Zip code 81242: Poncha Springs, Colorado

Q: What city is zip code 81242?

81242 is assigned to Poncha Springs, Colorado. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 81242 in?

81242 is in Chaffee County, Colorado.

Q: What is the population of 81242?

About 807 people live in 81242, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 81242?

The median household income in 81242 is $95,865.

Q: What zip codes are near 81242?

The closest zip codes to 81242 are 81201, 81155, 81227, 81233, 81222.

Residential delivery areaChaffee CountyMountain Time

Population

807

Median household income

$96K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$483K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,765/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

52.7

U.S. 38.9

Land area

21 sq mi

39 people/sq mi

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

About 81242

81242 is a rural zip code in Poncha Springs, Colorado (Chaffee County), covering 21 sq mi of land. About 807 people live here, or 39 per square mile. The median resident is 52.7 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $95,865 a year, 19% above the national median of $80,734. 0.5% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $482,500, or 5.0 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 88% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,765 a month.

34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 13.6 minutes each way, and 16% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in office and administrative support; management; and legal and social services. 21% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 81242 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Veterans15.8%
98th
U.S. 6.2% · CO 7.5%52nd of 484 in CO
Self-employed workers20.8%
98th
U.S. 10% · CO 11.3%110th of 483 in CO
Government workers30.7%
98th
U.S. 14.5% · CO 14.5%40th of 483 in CO
Median age52.7
97th
U.S. 38.9 · CO 37.784th of 484 in CO
Homeownership rate88.4%
94th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · CO 66.2%87th of 482 in CO
Per capita income$59,042
84th
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · CO $52,636124th of 483 in CO
Median earnings per worker$66,411
84th
StrengthU.S. $49,666 · CO $56,47390th of 478 in CO
Median home value$482,500
73rd
U.S. $332,700 · CO $539,400206th of 461 in CO
Housing vacancy10.2%
72nd
U.S. 10.1% · CO 8.3%201st of 482 in CO
Median gross rent$1,765
71st
U.S. $1,413 · CO $1,761140th of 400 in CO
Median household income$95,865
68th
U.S. $80,734 · CO $95,470169th of 460 in CO
Work from home16.4%
66th
U.S. 15.1% · CO 21%243rd of 483 in CO
Broadband access93.3%
60th
U.S. 91% · CO 93.5%210th of 482 in CO
Tech workers3.2%
56th
U.S. 3.8% · CO 5.2%206th of 483 in CO
Bachelor's degree or higher34.4%
55th
U.S. 35.7% · CO 45.7%242nd of 484 in CO
Residents 65 and older16.9%
53rd
U.S. 17.2% · CO 15.6%283rd of 484 in CO
Healthcare workers9.6%
52nd
U.S. 9.7% · CO 8.8%154th of 483 in CO
Rent-burdened renters50.9%
51st
U.S. 51.1% · CO 52.9%226th of 447 in CO
Diversity index35.3
30th
U.S. 61.4 · CO 52.5279th of 484 in CO
Foreign-born residents1.2%
7th
U.S. 14.1% · CO 9.8%386th of 484 in CO
Population density39/sq mi
5th
U.S. 95/sq mi · CO 57/sq mi224th of 484 in CO
Uninsured rate1.9%
5th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · CO 7.7%440th of 481 in CO
Residents under 188.4%
2nd
U.S. 22% · CO 21%438th of 484 in CO
Population807
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · CO 5,862,189360th of 484 in CO
Poverty rate0.5%
1st
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · CO 9.4%459th of 482 in CO
Average commute13.6 min
1st
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · CO 25.2 min432nd of 450 in CO
Unemployment rate0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · CO 4.6%408th of 483 in CO
Income inequality (Gini)0.273
1st
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · CO 0.459462nd of 480 in CO

Measure	81242	Chaffee	CO	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in CO
Veterans	15.8%	6.6%	7.5%	6.2%	98th	52nd of 484
Self-employed workers	20.8%	20%	11.3%	10%	98th	110th of 483
Government workers	30.7%	16.4%	14.5%	14.5%	98th	40th of 483
Median age	52.7	48.7	37.7	38.9	97th	84th of 484
Homeownership rateStrength	88.4%	74.1%	66.2%	65.2%	94th	87th of 482
Per capita incomeStrength	$59,042	$48,535	$52,636	$44,673	84th	124th of 483
Median earnings per workerStrength	$66,411	$56,530	$56,473	$49,666	84th	90th of 478
Median home value	$482,500	$665,700	$539,400	$332,700	73rd	206th of 461
Housing vacancy	10.2%	14.1%	8.3%	10.1%	72nd	201st of 482
Median gross rent	$1,765	$1,611	$1,761	$1,413	71st	140th of 400
Median household income	$95,865	$84,132	$95,470	$80,734	68th	169th of 460
Work from home	16.4%	24.5%	21%	15.1%	66th	243rd of 483
Broadband access	93.3%	89.7%	93.5%	91%	60th	210th of 482
Tech workers	3.2%	4%	5.2%	3.8%	56th	206th of 483
Bachelor's degree or higher	34.4%	47%	45.7%	35.7%	55th	242nd of 484
Residents 65 and older	16.9%	26.3%	15.6%	17.2%	53rd	283rd of 484
Healthcare workers	9.6%	13%	8.8%	9.7%	52nd	154th of 483
Rent-burdened renters	50.9%	59.8%	52.9%	51.1%	51st	226th of 447
Diversity index	35.3	27.9	52.5	61.4	30th	279th of 484
Foreign-born residents	1.2%	2.5%	9.8%	14.1%	7th	386th of 484
Population density	39/sq mi	20/sq mi	57/sq mi	95/sq mi	5th	224th of 484
Uninsured rateStrength	1.9%	6.5%	7.7%	8.4%	5th	440th of 481
Residents under 18	8.4%	13.9%	21%	22%	2nd	438th of 484
Population	807	20,178	5,862,189	334,922,499	1st	360th of 484
Poverty rateStrength	0.5%	8.3%	9.4%	12.5%	1st	459th of 482
Average commuteStrength	13.6 min	18.1 min	25.2 min	26.4 min	1st	432nd of 450
Unemployment rateStrength	0%	4.8%	4.6%	5.2%	1st	408th of 483
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.273	0.419	0.459	0.483	1st	462nd of 480

