PlainZIP

Grand Junction, CO · standard

ZIP Code 81503

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

15,250
168/sq mi
$75,053
Median income
$352,100
Median home value
24.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Grand Junction pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 45%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 26%
home value, US ZIPs
168
people per sq mi
77%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 81503 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 81503 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado, home to 15,250 residents across 90.9 square miles, a density of 168 people per square mile, in the Denver time zone.

ZIP 81503 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $75,053 (15% below the Colorado average), while per-capita income is $33,457. The poverty rate stands at 7.6% and the unemployment rate at 4.3%. Median home value sits at $352,100 (27% below the state average), median rent at $985 a month, and owner-occupancy at 77.1%.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 24.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.7, and the average commute is 19 minutes. To put 81503 in local context, 5 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Mesa County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 81503

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Grand Junction, CO

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 81503.

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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 81503, Grand Junction, 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

15,250

Population

90.9

Area (sq mi)

168

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 81503?

38.7

Median Age

47.0%

Male

53.0%

Female

4.0%

Foreign-Born

White 83.7%
African American 0.3%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 2.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 9.9%
Hispanic or Latino 13.9%

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?

$75,053

Median Household Income

-15% vs state

$33,457

Per Capita Income

7.6%

Poverty Rate

4.3%

Unemployment Rate

19.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 81503 ranks nationally

Grand Junction, CO household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$75,053 Top 45% higher than 55% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $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 59.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 24.8%

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

What does housing look like?

6,739

Total Housing Units

6,381

Occupied Units

358

Vacant Units

2.58

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 77.1%
Renter 22.9%

$352,100

Median Home Value

-27% vs state

$985

Median Rent

1982

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

+1.0%

YoY Change (2024)

303

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+203%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 81503 have increased 1.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +203% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +5.1% 205
2021 +15.7% 238
2022 +18.1% 281
2023 +6.9% 300
2024 +1.0% 303

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 300 business establishments in ZIP 81503, employing approximately 1,788 people with a combined annual payroll of $79,018,000.

300

Businesses

1,788

Employees

$79.0M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 63 21.0%
Other services (except public administration) 34 11.3%
Retail trade 32 10.7%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 30 10.0%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 28 9.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 25 8.3%
Accommodation and food services 25 8.3%
Transportation and warehousing 19 6.3%
Health care and social assistance 17 5.7%
Wholesale trade 7 2.3%
Finance and insurance 4 1.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 1.3%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction 3 1.0%
Manufacturing 3 1.0%

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 81503 vs 81520 →

ZIP 81503 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 81503 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 81503 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 81503 ranks #3 of 6 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
81520 Clifton, CO 13,447 5.5 mi
81504 Grand Junction, CO 28,481 4.5 mi
81501 Grand Junction, CO 23,465 6.6 mi
81526 Palisade, CO 5,321 7.0 mi
81506 Grand Junction, CO 10,961 7.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Mesa County

81504 standard
Grand Junction, CO
Pop: 28,481
81501 standard
Grand Junction, CO
Pop: 23,465
81521 standard
Fruita, CO
Pop: 15,397
81507 standard
Grand Junction, CO
Pop: 15,081
81520 standard
Clifton, CO
Pop: 13,447
81506 standard
Grand Junction, CO
Pop: 10,961

Related Areas

Mesa County Grand Junction, CO Colorado

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 81503 in? ▼
ZIP code 81503 (Grand Junction) is located in Mesa County, Colorado. Mesa County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/mesa-co.
What is the population of ZIP code 81503? ▼
ZIP code 81503 in Grand Junction, CO has a population of 15,250 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 81503? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 81503 is $75,053, which is 2% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 81503? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 81503 is $352,100, which is 27% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 81503? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 81503 is White at 83.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 13.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 81503? ▼
ZIP code 81503 has 300 business establishments employing approximately 1,788 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 81503? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 81503 are: Construction (63), Other services (except public administration) (34), Retail trade (32). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 81503? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 81503 increased by 1.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 203%. 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 81503? ▼
In ZIP code 81503, 59.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 24.8% 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 81503? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 81503 is 19.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 81503? ▼
In ZIP code 81503, approximately 77.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 22.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 81503? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 81503 is 7.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

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