Clifton, CO · standard
ZIP Code 81520
Mesa County, Colorado - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 13,447
- 251/sq mi High-density area
- $50,283
- Median income Below-median income area
- $249,600
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 14.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Clifton pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- 15th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 43%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 251
- people per sq mi
- 67%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 81520 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 81520 (Clifton, CO) rose +1.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 289.6 in 2023 to 294.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 81520 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Clifton, Mesa County, Colorado, home to 13,447 residents across 53.5 square miles, a density of 251 people per square mile, in the Denver time zone.
ZIP 81520 reports a modest median household income of $50,283 (43% below the average Colorado ZIP), while per-capita income is $27,088. The poverty rate is 20.9%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $249,600 (48% below the average Colorado ZIP), and median rent is $1,026; owner occupancy is 67.3%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 14.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.4, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Mesa County, so 81520 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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 81520
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Clifton, CO
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 81520.
- Construction
Construction
39 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
29 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
25 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
18 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 13
Health care and social assistance
13 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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 81520, Clifton, 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
13,447
Population
53.5
Area (sq mi)
251
People / sq mi
Denver
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 81520?
38.4
Median Age
49.0%
Male
51.0%
Female
6.4%
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?
$50,283
Median Household Income
-43% vs state ZIP avg
$27,088
Per Capita Income
20.9%
Poverty Rate
8.3%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 81520 ranks among Colorado ZIPs
Clifton, CO household income vs. every Colorado ZIP code
Median household income among 469 reporting Colorado ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$50,283 12th percentile higher than 12% of 469 Colorado ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Colorado 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
5,428housing units
5,428
Total Housing Units
5,291
Occupied Units
137
Vacant Units
2.42
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$249,600
Median Home Value
-48% vs state ZIP avg
$1,026
Median Rent
1984
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
+1.6%
YoY Change (2024)
294
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+194%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 81520 have increased 1.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +194% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.0% | 200 |
| 2021 | +16.9% | 234 |
| 2022 | +13.6% | 266 |
| 2023 | +8.8% | 290 |
| 2024 | +1.6% | 294 |
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 172 business establishments in ZIP 81520, employing approximately 1,545 people with a combined annual payroll of $52,494,000.
172
Businesses
1,545
Employees
$52.5M
Annual Payroll
12
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 39 | 22.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 29 | 16.9% |
| Retail trade | 25 | 14.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 18 | 10.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 13 | 7.6% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 9 | 5.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 8 | 4.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 7 | 4.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 7 | 4.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6 | 3.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 4 | 2.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 1.7% |
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 81520 vs 81503 →
ZIP 81520 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 81504
Grand Junction (81504)
28,481 residents
- 81501
Grand Junction (81501)
23,465 residents
- 81503
Grand Junction (81503)
15,250 residents
- 81520
Clifton (81520)
13,447 residents
- 81506 10,961
Grand Junction (81506)
10,961 residents
- 81505 9,779
Grand Junction (81505)
9,779 residents
- 81526 5,321
Palisade (81526)
5,321 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 81520 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 81520 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 81505
Grand Junction (81505)
$90,830 median income
- 81526
Palisade (81526)
$87,500 median income
- 81506
Grand Junction (81506)
$78,651 median income
- 81503
Grand Junction (81503)
$75,053 median income
- 81504
Grand Junction (81504)
$70,958 median income
- 81501
Grand Junction (81501)
$53,666 median income
- 81520
Clifton (81520)
$50,283 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 81520 ranks #7 of 7 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 81520, both outside CO so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (13,447 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Mesa County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 81520 in?
ZIP code 81520 (Clifton) 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 81520?
ZIP code 81520 in Clifton, CO has a population of 13,447 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 81520?
The median household income in ZIP 81520 is $50,283, which is 34% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 81520?
The median home value in ZIP 81520 is $249,600, which is 10% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 81520?
The largest racial group in ZIP 81520 is White at 80.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 21.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 81520?
ZIP code 81520 has 172 business establishments employing approximately 1,545 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 81520?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 81520 are: Construction (39), Accommodation and food services (29), Retail trade (25). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 81520?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 81520 increased by 1.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 194%. 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 81520?
In ZIP code 81520, 48.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 14.0% 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 81520?
In ZIP code 81520, approximately 67.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 32.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 81520?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 81520 is 20.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 81520's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 81520 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Clifton, CO ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.