Residential delivery area · Colorado
ZIP Code 81521: Fruita, CO
ZIP code 81521 uses the postal name Fruita, Colorado and lies entirely in Mesa County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 17,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $88,458 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 4% of its land lies in Fruita; 95% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Fruita · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Mesa County
- Census places
- Fruita
- Metro area
- Grand Junction, CO
- House district
- CO-3 119th Congress
- State
- Colorado
- Time zone
- Mountain
- Land area
- 181.6 sq mi · 91 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 81521?
81521 centers on 39.157°, -108.879° and covers 181.6 square miles of land plus 2.3 of water. It borders 6 ZIP codes: 81525, 81524, 81507, 81505, 81523, 84515.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 81521, 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 81521 compare with the rest of Mesa County?
| Measure | 81521 | In Mesa County | In CO |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 16,613 | 3rd of 19 | 139th of 527 |
| Median household income | $89k | 3rd of 11 | 146th of 277 |
| Median home value | $423k | 9th of 15 | 211th of 311 |
Its median household income is higher than in 72% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 52% 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 81521?
The 2020 Census counted 16,446 people in 81521; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 16,613. Its boundary changed between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, so the two counts are not compared.
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 16,613
- 2020 Census count
- 16,446
- Households
- 6,436
- Median age
- 43.2
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 81521?
Of the 16,613 people the ACS estimates in 81521, 25.9% are under 18 and 20.2% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (84.3%).
- Under 1825.9%
- 18 to 6453.9%
- 65 and older20.2%
- White, not Hispanic84.3%
- Hispanic or Latino9.8%
- Other or two or more4.5%
- Black, not Hispanic1.0%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.3%
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 81521 earn?
Median household income is $88,458 (ACS 2020-2024), the 3rd highest of the 11 ranked ZIP codes in Mesa County.
- Median household income
- $88,458
- Income per person
- $43,586
- Below the poverty line
- 3.7%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 3.6%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 34.0%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $82,4748,030 returns; wages 65% 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 81521?
FHFA's house price index for 81521, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 117% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 57% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +5.1% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $422,900
- Median gross rent
- $1,398
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 82.2%
- Housing units
- 6,618
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 81521?
369 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 64 more than in 2018; the most are in construction (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Construction57
- Accommodation and food services43
- Professional, scientific, and technical services41
- Health care and social assistance38
- Retail trade35
- Other services (except public administration)28
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 81521?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81525 | Mack | 1,127 | $114k | 8.5 mi |
| 81524 | Loma | 2,760 | $100k | 12.1 mi |
| 81507 | Grand Junction | 15,947 | $108k | 15.8 mi |
| 81505 | Grand Junction | 13,279 | $91k | 16.1 mi |
| 81523 | Glade Park | 983 | $107k | 16.0 mi |
| 84515 | Cisco, UT | 0 | – | 30.6 mi |
| 81506 | Grand Junction | 11,412 | $79k | 17.3 mi (near) |
| 81501 | Grand Junction | 24,011 | $54k | 18.8 mi (near) |
| 81504 | Grand Junction | 32,376 | $71k | 21.1 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.