May is Affordable Housing Awareness Month, and it’s an important reminder that housing stability affects every part of community life. In Larimer County and throughout Colorado, families are struggling to find – and keep – a home within their household budget.
The growing gap between Area Median Income (AMI) and housing costs limits many residents’ ability to own a home and makes rising rents increasingly difficult to afford. A typical Larimer County home is around $585,000, while the 2026 AMI for a family of four is $130,200. Additionally, the County’s low rental vacancy rate of 3.3% creates a tight and competitive market with few available options. Generally, housing vacancy rates between 5% and 10% indicate stable market conditions, while lower rates signal constrained markets where prices are likely to increase more rapidly.
At the state level, Colorado continues to experience a shortage of homes affordable to extremely low-income households (30% AMI). The National Low Income Housing Coalition reports that Colorado does not have enough rental homes available for this income group, with statewide estimates showing only 27 affordable units for every 100 extremely low-income households.
Housing cost burden occurs when a household spends more than 30% of its income on housing. Statewide, it is affecting a growing share of income groups, with 87% of extremely low-income households, 57% of low-income households, and 25% of middle-income households now considered cost burdened.
Affordable Housing Awareness Month is a chance to learn, share, and act. Supporting local housing organizations, staying informed about policy solutions, and advocating for more affordable homes are the ways we can make a real difference. Housing is more than shelter; it is the foundation for health, education, work, and community stability.
To learn more, explore the Larimer County Regional Housing Needs Assessment, National Low Income Housing Coalition, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, Affordable Housing Month, and Colorado housing data from the Colorado Health Institute.
