ZIP Code 81521, Colorado
ZIP Code 81521 profile, demographic data, and geographic information.
ZCTA5 81521 is a 5-digit ZIP Code area located in Mesa County, Colorado. As of official census estimates, it has a reported population of 16,613. The land area covers 181.59 sq mi. [1]
Demographics & Population
| Demographic Metric | Estimate / Count | Margin of Error | Survey Period / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 16,613 | ±645 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Median Age | 43.2 yrs | ±1.7 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Total Households | 6,436 | ±389 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (PEP, ACS 5-Year).
Housing & Real Estate Profile
| Housing Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Total Housing Units | 6,618 | ±382 |
| Occupied Housing Units | 6,436 | ±389 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 182 | ±154 |
| Median Home Value | $422,900 | ±$21,742 |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,398 | ±$357 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Economy & Workforce
| Economic Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $88,458 | ±$3,577 |
| Per Capita Income | $43,586 | ±$3,297 |
| Poverty Rate | 3.7% | ±1.6% |
| Population Below Poverty Level | 606 | ±262 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | ±1.9% |
| Civilian Labor Force, Employed | 7,848 | ±571 |
| Broadband Internet Rate | 90.7% | ±3.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Local Government & Public Administration
Authoritative general-purpose local government units serving this area
U.S. Census Bureau GUS (2026) / GMAF
| Government Unit | Unit Type | Jurisdiction Role | Contact / Address |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GUS Population: 161,260 (2024)
ID: 123715
|
County | Official County Government |
Contact: IT MANAGER
PO BOX 20000, GRAND JUNCTION CO 81502-5001
|
Education
Listing 10 local institutions (NCES 2024-2025)
External reference via K12Guides
| Institution | Type | Grades | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | GRAND JUNCTION, CO | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | GRAND JUNCTION, CO | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | FRUITA, CO | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | FRUITA, CO | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | LOMA, CO | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | FRUITA, CO | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-03 | FRUITA, CO | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | GRAND JUNCTION, CO | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | FRUITA, CO | |
| Regular School Nearby | KG-05 | GRAND JUNCTION, CO |
Source: k12guides.com.
Community Facilities & Infrastructure
Displaying 6 civic institutions across 2 datasets queried
CMS • IPEDS • IMLS
| Facility Name | Category | Relationship | Address / Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Colorado Mesa University
|
College | 18.2 mi away | 1100 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO, 81501-3122 |
9702481020
|
|
FRUITA BRANCH LIBRARY
|
Library | 7.5 mi away | 324 N. COULSON, FRUITA, CO, 81521 |
(970) 858-7703
|
|
Intellitec College-Grand Junction
|
College | 18.9 mi away | 772 Horizon Dr., Grand Junction, CO, 81506 |
9702458101
|
|
MESA COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
|
Library | 18.0 mi away | 443 N. 6TH STREET, GRAND JUNCTION, CO, 81501 |
(970) 243-4442
|
|
ORCHARD MESA BRANCH LIBRARY
|
Library | 20.1 mi away | 230 EAST LYNWOOD STREET, GRAND JUNCTION, CO, 81503 |
(970) 243-0181
|
|
CLIFTON BRANCH LIBRARY
|
Library | 23.9 mi away | 3270 D 1/2 ROAD, CLIFTON, CO, 81520 |
(970) 434-6936
|
Distances calculated from authoritative source coordinates. Source: CMS, IMLS, NCES IPEDS.
Climate & Weather Observations
NOAA Monthly Climate Normals
Observation Station: Climate data reflects NOAA 1991–2020 standard normals recorded at FRUITA, CO US, located 8.1 miles from ZCTA5 81521. Local microclimates, topography, and elevation may cause municipal conditions to differ.
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 39.0° | 14.9° | 27.0° | 0.75" | — |
| February | 47.2° | 21.4° | 34.3° | 0.77" | — |
| March | 59.0° | 29.2° | 44.1° | 0.92" | — |
| April | 67.3° | 34.9° | 51.1° | 0.92" | — |
| May | 78.3° | 45.1° | 61.7° | 0.85" | — |
| June | 89.1° | 52.5° | 70.8° | 0.55" | — |
| July | 94.6° | 59.8° | 77.2° | 0.66" | — |
| August | 91.5° | 58.3° | 74.9° | 0.84" | — |
| September | 83.0° | 48.4° | 65.7° | 1.12" | — |
| October | 68.8° | 36.0° | 52.4° | 1.18" | — |
| November | 53.9° | 25.2° | 39.5° | 0.65" | — |
| December | 40.4° | 16.2° | 28.3° | 0.68" | — |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020).
Local Weather Forecast
Weather forecast data is currently unavailable in the local cache.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Listing adjacent communities by spatial proximity (miles)
Proximity discovery
| Community Name | Classification | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loma CDP | CDP | 5.3 mi | — |
| Fruita city | City | 8.0 mi | — |
| Redlands CDP | CDP | 13.0 mi | — |
| Grand Junction city | City | 17.3 mi | — |
| Orchard Mesa CDP | CDP | 20.8 mi | — |
| Fruitvale CDP | CDP | 21.9 mi | — |
Sources & Data Provenance
- Geographic Classification & Identifiers: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (2026) and TIGER/Line Shapefiles. GEOID: 81521. • Official Source Dataset →
- Socioeconomic & Housing Metrics: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates and Population Estimates Program (PEP). Margin of Error (MOE) intervals are reported where published; suppressed values are never estimated or replaced with false zeros.
- Civic Directory Datasets: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Hospital Directory), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES IPEDS Postsecondary Directory), and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Public Libraries Survey). Airport landing facilities are provided by airport-data.com.
- Weather & Climate Observations: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 and National Weather Service (NWS) point forecasts.