PlainZIP

La Veta, CO · standard

ZIP Code 81055

Huerfano County, Colorado - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

1,339
2/sq mi
$55,080
Median income
$398,600
Median home value
38.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

La Veta pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

21th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 21%
home value, US ZIPs
2
people per sq mi
74%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 81055 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 81055 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 669.5 square miles in La Veta, Huerfano County, Colorado. The area is home to 1,339 residents, producing a population density of 2 people per square mile, and falls within the Denver time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 81055 against Colorado and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 81055 sits at $55,080 (38% below the Colorado average), while per-capita income is $46,002. The poverty rate stands at 10.5% and the unemployment rate at 2.5%. On housing, the median home value is $398,600 (18% below the state average) with median rent at $740 per month, and 73.7% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 81055 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 38.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 68.5, and the average commute is —. Use the benchmarks above to see where 81055 sits relative to Colorado and the national baseline rather than viewing the numbers in isolation. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 81055

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 81055.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 81055, La Veta, CO · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

1,339

Population

669.5

Area (sq mi)

2

People / sq mi

Denver

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 81055?

68.5

Median Age

50.2%

Male

49.8%

Female

0.8%

Foreign-Born

White 90.4%
African American 0.0%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 3.2%
Hispanic or Latino 12.1%

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?

$55,080

Median Household Income

-38% vs state

$46,002

Per Capita Income

10.5%

Poverty Rate

2.5%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 81055 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$55,080 21st percentile higher than 21% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 53.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 38.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

1,661

Total Housing Units

835

Occupied Units

826

Vacant Units

1.86

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 73.7%
Renter 26.3%

$398,600

Median Home Value

-18% vs state

$740

Median Rent

1980

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

+17.9%

YoY Change (2024)

248

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+148%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 81055 have increased 17.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +148% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2018 +7.5% 162
2019 +8.3% 175
2020 -2.2% 171
2021 +17.9% 202
2024 — 248

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 54 business establishments in ZIP 81055, employing approximately 197 people with a combined annual payroll of $11,600,000.

54

Businesses

197

Employees

$11.6M

Annual Payroll

6

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Accommodation and food services 11 20.4%
Construction 9 16.7%
Retail trade 7 13.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 7 13.0%
Other services (except public administration) 6 11.1%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 7.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

More ZIP Codes in Huerfano County

81089 standard
Walsenburg, CO
Pop: 4,602
81040 standard
Gardner, CO
Pop: 536

Related Areas

Huerfano County La Veta, CO Colorado

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 81055 in? ▼
ZIP code 81055 (La Veta) is located in Huerfano County, Colorado. Huerfano County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/huerfano-co.
What is the population of ZIP code 81055? ▼
ZIP code 81055 in La Veta, CO has a population of 1,339 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 81055? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 81055 is $55,080, which is 28% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 81055? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 81055 is $398,600, which is 43% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 81055? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 81055 is White at 90.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 12.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 81055? ▼
ZIP code 81055 has 54 business establishments employing approximately 197 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 81055? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 81055 are: Accommodation and food services (11), Construction (9), Retail trade (7). There are 6 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 81055? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 81055 increased by 17.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 148%. 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 81055? ▼
In ZIP code 81055, 53.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 38.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 81055? ▼
In ZIP code 81055, approximately 73.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 26.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 81055? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 81055 is 10.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for La Veta, CO

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.