PlainZIP

Ouray, CO · standard

ZIP Code 81427

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

1,124
4/sq mi
$84,167
Median income
$604,200
Median home value
60.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Ouray pairs an above-median household income with top-decile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 33%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 9%
home value, US ZIPs
4
people per sq mi
74%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 81427 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 81427 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 267.6 square miles in Ouray, Ouray County, Colorado. The area is home to 1,124 residents, producing a population density of 4 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 81427 against Colorado and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 81427 sits at $84,167 (5% below the Colorado average), while per-capita income is $44,843. The poverty rate stands at 2.9% and the unemployment rate at 4.2%. On housing, the median home value is $604,200 (25% above the state average) with median rent at $1,269 per month, and 73.8% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 81427 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 60.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 54.9, and the average commute is —. We also surface 1 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 1 additional ZIPs sharing Ouray County, so you can benchmark 81427 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. 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 81427

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 81427.

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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 81427, Ouray, 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

1,124

Population

267.6

Area (sq mi)

4

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 81427?

54.9

Median Age

50.0%

Male

50.0%

Female

5.6%

Foreign-Born

White 86.6%
African American 5.4%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.5%
Hispanic or Latino 11.4%

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?

$84,167

Median Household Income

-5% vs state

$44,843

Per Capita Income

2.9%

Poverty Rate

4.2%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 81427 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$84,167 Top 33% higher than 67% 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%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $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 71.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 60.5%

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

What does housing look like?

984

Total Housing Units

600

Occupied Units

384

Vacant Units

2.03

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 73.8%
Renter 26.2%

$604,200

Median Home Value

+25% vs state

$1,269

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

+31.4%

YoY Change (2022)

226

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+126%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 81427 have increased 31.4% over the past year (2022). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +126% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2018 +2.4% 146
2019 +10.6% 162
2020 -0.3% 161
2021 +6.6% 172
2022 +31.4% 226

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 2022. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 114 business establishments in ZIP 81427, employing approximately 658 people with a combined annual payroll of $26,786,000.

114

Businesses

658

Employees

$26.8M

Annual Payroll

10

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Accommodation and food services 37 32.5%
Retail trade 19 16.7%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 14 12.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 8 7.0%
Construction 7 6.1%
Real estate and rental and leasing 7 6.1%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 5 4.4%
Finance and insurance 3 2.6%
Health care and social assistance 3 2.6%
Other services (except public administration) 3 2.6%

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 81427 vs 81432 →

ZIP Code City Population Distance
81432 Ridgway, CO 2,682 10.1 mi

More ZIP Codes in Ouray County

81432 standard
Ridgway, CO
Pop: 2,682

Related Areas

Ouray County Ouray, CO Colorado

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 81427 in? ▼
ZIP code 81427 (Ouray) is located in Ouray County, Colorado. Ouray County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/ouray-co.
What is the population of ZIP code 81427? ▼
ZIP code 81427 in Ouray, CO has a population of 1,124 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 81427? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 81427 is $84,167, which is 10% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 81427? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 81427 is $604,200, which is 117% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 81427? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 81427 is White at 86.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 81427? ▼
ZIP code 81427 has 114 business establishments employing approximately 658 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 81427? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 81427 are: Accommodation and food services (37), Retail trade (19), Professional, scientific, and technical services (14). There are 10 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 81427? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 81427 increased by 31.4% in 2022. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 126%. 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 81427? ▼
In ZIP code 81427, 71.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 60.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 81427? ▼
In ZIP code 81427, approximately 73.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 26.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 81427? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 81427 is 2.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Ouray, CO

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

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