Denver Market Analysis · September 29, 2026
What Do Denver's Different Home Price Numbers Mean in 2026?
Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, and DMAR can all publish accurate Denver price figures that differ because they measure different things.
A home-value index describes a modeled housing stock. A median listing price describes the midpoint of current asking prices. A median sold price describes the midpoint of completed transactions in a defined period. Those nouns matter more than the superficial similarity of the dollar figures. Zillow's $524,695 ZHVI for Denver was a modeled typical home value through August 31. Realtor.com's $524,900 figure was a median asking price for August. Redfin's $619,090 was a median sale price over the three months ending in August.
Evidence snapshot
| Metric | Value | Period | Definition or limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical home value (ZHVI) | $524,695 | Aug. 31, 2026 | Modeled home-value index, not a median sale price |
| Median sale price | $619,090 | Three months ending Aug. 2026 | All home types; Redfin calculations from MLS and/or public records |
| Median listing price | $524,900 | Aug. 2026 | Asking-price measure; down 7.31% year over year |
| Median sold price | $555,000 | Aug. 2026 | Completed-sale measure; down 3.48% year over year |
| Median sales price | $635,000 | Aug. 2026 | Down 5.6% year over year |
| Median sales price | $360,000 | Aug. 2026 | Down 10.0% year over year |
Why the closed-sale figures also differ
Redfin's three-month all-home-type window, Realtor.com's August sold-price series, and DMAR's August property-type tables do not use the same time window or grouping. DMAR separated single-family homes at a $635,000 August median from townhouses and condos at $360,000. A combined portal series can move when the mix of homes changes, even if each property type follows a different path.
The practical reading for buyers
A buyer should not use the lowest public figure as a target price or the highest figure as proof that every home is expensive. The useful sequence is to identify the metric, match the geography and property type, and then examine recent comparable sales for the actual home. Citywide data is context for the conversation, not the conclusion.
The practical reading for sellers
A seller should separate what the broader housing stock is modeled to be worth from what active competitors are asking and what comparable homes have closed for. Pricing also depends on condition, location, timing, and the terms that are not visible in a headline median. A citywide number can frame expectations, but it cannot set a defensible list price by itself.
Companion Report
Denver Home Prices Explained: Value, Ask, and Closed Sale
Why a modeled value, a median list price, and a median closed-sale price answer different questions.
Questions readers ask
Is Zillow's Denver home value a sale price?
No. Zillow identifies ZHVI as a modeled home-value index based on property-level Zestimates.
Why is Redfin's Denver median higher than Realtor.com's?
The sources use different periods, coverage, and measures. Redfin's cited figure covers three months ending August 2026, while Realtor.com's cited sold-price figure is an August series.
Which number should price one Denver home?
None by itself. Property-specific comparable sales, current competition, condition, and terms are needed.
Sources and scope
- Zillow Denver Housing MarketDenver city data through August 31, 2026, with July 2026 sale metrics
- Redfin Denver Housing MarketDenver city data for the three months ending August 2026, with August 2026 sales count
- Realtor.com Denver Market TrendsDenver city and county portal data through August 2026
- 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.