Housing & Our Community | Common Sense Institute

Housing Mismatch: Mortgage Capacity vs Home Prices

Jun 20, 2024

In 2010, Colorado was ranked 20th in the nation for the size of the mismatch between household mortgage capacity and the value of owner-occupied housing. Colorado’s ranking rose to 11th highest, tied with California.

Colorado’s Fentanyl Problem and the Economic Costs

Jun 18, 2024

The total cost of fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Colorado is estimated to be $16 billion in 2023. This is over ten times the cost of fentanyl overdose from 2017, $1.3 billion. That $16 billion is 3% of the state’s GDP in 2023.

The Ongoing Costs of Denver Migrants

May 30, 2024

The total cost to Denver metro schools related to new migrant students is $98 million to $222 million, which would equate to 1-2% of the total state K-12 education budget for the 2024-25 academic year.

Colorado Public Safety Competitiveness Index

May 23, 2024

Colorado’s Public Safety Competitiveness Index has decreased 2.2% from 2011 to 2023. Coincidentally, Colorado’s relative ranking decreased seven spots from 24th to 31st among states and Washington, D.C.

Colorado Springs Housing Affordability Report 2024

May 22, 2024

The housing deficit in 2023 is in the range of 16,554 to 27,360 units. To meet population growth by 2028 and close the housing deficit, between 32,000 and 43,000 housing units will need to be built.

Colorado Housing Competitiveness Index

Apr 25, 2024

Colorado’s housing affordability gap widens! Since 2011, it now takes over double the hours to afford the average mortgage, outpacing wage growth.

Denver Migrants Spending and the City Budget

Apr 19, 2024

Denver’s proposed budget cuts to fund its migrants response take about $17 million away from public safety spending.

The Metro-Wide Accumulated Costs of Migrants

Mar 20, 2024

As of March 18, just under 1,400 migrants were staying in Denver shelters, down from a height of 5,210 in January. Occupancy of city shelters has not been this low since late September 2023.

The Cost of Juvenile Crime and its Economic Impact on Colorado

Mar 5, 2024

Since 2010, juvenile crime rates have decreased overall but have increased for crimes against person: murder (210%), aggravated assault (17%), and robbery (12.3%).

The Accumulated Costs of Denver Migrants

Feb 28, 2024

Denver and its institutions have already spent between $78 million and $100 million on the migrant situation, according to CSI’s most recent dive into the published numbers.