PlainZIP

Rifle, CO · standard

ZIP Code 81650

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

13,006
5/sq mi
$81,025
Median income
$418,200
Median home value
18.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

Top 37%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 19%
home value, US ZIPs
5
people per sq mi
71%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 81650 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 81650 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 2408.5 square miles in Rifle, Garfield County, Colorado. The area is home to 13,006 residents, producing a population density of 5 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 81650 against Colorado and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 81650 sits at $81,025 (9% below the Colorado average), while per-capita income is $34,614. The poverty rate stands at 8.0% and the unemployment rate at 2.7%. On housing, the median home value is $418,200 (14% below the state average) with median rent at $1,301 per month, and 71.4% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 81650 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 18.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 32.6, and the average commute is 31 minutes. Use the benchmarks above to see where 81650 sits relative to Colorado and the national baseline rather than viewing the numbers in isolation. 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 81650

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 81650.

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 81650, Rifle, 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

13,006

Population

2408.5

Area (sq mi)

5

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 81650?

32.6

Median Age

54.1%

Male

45.9%

Female

17.1%

Foreign-Born

White 60.1%
African American 0.2%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.3%
Two or More Ethnicities 21.4%
Hispanic or Latino 49.3%

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?

$81,025

Median Household Income

-9% vs state

$34,614

Per Capita Income

8.0%

Poverty Rate

2.7%

Unemployment Rate

31.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 81650 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$81,025 Top 37% higher than 63% 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 52.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 18.4%

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

What does housing look like?

5,082

Total Housing Units

4,799

Occupied Units

283

Vacant Units

2.84

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 71.4%
Renter 28.6%

$418,200

Median Home Value

-14% vs state

$1,301

Median Rent

1992

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

+2.0%

YoY Change (2024)

267

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+167%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 81650 have increased 2.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +167% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +5.3% 172
2021 +13.6% 195
2022 +18.5% 231
2023 +13.2% 262
2024 +2.0% 267

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 477 business establishments in ZIP 81650, employing approximately 4,548 people with a combined annual payroll of $267,398,000.

477

Businesses

4,548

Employees

$267.4M

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 122 25.6%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 45 9.4%
Other services (except public administration) 45 9.4%
Accommodation and food services 40 8.4%
Retail trade 38 8.0%
Finance and insurance 38 8.0%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 28 5.9%
Transportation and warehousing 22 4.6%
Real estate and rental and leasing 19 4.0%
Health care and social assistance 17 3.6%
Wholesale trade 16 3.4%
Manufacturing 14 2.9%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction 13 2.7%
Information 6 1.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 5 1.1%
Educational services 4 0.8%
Utilities 3 0.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

More ZIP Codes in Garfield County

81601 standard
Glenwood Springs, CO
Pop: 15,442
81623 standard
Carbondale, CO
Pop: 15,235
81647 standard
New Castle, CO
Pop: 7,104
81635 standard
Parachute, CO
Pop: 5,957
81652 standard
Silt, CO
Pop: 4,904

Related Areas

Garfield County Rifle, CO Colorado

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 81650 in? ▼
ZIP code 81650 (Rifle) is located in Garfield County, Colorado. Garfield County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/garfield-co.
What is the population of ZIP code 81650? ▼
ZIP code 81650 in Rifle, CO has a population of 13,006 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 81650? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 81650 is $81,025, which is 6% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 81650? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 81650 is $418,200, which is 50% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 81650? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 81650 is White at 60.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 49.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 81650? ▼
ZIP code 81650 has 477 business establishments employing approximately 4,548 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 81650? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 81650 are: Construction (122), Professional, scientific, and technical services (45), Other services (except public administration) (45). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 81650? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 81650 increased by 2.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 167%. 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 81650? ▼
In ZIP code 81650, 52.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 18.4% 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 81650? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 81650 is 31.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 81650? ▼
In ZIP code 81650, approximately 71.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 28.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 81650? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 81650 is 8.0% 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 Rifle, 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.