To afford the state's average rent, a household needs to earn$31,500 annually, the equivalent of $15.14 per hour. The survey,conducted by University of Denver Daniels School of Businessprofessor Gordon Von Stroh, reports on vacancy and rentalinformation for 22 housing markets outside metro Denver. The 22markets are grouped into three categories: urban, resort andregional rural.

Because rents are not decreasing, according to Von Stroh, theneed for affordable housing continues in many Colorado communities.Vacancy rates for some of the state's smaller community continue tobe very low. Salida, Gunnison, Alamosa, Montrose, Canyon City, FortMorgan all have vacancy rates below 5%. And vacancies in ColoradoSprings, Fort Collins, Greeley and Pueblo have decreased from thelast report, conducted in February.

ancies in the resort regions continue to be higher than normal.For the first time ever, for example, Summit County, which includesCopper Mountain, Breckenridge and Keystone, is reporting adouble-digit vacancy, but average rents remained stable. However,regardless of the vacancy rate, households with lower incomes stillstruggle to afford the rent.