Zip code 81126: Chama, Colorado

Q: What city is zip code 81126?

81126 is assigned to Chama, Colorado. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 81126 in?

81126 is in Costilla County, Colorado.

Q: What is the population of 81126?

About 506 people live in 81126, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 81126?

The median household income in 81126 is $52,870.

Q: What zip codes are near 81126?

The closest zip codes to 81126 are 81152, 87512, 87524, 81138, 81055.

Residential delivery areaCostilla CountyMountain Time

Population

506

Median household income

$53K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$170K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

—

U.S. $1,413

Median age

U.S. 38.9

Land area

10 sq mi

51 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 81126

81126 is a small-town zip code in Chama, Colorado (Costilla County), covering 10 sq mi of land. About 506 people live here, or 51 per square mile. The median resident is 40 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $52,870 a year, 35% below the national median of $80,734. 10.9% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $170,400, or 3.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 85% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 29 minutes each way, and 22% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in healthcare; office and administrative support; and management. 84% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often Spanish.

How 81126 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Veterans17.6%
99th
U.S. 6.2% · CO 7.5%35th of 484 in CO
Rent-burdened renters100%
99th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · CO 52.9%4th of 447 in CO
Healthcare workers57.1%
99th
U.S. 9.7% · CO 8.8%4th of 483 in CO
Government workers43.5%
99th
U.S. 14.5% · CO 14.5%10th of 483 in CO
Residents 65 and older33.8%
98th
U.S. 17.2% · CO 15.6%53rd of 484 in CO
Housing vacancy20.5%
94th
U.S. 10.1% · CO 8.3%113th of 482 in CO
Homeownership rate85%
89th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · CO 66.2%127th of 482 in CO
Uninsured rate13.6%
85th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · CO 7.7%65th of 481 in CO
Work from home22.4%
83rd
U.S. 15.1% · CO 21%146th of 483 in CO
Income inequality (Gini)0.485
83rd
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · CO 0.45979th of 480 in CO
Average commute29 min
69th
U.S. 26.4 min · CO 25.2 min125th of 450 in CO
Median age40
57th
U.S. 38.9 · CO 37.7272nd of 484 in CO
Poverty rate10.9%
50th
U.S. 12.5% · CO 9.4%176th of 482 in CO
Bachelor's degree or higher26.8%
38th
U.S. 35.7% · CO 45.7%332nd of 484 in CO
Broadband access90%
34th
U.S. 91% · CO 93.5%305th of 482 in CO
Per capita income$32,505
26th
U.S. $44,673 · CO $52,636398th of 483 in CO
Foreign-born residents4.2%
25th
U.S. 14.1% · CO 9.8%281st of 484 in CO
Median home value$170,400
14th
U.S. $332,700 · CO $539,400428th of 461 in CO
Median household income$52,870
12th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · CO $95,470395th of 460 in CO
Median earnings per worker$36,250
11th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · CO $56,473417th of 478 in CO
Population density51/sq mi
7th
U.S. 95/sq mi · CO 57/sq mi210th of 484 in CO
Diversity index8.8
3rd
U.S. 61.4 · CO 52.5456th of 484 in CO
Residents under 1811.1%
3rd
U.S. 22% · CO 21%416th of 484 in CO
Self-employed workers4.7%
3rd
U.S. 10% · CO 11.3%452nd of 483 in CO
Population506
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · CO 5,862,189392nd of 484 in CO
Unemployment rate0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · CO 4.6%414th of 483 in CO
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · CO 5.2%375th of 483 in CO

Measure	81126	Costilla	CO	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in CO
Veterans	17.6%	12.2%	7.5%	6.2%	99th	35th of 484
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	100%	50.2%	52.9%	51.1%	99th	4th of 447
Healthcare workers	57.1%	11.9%	8.8%	9.7%	99th	4th of 483
Government workers	43.5%	29.8%	14.5%	14.5%	99th	10th of 483
Residents 65 and older	33.8%	28.5%	15.6%	17.2%	98th	53rd of 484
Housing vacancy	20.5%	32.1%	8.3%	10.1%	94th	113th of 482
Homeownership rateStrength	85%	79%	66.2%	65.2%	89th	127th of 482
Uninsured rateWeakness	13.6%	8.5%	7.7%	8.4%	85th	65th of 481
Work from home	22.4%	16.1%	21%	15.1%	83rd	146th of 483
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.485	0.502	0.459	0.483	83rd	79th of 480
Average commute	29 min	26.1 min	25.2 min	26.4 min	69th	125th of 450
Median age	40	50.5	37.7	38.9	57th	272nd of 484
Poverty rate	10.9%	21%	9.4%	12.5%	50th	176th of 482
Bachelor's degree or higher	26.8%	24.9%	45.7%	35.7%	38th	332nd of 484
Broadband access	90%	88.1%	93.5%	91%	34th	305th of 482
Per capita income	$32,505	$28,445	$52,636	$44,673	26th	398th of 483
Foreign-born residents	4.2%	5.7%	9.8%	14.1%	25th	281st of 484
Median home value	$170,400	$184,700	$539,400	$332,700	14th	428th of 461
Median household incomeWeakness	$52,870	$36,861	$95,470	$80,734	12th	395th of 460
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$36,250	$34,167	$56,473	$49,666	11th	417th of 478
Population density	51/sq mi	3/sq mi	57/sq mi	95/sq mi	7th	210th of 484
Diversity index	8.8	55.9	52.5	61.4	3rd	456th of 484
Residents under 18	11.1%	18.6%	21%	22%	3rd	416th of 484
Self-employed workers	4.7%	23.9%	11.3%	10%	3rd	452nd of 483
Population	506	3,607	5,862,189	334,922,499	1st	392nd of 484
Unemployment rateStrength	0%	3.5%	4.6%	5.2%	1st	414th of 483
Tech workers	0%	1%	5.2%	3.8%	1st	375th of 483

