voucher premium, turnover rate or collection outcome.
  • Test the deal without future rent increases. County rents are up 2.3% from a year ago. That observation does not establish the increase available on a particular lease. Compare a flat-rent case before choosing a growth assumption.

To test a specific property, run it through the Section 8 rent analyzer, which compares voucher rent and market rent for your ZIP and unit size. The Colorado HUD-to-rent-index comparison provides broader research context; its ratios do not establish property-level premiums.

Where these numbers come from

  • Market rent: the Zillow Observed Rent Index by ZIP code, refreshed monthly. It blends all unit sizes, so compare it with voucher figures as a guide and not as a like for like two bedroom rent.
  • Fair Market Rents and Small Area FMRs: HUD User, published each fiscal year.
  • County rent history: Zillow rent data, last reading of each calendar year.

Confirm the current payment standard, utility allowance and applicable rules with the administering housing authority before underwriting a voucher tenancy. Use matched comparable rentals for the market-rent assumption.

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