Denver Market Analysis · September 29, 2026
Denver's One-Month vs. Year-to-Date Housing Signals
August price changes looked weaker than the broader 2026-to-date record, especially for single-family homes.
The Denver single-family median sale price was $635,000 in August, down 5.6% from August 2025. The year-to-date median through August was $684,500, up 1.4% from the same period in 2025. Both statements are accurate, but they describe different samples and should not be collapsed into one direction.
Evidence snapshot
| Metric | Value | Period | Definition or limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median sales price | $635,000 | Aug. 2026 | Down 5.6% year over year |
| Year-to-date median sales price | $684,500 | Through Aug. 2026 | Up 1.4% from the same 2025 period |
| Median sales price | $360,000 | Aug. 2026 | Down 10.0% year over year |
| Year-to-date median sales price | $390,000 | Through Aug. 2026 | Down 1.3% from the same 2025 period |
Attached housing showed a similar, but not identical, pattern
The townhouse and condo August median was $360,000, down 10.0% year over year. The year-to-date median was $390,000, down 1.3%. The monthly change was much larger than the cumulative-period change, which is a reason to inspect volume and composition before declaring a durable trend.
Monthly data is timely and noisy
A single month responds quickly to changes in what closed. That makes it useful for current conditions, but it can also be distorted by a smaller or unusual set of transactions. DMAR explicitly cautions that one month can sometimes look extreme due to small sample size.
Year-to-date data is broader and slower
A cumulative period includes more transactions and can reduce one-month volatility, but it is slower to reflect a turning point. The best reading uses both: the monthly figure for the latest pulse and the year-to-date figure for context, with the exact property type and geography retained.
Companion Report
Denver Single-Family vs. Condo Market: August 2026
A Denver city comparison of detached homes and townhouses/condos using the local DMAR report.
Questions readers ask
Did Denver single-family prices rise or fall in 2026?
The August median fell year over year, while the year-to-date median through August rose 1.4%. The answer depends on the period.
Why can the signals point in different directions?
The samples cover different numbers and mixes of transactions.
Is one month enough to establish a trend?
No. It is a timely snapshot that should be read with broader periods and sample context.
Sources and scope
- DMAR and Colorado Association of REALTORS® Denver Local Market UpdateDenver city, August 2026 and year to date through August 2026; REcolorado® and IRES® data
This article reports broad city or metro evidence exactly as labeled. It does not establish a neighborhood, luxury, architectural-style, or individual-property result unless the cited source uses that matching population.