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

5–17

11%

18–24

24%

25–34

35–44

11%

45–54

55–64

23%

65–74

11%

75+

Median age

Under 18

11.1%

65 and over

33.8%

Race and ethnicity

White1%
Black0%
Hispanic95%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

8.8

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

4.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

49.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

16%

Spanish

84%

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 140
Average household size: 3.6
Family households: 67.1%
Married couples: 67.1%
Living alone: 30%
Veterans (of adults): 17.6%
Male / female: 44% / 56%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

14%

$25–50k

29%

$50–75k

34%

$75–100k

$100–150k

$150–200k

$200k+

21%

Median household income

81126

$52,870

Costilla Co.

$36,861

Colorado

$95,470

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$32,505

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

10.9%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

22.9%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.485

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

81126

$170,400

Costilla Co.

$184,700

Colorado

$539,400

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

81126

—

Costilla Co.

$927

Colorado

$1,761

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

56%

2–4 units

10%

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

34%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 176
Owner-occupied: 85%
Vacant: 20.5%
Median year built: 1979
Median rooms: 4.9
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 100%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 0%
Home value to income: 3.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

78%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

22%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

26%

10–19

14%

20–29

30–44

45–59

55%

60+

Average commute

29 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

37.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Healthcare

57%

Office and admin

21%

Management

Transportation and moving

Cleaning and personal care

Education

Business and finance

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Food service

Sales

Construction and repair

Farming, fishing and forestry

Production

Industries

Health care and social assistance

57%

Public administration

20%

Construction

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Other services

Education

Retail

Manufacturing

Professional and technical services

Restaurants and hotels

Finance, insurance and real estate

Admin, support and management

Wholesale

Information

Arts and recreation

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$36,250

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

4.7%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

43.5%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	81126	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$125,861	$74,888
Service	—	$26,804
Sales and office	$31,333	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	—	$49,199
Production and transportation	—	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

11%

High school

29%

Some college

24%

Associate's

10%

Bachelor's

10%

Graduate

16%

High school graduate or higher: 89.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 26.8%
Graduate or professional degree: 16.5%
Households with broadband: 90%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 17.9%
No internet access: 10%
Without health insurance: 13.6%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Chama
State: Colorado
County: Costilla County
Center point: 37.1615° N, 105.3473° W
Land area: 10 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Mountain Time (UTC-7, UTC-6 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 81126

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
81152	San Luis, CO	3.3 mi	1,244	$31,875	$120,300
87512	Amalia, NM	17 mi	372	—	—
87524	Costilla, NM	17 mi	450	—	—
81138	Jaroso, CO	18 mi	17	—	—
81055	La Veta, CO	20 mi	1,559	$55,080	$398,600
81133	Fort Garland, CO	20 mi	1,085	$45,833	$273,400
81151	Sanford, CO	21 mi	1,716	$43,417	$188,500
81123	Blanca, CO	21 mi	606	$36,487	$152,400
81091	Weston, CO	21 mi	1,120	$50,179	$351,900
87556	Questa, NM	27 mi	3,008	$52,546	$241,600
81141	Manassa, CO	30 mi	1,406	$59,539	$202,500
87519	Cerro, NM	32 mi	798	—	$446,500

Questions about 81126

What city is zip code 81126?

81126 is assigned to Chama, Colorado. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 81126 in?

81126 is in Costilla County, Colorado.

What is the population of 81126?

About 506 people live in 81126, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 81126 in?

81126 is in Mountain Time.

What is the median household income in 81126?

The median household income in 81126 is $52,870.

What zip codes are near 81126?

The closest zip codes to 81126 are 81152, 87512, 87524, 81138, 81055.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 81126, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.