Fort Collins, CO · standard
ZIP Code 80521
Larimer County, Colorado - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 33,409
- 909/sq mi High-density area
- $58,082
- Median income Below-median income area
- $564,900
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 64.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Fort Collins pairs a below-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, renter-heavy area.
- 26th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 11%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 909
- people per sq mi
- 37%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 80521 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 80521 (Fort Collins, CO) rose +2.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 323.0 in 2023 to 329.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 80521 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado, with 33,409 residents across 36.8 square miles, a density of 909 people per square mile, in the Denver time zone.
ZIP 80521 reports a modest median household income of $58,082 (35% below the average Colorado ZIP), while per-capita income is $33,574. The poverty rate is 32.6%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $564,900 (17% above the average Colorado ZIP), with only 36.8% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $1,444.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 64.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 22.9, and the average commute is 19 minutes. The page also surfaces 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Larimer County, so 80521 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 80521
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Fort Collins, CO
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 80521.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
136 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
82 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
70 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
67 establishments
- Construction
Construction
63 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 80521, Fort Collins, CO · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
33,409
Population
36.8
Area (sq mi)
909
People / sq mi
Denver
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 80521?
22.9
Median Age
49.4%
Male
50.6%
Female
4.8%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$58,082
Median Household Income
-35% vs state ZIP avg
$33,574
Per Capita Income
32.6%
Poverty Rate
9.4%
Unemployment Rate
19.0 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 80521 ranks nationally
Fort Collins, CO household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$58,082 26th percentile higher than 26% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
15,000housing units
15,000
Total Housing Units
14,260
Occupied Units
740
Vacant Units
2.20
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$564,900
Median Home Value
+17% vs state ZIP avg
$1,444
Median Rent
1978
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+2.1%
YoY Change (2024)
330
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+230%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 80521 have increased 2.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +230% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.2% | 240 |
| 2021 | +11.2% | 266 |
| 2022 | +15.0% | 306 |
| 2023 | +5.4% | 323 |
| 2024 | +2.1% | 330 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 653 business establishments in ZIP 80521, employing approximately 5,997 people with a combined annual payroll of $359,481,000.
653
Businesses
5,997
Employees
$359.5M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 136 | 20.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 82 | 12.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 70 | 10.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 67 | 10.3% |
| Construction | 63 | 9.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 60 | 9.2% |
| Retail trade | 36 | 5.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 33 | 5.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 25 | 3.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 21 | 3.2% |
| Information | 11 | 1.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 10 | 1.5% |
| Manufacturing | 9 | 1.4% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 9 | 1.4% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 8 | 1.2% |
| Educational services | 7 | 1.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3 | 0.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 80521 vs 80526 →
ZIP 80521 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 80525
Fort Collins (80525)
48,419 residents
- 80526
Fort Collins (80526)
44,183 residents
- 80538
Loveland (80538)
43,930 residents
- 80521
Fort Collins (80521)
33,409 residents
- 80524
Fort Collins (80524)
31,668 residents
- 80528 17,946
Fort Collins (80528)
17,946 residents
- 80535 2,636
Laporte (80535)
2,636 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 80521 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 80521 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 80528
Fort Collins (80528)
$130,350 median income
- 80535
Laporte (80535)
$110,945 median income
- 80525
Fort Collins (80525)
$91,636 median income
- 80526
Fort Collins (80526)
$88,686 median income
- 80538
Loveland (80538)
$86,671 median income
- 80524
Fort Collins (80524)
$85,035 median income
- 80521
Fort Collins (80521)
$58,082 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 80521 ranks #7 of 7 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 80521, both outside CO so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (33,409 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Larimer County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 80521 in?
ZIP code 80521 (Fort Collins) is located in Larimer County, Colorado. Larimer County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/larimer-co.
What is the population of ZIP code 80521?
ZIP code 80521 in Fort Collins, CO has a population of 33,409 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 80521?
The median household income in ZIP 80521 is $58,082, which is 24% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 80521?
The median home value in ZIP 80521 is $564,900, which is 103% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 80521?
The largest racial group in ZIP 80521 is White at 82.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 10.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 80521?
ZIP code 80521 has 653 business establishments employing approximately 5,997 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 80521?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 80521 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (136), Accommodation and food services (82), Health care and social assistance (70). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 80521?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 80521 increased by 2.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 230%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 80521?
In ZIP code 80521, 78.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 64.0% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 80521?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 80521 is 19.0 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 80521?
In ZIP code 80521, approximately 36.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 63.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 80521?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 80521 is 32.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 80521's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 80521 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Fort Collins, CO ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.