Rent vs buy in Westminster, CO
A typical home in Westminster, Colorado is worth $510,555, with typical rent of $1,872 /mo.
Over 7 years, renting comes out $34k ahead.
Today's mortgage rate and a 20% down payment are applied to Westminster's typical rent and home value. You reach break-even in year 11.
An opinion with a clear label and the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. If you change a number, the stamp changes with it.
- Renting leads by
- $34k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 11 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of ownership
- $4,287 /mo year 1, against $1,872 rent
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From Westminster's typical home value and rent, the stamp gets its figures. Your rent, price and years can change the result.
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Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Westminster?
Over 7 years, renting costs $33,523 less after counting the money you receive when you sell. For the first 10 years, renting costs less. In year 11, owning catches up.
The renting option. The owning option. Net cost through each year.
Comparing average rent and mortgage payment in Westminster
Every monthly cost for year 1 at Westminster's typical price appears here. Rent and the mortgage don't tell the whole story.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,872 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,784 | $2,453 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $208 | 0.49% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $157 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $425 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,574 | $330 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $830 | Annual earnings on the cash at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $213 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $4,287 | Cash out minus the equity portion, plus the two lines above |
The figures behind Westminster's result
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026 data
- $510,555
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026 data
- $1,872 a month
- Private mortgage insurance isn't needed with 20% down, and the engine leaves it out.
- 20%
- Mortgage rate from Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Growth in home prices, based on the FHFA house price index, Colorado, 1995 to 2025
- The yearly rate is 5.2%.
- Rent growthCPI for primary residence rent, annual growth from 2006 to 2026
- The yearly rate is 3.5%.
- Return on savings60% in S&P 500 with dividends plus 40% in 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced each year, 1928 to 2025
- The yearly rate is 8.3%.
- Property tax data: Census ACS 2020-2024, Westminster
- The rate is 0.49% of value.
- Home insurance data: Census ACS 2020-2024, Westminster
- $157 a month
- Maintenance estimates from Fannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- Each year, the rate equals 1% of value.
- Buying cost estimates from Freddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- The cost equals 3.5% of price.
- Agent commission plus closing costs make up selling costs.
- The cost equals 6% of price.
What would reverse the result in Westminster?
Each line shows the threshold that changes Westminster's 7-year result, while all other figures remain the same.
When renting wins
- Home prices rise at under 6.0% a year (5.2% is our figure, Colorado's pace over the long run).
- The mortgage rate remains above 6.07%.
- Monthly rent for a similar home is under $2,230 (the local typical is $1,872).
- Your move comes before year 11.
When buying wins
- Home prices grow by more than 6.0% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 6.07% (today's is 7.24%).
- Monthly rent for that same home would exceed $2,230.
- You remain for 11 years or more.
Westminster compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Westminster | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $510,555 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,872 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 22.7 (#214 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 4.9% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 1.8% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.49% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 38% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow data for ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Additional Colorado cities
- Renting wins by $37k in Denver, CO.
- Renting wins by $17k in Colorado Springs, CO.
- Renting wins by $22k in Aurora, CO.
- Renting wins by $41k in Fort Collins, CO.
- Renting wins by $54k in Lakewood, CO.
- Renting wins by $26k in Thornton, CO.
- Renting wins by $47k in Arvada, CO.
- Renting wins by $33k in Greeley, CO.
- Buying wins by $5k in Pueblo, CO.
- Renting wins by $53k in Centennial, CO.
- Renting wins by $147k in Boulder, CO.
- Renting wins by $45k in Longmont, CO.