Cost of Living in Highlands Ranch, CO
Cost of Living in Highlands Ranch, CO has an overall index of 153, 53% above the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $672,600; typical monthly rent is $2,396; and median household income is $155,847.
Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 metro-area price parities. Home value: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. Rent: Zillow ZORI market signal as of 2026-02. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.
Housing costs sit well above the national baseline. This describes the local market, not your household.
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Frequently asked questions about Highlands Ranch
Living in Highlands Ranch
Is Highlands Ranch, CO an expensive place to live?+
Yes — Highlands Ranch is about 53% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 153. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $672,600, and monthly rents average roughly $2,396. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.
How does Highlands Ranch fit a household housing budget?+
Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $2,396, while local median household income is $155,847. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 18% before utilities and other costs. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.
How much are taxes in Highlands Ranch, CO?+
Colorado uses a flat model; 4.4% is top marginal-rate context. Applying the 0.51% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $672,600 gives a planning estimate near $3,430 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is around 7.79%.
How much does it cost to rent in Highlands Ranch, CO?+
The typical monthly rent in Highlands Ranch is around $2,396. That's about 78% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $672,600, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.
How much does a house cost in Highlands Ranch, CO?+
The typical home value in Highlands Ranch is $672,600. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $3,264/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. About 79% of residents here own their homes.
Are groceries and utilities expensive in Highlands Ranch?+
Grocery prices in Highlands Ranch are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 101, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.
What is Highlands Ranch, CO like to live in?+
Highlands Ranch is a mid-sized city with a population of about 101,437. The median age of residents is 41.4, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 2.41%, well below the national average of 12.4%.