ZIP Code 81252
standardSource:
Westcliffe · Custer County · Colorado
- Population
- 3,830
- Median income
- $69,527
- Median home value
- $401,900
- Bachelor's or higher
- 44.4%
- Land area
- 1595.8 sq mi
2/sq mi
▼ 9% vs US
higher than 46% of US ZIPs
▲ 44% vs US
higher than 80% of US ZIPs
Median age 58.7
Denver
ZIP code 81252 in Westcliffe, Colorado has a population of 3,830. The median household income is $69,527, which is 9% below the national average. Median home value is $401,900, 44% above the US average. 44.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 81252 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 1595.8 square miles in Westcliffe, Custer County, Colorado. The area is home to 3,830 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 81252 against Colorado and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 81252 sits at $69,527 (22% below the Colorado average), while per-capita income is $49,403. The poverty rate stands at 12.2% and the unemployment rate at 2.6%. On housing, the median home value is $401,900 (17% below the state average) with median rent at $940 per month, and 87.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 81252 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 44.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 58.7, and the average commute is —. Use the benchmarks above to see where 81252 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 81252
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 81252.
- Construction
Construction
36 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
23 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
21 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
16 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 12
Real estate and rental and leasing
12 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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 81252, Westcliffe, 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
3,830
Population
1595.8
Area (sq mi)
2
People / sq mi
Denver
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 81252?
58.7
Median Age
51.6%
Male
48.4%
Female
2.4%
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?
$69,527
Median Household Income
-22% vs state
$49,403
Per Capita Income
12.2%
Poverty Rate
2.6%
Unemployment Rate
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?
4,190
Total Housing Units
2,477
Occupied Units
1,713
Vacant Units
1.91
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$401,900
Median Home Value
-17% vs state
$940
Median Rent
1995
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
+9.8%
YoY Change (2024)
321
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+221%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 81252 have increased 9.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +221% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +9.6% | 192 |
| 2021 | +12.1% | 215 |
| 2022 | +23.9% | 266 |
| 2023 | +9.9% | 292 |
| 2024 | +9.8% | 321 |
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 163 business establishments in ZIP 81252, employing approximately 699 people with a combined annual payroll of $25,775,000.
163
Businesses
699
Employees
$25.8M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 36 | 22.1% |
| Retail trade | 23 | 14.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 21 | 12.9% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 16 | 9.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 12 | 7.4% |
| Manufacturing | 11 | 6.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 7 | 4.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 6 | 3.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 6 | 3.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 5 | 3.1% |
| Information | 5 | 3.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 5 | 3.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4 | 2.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
More ZIP Codes in Custer County
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the main industries in ZIP code 81252? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 81252? ▼
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What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 81252? ▼
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ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Westcliffe, CO
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
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Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.