City guide · Denver area
Moving to Denver
Denver has about 741,000 people and sits at the center of a metro of about 3 million, a mile above sea level. A one-bedroom rents for about $1,427 a month, and rents are down 3% from a year ago. Colorado has a flat 4.4% income tax, Denver’s sales tax is 9.15%, and the A Line train runs to the airport. Expect sunny days, big temperature swings and about 49 inches of snow a year that usually melts fast.
First time here? Moving to Denver? Start here →
What do you want to know about Denver?
What are the key facts about Denver?
| Fact | Denver |
|---|---|
| Population | About 740,600 city and county (Census estimate, July 2025); about 3 million metro |
| Median 1-bedroom rent | $1,427 (Apartment List, October 2026) |
| State income tax | 4.4% flat |
| Sales tax | 9.15% in most of the city |
| Minimum wage | $19.29/hour in Denver (2026) |
| Living wage, 1 adult | $26.63/hour (MIT, Denver County) |
| RTD fares | $2.75 for 3 hours, $5.50 day pass, $10 airport day pass, $88 monthly |
| January average high / low | About 45°F / 19°F |
| July average high / low | About 90°F / 60°F |
| Snowfall | About 49 inches a year (1991–2020 normal) |
Who moves to Denver, and why?
Colorado keeps growing. The state passed 6 million people for the first time in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimates, according to the governor’s office in January 2026. Denver draws a mix of people: young professionals taking a first job, remote workers who want to be near the mountains, couples leaving pricier coastal cities, and people from smaller towns across the Mountain West who want a real city without a giant one.
The usual reasons are simple. You can be on a trail or a ski slope in a couple of hours. The city is big enough for pro sports, concerts and an international airport, but small enough to learn quickly. And compared with the Bay Area, Seattle or Boston, rent is lower. Compared with much of the Midwest and South, it is higher.
Should you live in Denver itself or a suburb?
Denver is a combined city and county, so “Denver” on a lease means one government, one tax rate and one set of city rules. Around it sit separate cities with their own rules, taxes and school districts. Many newcomers start in the city and move out later, or the other way around.
| City | Population (July 1, 2025) | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Denver | 740,613 | Most transit, most apartments, city minimum wage and head tax |
| Aurora | 410,053 | Large city to the east, closer to the airport, R Line and A Line stops |
| Lakewood | 156,927 | West side, W Line light rail, quick to the foothills |
| Arvada | 122,901 | Northwest, G Line commuter rail, quieter residential feel |
| Westminster | 116,182 | North, between Denver and Boulder on US-36 |
| Littleton | 46,246 | South, small downtown on the light rail line |
| Englewood | 35,305 | Just south of Denver; the metro’s least expensive city in Apartment List’s October 2026 report at $1,416 |
Population figures are Census Bureau 2025 estimates as compiled by City Population. The metro area as a whole had about 3.05 million people in 2024, according to USAFacts, using Census data.
How expensive is it to live in Denver?
On the expensive side for the middle of the country. MIT estimates a single adult in Denver County needs about $55,400 a year before taxes ($26.63 an hour) to cover a basic budget, close to Atlanta’s Fulton County ($55,600) and above Chicago ($52,900), Austin ($49,300) and Dallas ($48,500), but well below Manhattan ($79,500). Housing is the biggest cost at about $19,300 a year.
What taxes will you pay in Denver?
- Colorado income tax of 4.4%, a flat rate on taxable income.
- Denver’s head tax: if you earn $500 or more a month working in Denver, $5.75 a month comes out of your paycheck.
- Sales tax of 9.15% in most of the city: 2.9% state, 5.15% city and 1.1% for special districts including RTD.
Cash to move in: about $3,148 for a renter without a car (first month’s rent, a one-month deposit and a month of transit). See how Denver compares on move-in costs with the other cities we cover.
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What should you know before renting in Denver?
Rents have eased after a wave of new apartments. Apartment List put the median one-bedroom at $1,427 in October 2026, with overall rents down 3.1% from a year earlier. In the second quarter of 2026, vacancy in Denver County was 7.0%, and the average concession was $175 a month, according to the Apartment Association of Metro Denver, so ask for a deal.
Colorado caps security deposits at two months’ rent, and landlords must return your deposit within 30 days after you move out, or up to 60 days if the lease says so. Landlords can’t require income above twice the rent, application fees must reflect actual costs, and Denver landlords need a city rental license.
Go deeper
Our free sister site, DenverApartmentBuildings.com, lists 194 apartment buildings in Denver, with the year built, size, pet policy and amenities for each. Pick a neighborhood to see its buildings. Some of the largest buildings in the directoryBrowse Denver apartment buildings
How do you get around Denver?
