Residential delivery area · Colorado
ZIP Code 81321: Cortez, CO
ZIP code 81321 uses the postal name Cortez, Colorado and lies entirely in Montezuma County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 14,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $59,506 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 2% of its land lies in Cortez; 98% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Cortez · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Montezuma County
- Census places
- Cortez
- House district
- CO-3 119th Congress
- State
- Colorado
- Time zone
- Mountain
- Land area
- 419.6 sq mi · 34 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 81321?
81321 centers on 37.313°, -108.735° and covers 419.6 square miles of land plus 0.4 of water. It borders 7 ZIP codes: 81331, 81334, 81327, 81330, 81328, 84534, 81323.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 81321, 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 81321 compare with the rest of Montezuma County?
| Measure | 81321 | In Montezuma County | In CO |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 14,236 | 1st of 8 | 155th of 527 |
| Median household income | $60k | 3rd of 3 | 249th of 277 |
| Median home value | $289k | 3rd of 3 | 269th of 311 |
Its median household income is higher than in 28% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 35% of all 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 81321?
The 2020 Census counted 14,402 people in 81321; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 14,236. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 0.4% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 14,236
- 2020 Census count
- 14,402−0.4% since 2010 (14,459)
- Households
- 5,785
- Median age
- 41.8
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 81321?
Of the 14,236 people the ACS estimates in 81321, 21.2% are under 18 and 22.7% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (70.0%), then Hispanic or Latino (14.7%).
- Under 1821.2%
- 18 to 6456.1%
- 65 and older22.7%
- White, not Hispanic70.0%
- Hispanic or Latino14.7%
- Other or two or more14.7%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.5%
- Black, not Hispanic0.1%
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 81321 earn?
Median household income is $59,506 (ACS 2020-2024), the 3rd highest of the 3 ranked ZIP codes in Montezuma County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($62,157 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $59,506
- Income per person
- $34,155
- Below the poverty line
- 12.4%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 3.6%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 26.4%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $61,9256,810 returns; wages 59% of AGI (IRS)
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 81321?
FHFA's house price index for 81321, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 90% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 50% from 2020 to 2025, and moved −1.1% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $289,000
- Median gross rent
- $969
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 74.6%
- Housing units
- 6,265
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 81321?
519 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 26 fewer than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade86
- Accommodation and food services63
- Health care and social assistance62
- Other services (except public administration)57
- Construction54
- Professional, scientific, and technical services42
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 81321?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81331 | Pleasant View | 432 | $84k | 13.2 mi |
| 81334 | Towaoc | 1,389 | – | 13.3 mi |
| 81327 | Lewis | 486 | $94k | 14.7 mi |
| 81330 | Mesa Verde National Park | 138 | – | 15.1 mi |
| 81328 | Mancos | 4,487 | $73k | 22.4 mi |
| 84534 | Montezuma Creek, UT | 2,473 | $48k | 30.0 mi |
| 81323 | Dolores | 5,191 | $75k | 42.8 mi |
| 81335 | Yellow Jacket | 76 | – | 16.0 mi (near) |
| 81324 | Dove Creek | 1,815 | $72k | 27.3 mi (near) |
| 81320 | Cahone | 242 | – | 28.1 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.