PlainZIP

Fruita, CO · standard

ZIP Code 81521

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

15,397
40/sq mi
$88,458
Median income
$422,900
Median home value
34.0%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Fruita pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 28%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 19%
home value, US ZIPs
40
people per sq mi
82%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 81521 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 81521 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 382.1 square miles in Fruita, Mesa County, Colorado. The area is home to 15,397 residents, producing a population density of 40 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 81521 against Colorado and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 81521 sits at $88,458 (0% below the Colorado average), while per-capita income is $43,586. The poverty rate stands at 3.7% and the unemployment rate at 3.6%. On housing, the median home value is $422,900 (13% below the state average) with median rent at $1,398 per month, and 82.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 81521 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 34.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.2, and the average commute is 21 minutes. We also surface 2 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Mesa County, so you can benchmark 81521 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 81521

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 81521.

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 81521, Fruita, 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

15,397

Population

382.1

Area (sq mi)

40

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 81521?

43.2

Median Age

47.2%

Male

52.8%

Female

2.2%

Foreign-Born

White 87.5%
African American 1.0%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 8.7%
Hispanic or Latino 9.8%

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?

$88,458

Median Household Income

-0% vs state

$43,586

Per Capita Income

3.7%

Poverty Rate

3.6%

Unemployment Rate

20.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 81521 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$88,458 Top 28% higher than 72% 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 63.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 34.0%

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

What does housing look like?

6,618

Total Housing Units

6,436

Occupied Units

182

Vacant Units

2.57

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 82.2%
Renter 17.8%

$422,900

Median Home Value

-13% vs state

$1,398

Median Rent

1998

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

+14.7%

YoY Change (2024)

331

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+231%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 81521 have increased 14.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +231% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +6.0% 223
2021 +11.7% 250
2022 +18.1% 295
2023 -2.0% 289
2024 +14.7% 331

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 369 business establishments in ZIP 81521, employing approximately 3,337 people with a combined annual payroll of $153,495,000.

369

Businesses

3,337

Employees

$153.5M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 57 15.4%
Accommodation and food services 43 11.7%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 41 11.1%
Health care and social assistance 38 10.3%
Retail trade 35 9.5%
Other services (except public administration) 28 7.6%
Real estate and rental and leasing 27 7.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 20 5.4%
Manufacturing 16 4.3%
Finance and insurance 16 4.3%
Wholesale trade 14 3.8%
Transportation and warehousing 13 3.5%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction 8 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 7 1.9%

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 81521 vs 81524 →

ZIP 81521 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 81521 ranks the most populous — useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 81521 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 81521 ranks #3 of 3 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
81524 Loma, CO 2,300 8.7 mi
81525 Mack, CO 871 12.2 mi

More ZIP Codes in Mesa County

81504 standard
Grand Junction, CO
Pop: 28,481
81501 standard
Grand Junction, CO
Pop: 23,465
81503 standard
Grand Junction, CO
Pop: 15,250
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 Fruita, CO Colorado

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 81521 in? ▼
ZIP code 81521 (Fruita) 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 81521? ▼
ZIP code 81521 in Fruita, CO has a population of 15,397 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 81521? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 81521 is $88,458, which is 16% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 81521? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 81521 is $422,900, which is 52% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 81521? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 81521 is White at 87.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 9.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 81521? ▼
ZIP code 81521 has 369 business establishments employing approximately 3,337 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 81521? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 81521 are: Construction (57), Accommodation and food services (43), Professional, scientific, and technical services (41). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 81521? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 81521 increased by 14.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 231%. 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 81521? ▼
In ZIP code 81521, 63.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 34.0% 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 81521? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 81521 is 20.6 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 81521? ▼
In ZIP code 81521, approximately 82.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 17.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 81521? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 81521 is 3.7% 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 Fruita, 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.