Many people drive, especially for mountain trips, but living car-light works in central neighborhoods near light rail and frequent buses.
- A Line: the commuter train from Union Station to Denver International Airport, about 37 minutes, every 15 minutes in the daytime.
- Light rail: lines to the southeast, southwest and west. Downtown track rebuilding has suspended the D, H and L lines until 2027.
- Fares: $2.75 for a 3-hour pass, $5.50 for a day pass and $88 for a month, with automatic capping when you tap a card or use the RTD app. Riders 19 and under ride free.
- Highways: I-25 runs north–south and I-70 runs east–west to the mountains, where a winter traction law applies.
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What is the weather like in Denver?
Dry and sunny, with big temperature swings, warm summers and snowy but often mild winters. These are averages from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for Denver International Airport:
| Month | Average high | Average low |
|---|---|---|
| January | 45°F | 19°F |
| April | 62°F | 34°F |
| July | 90°F | 60°F |
| October | 65°F | 37°F |
Denver gets only about 14.5 inches of precipitation a year but about 49 inches of snow, with March the snowiest month. Snow usually melts within a few days. Summer afternoons bring thunderstorms and hail, so covered parking is worth asking about, and summer ozone and wildfire smoke can bring air quality alerts. At 5,280 feet, the sun is stronger and you dehydrate faster, so drink more water at first.
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What is the job market like in Denver?
Denver’s economy is built on government, health care, aerospace and defense, energy, finance and tech. Metro unemployment was 4.6% in August 2026 (preliminary), up from 3.8% a year earlier, so job searches are taking longer. Average pay by job group in the Denver metro, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 data; yearly figures assume full-time work):
| Job group | Average hourly wage | About per year |
|---|---|---|
| Management | $83.66 | $174,000 |
| Computer and math | $62.33 | $129,600 |
| Healthcare practitioners | $52.65 | $109,500 |
| Business and finance | $49.85 | $103,700 |
| All jobs | $39.28 | $81,700 |
| Education and library | $38.36 | $79,800 |
| Sales | $33.40 | $69,500 |
| Office and admin support | $27.91 | $58,100 |
| Food prep and serving | $21.46 | $44,600 |
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Where do newcomers live in Denver?
- Capitol Hill and Uptown: older apartment buildings and walkable streets east of downtown, popular with first-time renters.
- LoDo and Union Station: lofts and new high-rises next to the train hub.
- RiNo and Five Points: converted warehouses, newer apartments, breweries and the A Line.
- LoHi and Highland: restaurants and townhomes just northwest of downtown.
- Cherry Creek: upscale apartments near shopping and the Cherry Creek Trail.
- Baker and South Broadway: older homes, bars and shops, near light rail.
- Washington Park and Sloan’s Lake: quieter areas around big parks.
- Suburbs: Aurora, Lakewood and Englewood, for more choice and in some cases lower rents.
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Frequently asked questions about moving to Denver
How much is rent in Denver?
The median one-bedroom was about $1,427 a month in October 2026, according to Apartment List. Overall rents were down 3.1% from a year earlier.
Does Colorado have a state income tax?
Yes, a flat 4.4%. Denver also charges employees a $5.75 monthly head tax, and most of the city’s sales tax is 9.15%.
Do you need a car in Denver?
Not always. Car-light living works in central neighborhoods near light rail and frequent buses, but a car helps for trips to the mountains.
How long do you have to switch your car and license to Colorado?
30 days to get a Colorado driver license and 90 days to register your car. Many older cars need an emissions test first.
Does the altitude affect newcomers?
Some people feel it for the first few days. Drink more water, go easy on alcohol and wear sunscreen, since the sun is stronger at 5,280 feet.
What have we written about Denver so far?
Sources
- Rents: Apartment List, Denver rent report (October 2026); vacancy and concessions: see our Denver renting guide
- Living wage and budget: MIT Living Wage Calculator, Denver County (February 2026)
- Income tax: CPR News (September 2026); head tax and sales tax: see our Denver cost of living guide
- Sales tax: Kintsugi, Denver sales tax rate (September 2026)
- Fares: RTD, Fares (October 2026); rail service: see our Denver transit guide
- Security deposits: Colorado General Assembly, SB23-184 (2023)
- License and registration deadlines: Colorado DMV, Welcome to Colorado (October 2026)
- Weather: NOAA 1991–2020 normals for Denver International Airport; snowfall from NWS Boulder; see our Denver weather guide
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, May 2025 (August 2026); unemployment: BLS, Economy at a Glance (2026)
- Minimum wage: see our Denver job market guide
- Suburb populations: City Population, Colorado cities (Census 2025 estimates) (2026)
- Metro population: USAFacts, How many people live in the Denver metro area? (2026)