Residential delivery area · Colorado
ZIP Code 81242: Poncha Springs, CO
ZIP code 81242 uses the postal name Poncha Springs, Colorado and lies entirely in Chaffee County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 810 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $95,865 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 7% of its land lies in Poncha Springs; 93% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- Town
- Poncha Springs · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Chaffee County
- Census places
- Poncha Springs
- House district
- CO-7 119th Congress
- State
- Colorado
- Time zone
- Mountain
- Land area
- 20.5 sq mi · 39 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 81242?
81242 centers on 38.472°, -106.073° and covers 20.5 square miles of land. It borders 3 ZIP codes: 81201, 81155, 81143.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 81242, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 81242 compare with the rest of Chaffee County?
| Measure | 81242 | In Chaffee County | In CO |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 807 | 5th of 7 | 360th of 527 |
| Median household income | $96k | not ranked | not ranked |
| Median home value | $483k | not ranked | not ranked |
81242's income and home value are not ranked: it has fewer than 1,000 residents (807). Rankings use ZIP codes of 1,000 or more people living in households, with margins at most 25% of the figure.
It is denser than 38% of U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 81242?
The 2020 Census counted 1,032 people in 81242; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 807. Its boundary changed between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, so the two counts are not compared.
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 807±269 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 1,032
- Households
- 492
- Median age
- 52.7
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 81242?
Of the 807 people the ACS estimates in 81242, 8.4% are under 18 and 16.9% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (79.2%), then Hispanic or Latino (12.5%).
- Under 188.4%
- 18 to 6474.7%
- 65 and older16.9%
- White, not Hispanic79.2%
- Hispanic or Latino12.5%
- Other or two or more6.9%
- Asian, not Hispanic1.4%
- Black, not Hispanic0.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 81242 earn?
Median household income is $95,865 (ACS 2020-2024).
- Median household income
- $95,865±$26,472
- Income per person
- $59,042
- Below the poverty line
- 0.5%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 0.0%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 34.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 81242?
FHFA's house price index for 81242, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 134% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 56% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +9.7% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $482,500
- Median gross rent
- $1,765
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 88.4%
- Housing units
- 548
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 81242?
45 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 4 more than in 2018; the most are in construction (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Construction7
- Retail trade7
- Professional, scientific, and technical services6
- Accommodation and food services6
- Wholesale trade4
- Real estate and rental and leasing4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 81242?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81201 | Salida | 9,294 | $80k | 6.1 mi |
| 81155 | Villa Grove | 228 | $75k | 12.8 mi |
| 81143 | Moffat | 796 | $31k | 24.8 mi |
| 81227 | Monarch | 93 | – | 12.9 mi (near) |
| 81233 | Howard | 966 | $60k | 14.1 mi (near) |
| 81222 | Coaldale | 538 | – | 16.1 mi (near) |
| 81236 | Nathrop | 1,748 | $98k | 17.5 mi (near) |
| 81248 | Sargents | 264 | – | 23.4 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.