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 Moderate-density area
- $53,969
- Median income Below-median income area
- $258,800
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 13.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 81226 (Florence, CO) rose +6.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 254.5 in 2023 to 270.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average Colorado ZIP), while per-capita income is $22,944. The poverty rate is 12.6%, with unemployment at 2.8%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $258,800 (47% below the average Colorado ZIP), and median rent is $812; owner occupancy is 74.3%.
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. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Fremont County, so 81226 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 81226
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Florence, CO
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 81226.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
18 establishments
- Construction
Construction
17 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
17 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
13 establishments
- Manufacturing 7
Manufacturing
7 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 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
Who lives in ZIP 81226?
41.5
Median Age
66.6%
Male
33.4%
Female
4.3%
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?
$53,969
Median Household Income
-39% vs state ZIP avg
$22,944
Per Capita Income
12.6%
Poverty Rate
2.8%
Unemployment Rate
31.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 81226 ranks among Colorado ZIPs
Florence, CO household income vs. every Colorado ZIP code
Median household income among 469 reporting Colorado ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$53,969 16th percentile higher than 16% of 469 Colorado ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Colorado 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
2,459housing units
2,459
Total Housing Units
2,275
Occupied Units
184
Vacant Units
2.43
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$258,800
Median Home Value
-47% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 81226
Florence (81226)
9,066 residents
- 81253 410
Wetmore (81253)
410 residents
- 81244 398
Rockvale (81244)
398 residents
- 81221 310
Coal Creek (81221)
310 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 81226 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 81226 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 81253
Wetmore (81253)
$76,346 median income
- 81226
Florence (81226)
$53,969 median income
- 81244
Rockvale (81244)
$51,250 median income
- 81221
Coal Creek (81221)
$34,000 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 81226, 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 (9,066 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Fremont County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 81226's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 81226 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Florence, CO ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.