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

18–24

25–34

21%

35–44

22%

45–54

25%

55–64

12%

65–74

75+

Median age

52.7

Under 18

8.4%

65 and over

16.9%

Race and ethnicity

White79%
Black0%
Hispanic13%
Asian1%
Native American0.5%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial6%

Diversity index

35.3

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

55.8%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

98%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 492
Average household size: 1.6
Family households: 56.1%
Married couples: 54.9%
Living alone: 29.9%
Veterans (of adults): 15.8%
Male / female: 54% / 46%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

0.6%

$25–50k

10%

$50–75k

32%

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

23%

$150–200k

16%

$200k+

Median household income

81242

$95,865

Chaffee Co.

$84,132

Colorado

$95,470

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$59,042

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

0.5%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

20.1%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.273

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

81242

$482,500

Chaffee Co.

$665,700

Colorado

$539,400

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

81242

$1,765

Chaffee Co.

$1,611

Colorado

$1,761

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

96%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 548
Owner-occupied: 88.4%
Vacant: 10.2%
Median year built: 2003
Median rooms: 5.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 50.9%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 31.6%
Home value to income: 5.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

75%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

16%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

26%

10–19

49%

20–29

13%

30–44

11%

45–59

60+

Average commute

13.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

74.3%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Office and admin

17%

Management

13%

Legal and social services

12%

Police and fire

10%

Healthcare

10%

Education

Sales

Food service

Business and finance

Computer and math

Construction and repair

Arts, media and sports

Transportation and moving

Cleaning and personal care

Engineering and science

0.7%

Production

0.7%

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Public administration

19%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

14%

Health care and social assistance

12%

Professional and technical services

12%

Finance, insurance and real estate

Education

Retail

Information

Manufacturing

Construction

Arts and recreation

Restaurants and hotels

Other services

0.9%

Admin, support and management

0.2%

Wholesale

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$66,411

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

20.8%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

30.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

11.7%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	81242	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$76,098	$74,888
Service	$40,625	$26,804
Sales and office	$72,936	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	—	$49,199
Production and transportation	$60,625	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

11%

Some college

34%

Associate's

21%

Bachelor's

22%

Graduate

12%

High school graduate or higher: 100%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 34.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 12.2%
Households with broadband: 93.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 80.5%
No internet access: 2.4%
Without health insurance: 1.9%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Poncha Springs
State: Colorado
County: Chaffee County
Center point: 38.4718° N, 106.0729° W
Land area: 21 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Mountain Time (UTC-7, UTC-6 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Poncha Springs7% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 81242

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
81201	Salida, CO	6.1 mi	9,294	$80,248	$674,000
81155	Villa Grove, CO	13 mi	228	$75,000	$609,800
81227	Monarch, CO	13 mi	93	—	—
81233	Howard, CO	14 mi	966	$60,386	$474,600
81222	Coaldale, CO	16 mi	538	—	$383,300
81236	Nathrop, CO	18 mi	1,748	$98,170	$745,400
81248	Sargents, CO	23 mi	264	—	—
81143	Moffat, CO	25 mi	796	$30,915	$168,600
81241	Pitkin, CO	25 mi	238	—	$442,900
81223	Cotopaxi, CO	26 mi	2,457	$51,889	$355,800
81232	Hillside, CO	29 mi	0	—	—
81239	Parlin, CO	29 mi	9	—	—

Questions about 81242

What city is zip code 81242?

81242 is assigned to Poncha Springs, Colorado. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 81242 in?

81242 is in Chaffee County, Colorado.

What is the population of 81242?

About 807 people live in 81242, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 81242 in?

81242 is in Mountain Time.

What is the median household income in 81242?

The median household income in 81242 is $95,865.

What zip codes are near 81242?

The closest zip codes to 81242 are 81201, 81155, 81227, 81233, 81222.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 81242, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.