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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K salary, 7 cities (64%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 11 cities in Colorado using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Pueblo…
#1 Ranked: Pueblo — cost index 77, rent $1,316/mo, income $55,305
7 of 11 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K
7 of 11 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K salary, 7 cities (64%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 11 cities in Colorado using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Pueblo comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
Pueblo earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 77 cost index sits 34 points below the national baseline, and the $55,305 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $283,780 — $183,590 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 77, while Healthcare trails at 95 (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
On a $75K salary, the key number is $1,875/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Pueblo ($1,316/mo, 21%), Greeley ($1,442/mo, 23%), Colorado Springs ($1,667/mo, 27%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $54,410 to $54,410/year across these top picks.
7 of 11 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K salary, 7 cities (64%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
Contrast this with: Here's the state-level backdrop: Colorado averages a 103 cost index, $1,765/mo rent, and $90,112 income across 11 cities. That's $130 less than the national rent average. Outdoor lifestyle with a rising price tag — and that context shapes every city in this ranking.
Bottom line: Pueblo leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers (though the trend is moving in the right direction).
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K salary, 7 cities (64%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
Pueblo (index 77) and Centennial (index 120) sit 43 points apart on the cost index — proof that Colorado is far from monolithic in affordability.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pueblo | $1,316 | 21% | 77 | Details |
| 2 | Greeley | $1,442 | 23% | 84 | Details |
| 3 | Colorado Springs | $1,667 | 27% | 97 | Details |
| 4 | Aurora | $1,689 | 27% | 99 | Details |
| 5 | Lakewood | $1,733 | 28% | 101 | Details |
| 6 | Westminster | $1,788 | 29% | 104 | Details |
| 7 | Denver | $1,818 | 29% | 106 | Details |
| 8 | Thornton | $1,888 | 30% | 110 | Details |
| 9 | Fort Collins | $1,970 | 32% | 115 | Details |
| 10 | Arvada | $2,053 | 33% | 120 | Details |
| 11 | Centennial | $2,056 | 33% | 120 | Details |
111,077 residents · Colorado
Why Pueblo ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 77 on the cost index, residents save roughly 34% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,316/month while the median household pulls in $55,305/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 77, though Healthcare (95) lags behind. Home prices average $283,780 — $183,590 below the national median.
112,609 residents · Colorado
Greeley earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 84 cost index sits 27 points below the national baseline, and the $68,650 — make of that what you will — median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $418,757 — $48,613 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 84, while Healthcare trails at 97.
488,664 residents · Colorado
Here's Colorado Springs by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 97. Rent: $1,667/month. Income: $83,198/year. Home price: $446,132. Population: 488,664. The strongest category is Housing at 97; the most expensive is Healthcare at 99. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $2,736 per year vs. the national median. That's the kind of affordability that turns 'maybe someday' into 'next month.'
177,563 residents · Colorado
Look, the #4 spot goes to Aurora, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,689/month — saving renters $2,472 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 99, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Healthcare at 100. At a 24% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
155,961 residents · Colorado
So, Lakewood. Cost index of 101, rent at $1,733/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $85,789, which is above average. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Pueblo | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
2Greeley | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
3Colorado Springs | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
4Aurora | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
5Lakewood | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
6Westminster | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
7Denver | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
8Thornton | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
9Fort Collins | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
10Arvada | 4.4% | 7.81% | 0.49% | $54,410 |
We model what a $75K salary looks like after taxes in each city: federal income tax (marginal brackets), FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. Then we compare take-home against local rent and costs to determine where the salary stretches furthest. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Pueblo ranks #1 in Colorado for this analysis with a cost index of 77 and median income of $55,305.
Yes. On a $75K salary in Pueblo, rent would consume about 21% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Pueblo (ranked #1) has a cost index of 77 and rent of $1,316/mo, while Centennial (ranked #11) has a cost index of 120 and rent of $2,056/mo — a 43-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Pueblo is $1,316/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $579 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 4.4% state income tax, estimated take-home on $75K in Pueblo is approximately $54,410/year ($4,534/month). After median rent of $1,316/month, you'd have roughly $38,618/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Pueblo is $283,780, which is 5.1× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Colorado has a 4.4% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.81%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.49%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.