Where home prices spiked the most in the Denver area

Denver likes to complain about rising home prices, but the spike in the surrounding metro area is even worse.

What's happening: In the last five years, average home prices increased in some metro area ZIP codes by more than 60%, according to a new Axios analysis of Zillow data.

• The largest spikes occurred in Denver's closest suburbs, the mountain foothills and parts of the Eastern Plains.

What they're saying: "You know what they say, you drive until you can afford it," Kentwood Real Estate broker Jill Schafer told Axios.

By the numbers: 30% of Denver-area ZIP codes saw housing prices increase by 50% or more, the analysis found.

These are the five areas with the largest average home price increases from April 2016 to April 2021:

• 80105: Deer Trail in Arapahoe County. Up 61.9% from $227,394 to $368,228
• 80455: Jamestown in Boulder County. Up 61.9% from $321,438 to $520,421
• 80425: Pine in Jefferson County. Up 61.6% from $350,993 to $567,335
• 80030: Westminster in Adams County. Up 60.4% from $259,948 to $417,055
• 80216: Denver. Up 60.1% from $228,607 to $365,954

Between the lines: Denver's prices started at an elevated level, like those in Boulder and Douglas County, so the increases were significant but not as steep as outlying areas.

The other side: Only one ZIP code experienced an increase less than 30% — 80202 in downtown Denver at 16%.

Go deeper: Find your ZIP code data on this interactive map.