PlainZIP

Florence, CO · standard

ZIP Code 81226

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

9,066
43/sq mi
$53,969
Median income
$258,800
Median home value
13.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Florence pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

20th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 41%
home value, US ZIPs
43
people per sq mi
74%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 81226 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 81226 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Florence, Fremont County, Colorado, home to 9,066 residents across 212.8 square miles, a density of 43 people per square mile, in the Denver time zone.

ZIP 81226 reports a modest median household income of $53,969 (39% below the Colorado average), while per-capita income is $22,944. Poverty here runs at 12.6%, with unemployment measured at 2.8%. On housing, the median home value is $258,800 (47% below the state average) with median rent at $812 per month, and 74.3% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 13.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.5, and the average commute is 32 minutes. Beyond these figures, 3 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Fremont County, letting you compare 81226 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

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 81226

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Florence, CO

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 81226.

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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 81226, Florence, 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

9,066

Population

212.8

Area (sq mi)

43

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 81226?

41.5

Median Age

66.6%

Male

33.4%

Female

4.3%

Foreign-Born

White 76.6%
African American 7.4%
Asian 3.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 2.7%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.6%
Hispanic or Latino 19.4%

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?

$53,969

Median Household Income

-39% vs state

$22,944

Per Capita Income

12.6%

Poverty Rate

2.8%

Unemployment Rate

31.8 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 81226 ranks nationally

Florence, CO household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$53,969 20th percentile higher than 20% 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 55.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 13.4%

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

What does housing look like?

2,459

Total Housing Units

2,275

Occupied Units

184

Vacant Units

2.43

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 74.3%
Renter 25.7%

$258,800

Median Home Value

-47% vs state

$812

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

+6.4%

YoY Change (2024)

271

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+171%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 81226 have increased 6.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +171% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +9.6% 189
2021 +10.5% 209
2022 +10.8% 232
2023 +9.8% 255
2024 +6.4% 271

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 112 business establishments in ZIP 81226, employing approximately 737 people with a combined annual payroll of $38,557,000.

112

Businesses

737

Employees

$38.6M

Annual Payroll

10

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Accommodation and food services 18 16.1%
Construction 17 15.2%
Retail trade 17 15.2%
Other services (except public administration) 13 11.6%
Manufacturing 7 6.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 7 6.3%
Health care and social assistance 7 6.3%
Finance and insurance 6 5.4%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 6 5.4%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 4 3.6%

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 81226 vs 81221 →

ZIP 81226 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 81226 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 81226 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 81226 ranks #2 of 4 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
81221 Coal Creek, CO 310 2.2 mi
81244 Rockvale, CO 398 3.5 mi
81253 Wetmore, CO 410 8.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in Fremont County

81212 standard
Canon City, CO
Pop: 29,742
81240 standard
Penrose, CO
Pop: 4,323
81223 standard
Cotopaxi, CO
Pop: 1,639
81233 standard
Howard, CO
Pop: 823
81244 standard
Rockvale, CO
Pop: 398
81221 standard
Coal Creek, CO
Pop: 310

Related Areas

Fremont County Florence, CO Colorado

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 81226 in? ▼
ZIP code 81226 (Florence) is located in Fremont County, Colorado. Fremont County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/fremont-co.
What is the population of ZIP code 81226? ▼
ZIP code 81226 in Florence, CO has a population of 9,066 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 81226? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 81226 is $53,969, which is 29% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 81226? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 81226 is $258,800, which is 7% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 81226? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 81226 is White at 76.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 19.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 81226? ▼
ZIP code 81226 has 112 business establishments employing approximately 737 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 81226? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 81226 are: Accommodation and food services (18), Construction (17), Retail trade (17). There are 10 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 81226? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 81226 increased by 6.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 171%. 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 81226? ▼
In ZIP code 81226, 55.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 13.4% 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 81226? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 81226 is 31.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 81226? ▼
In ZIP code 81226, approximately 74.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 25.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 81226? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 81226 is 12.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

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