Zip code 81252: Westcliffe, Colorado

Q: What city is zip code 81252?

81252 is assigned to Westcliffe, Colorado. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 81252 in?

81252 is in Custer County, Colorado.

Q: What is the population of 81252?

About 4,763 people live in 81252, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 81252?

The median household income in 81252 is $69,527.

Q: What zip codes are near 81252?

The closest zip codes to 81252 are 81232, 81253, 81223, 81131, 81244.

Residential delivery areaCuster CountyMountain Time

Population

4,763

Median household income

$70K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$402K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$940/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

58.7

U.S. 38.9

Land area

613 sq mi

8 people/sq mi

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

About 81252

81252 is a rural zip code in Westcliffe, Colorado (Custer County), covering 613 sq mi of land. About 4,763 people live here, or 8 per square mile. The median resident is 58.7 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $69,527 a year, 14% below the national median of $80,734. 12.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $401,900, or 5.8 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 87% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $940 a month.

44% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 35.7 minutes each way, and 22% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; management; and transportation and moving goods. 26% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 81252 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age58.7
99th
U.S. 38.9 · CO 37.735th of 484 in CO
Housing vacancy40.9%
99th
U.S. 10.1% · CO 8.3%46th of 482 in CO
Self-employed workers26.3%
99th
U.S. 10% · CO 11.3%68th of 483 in CO
Residents 65 and older35.2%
98th
U.S. 17.2% · CO 15.6%45th of 484 in CO
Veterans13.2%
96th
U.S. 6.2% · CO 7.5%79th of 484 in CO
Homeownership rate87.2%
92nd
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · CO 66.2%99th of 482 in CO
Average commute35.7 min
92nd
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · CO 25.2 min48th of 450 in CO
Work from home22.1%
83rd
U.S. 15.1% · CO 21%149th of 483 in CO
Income inequality (Gini)0.474
78th
U.S. 0.483 · CO 0.45996th of 480 in CO
Bachelor's degree or higher44.4%
72nd
U.S. 35.7% · CO 45.7%172nd of 484 in CO
Per capita income$49,403
71st
U.S. $44,673 · CO $52,636195th of 483 in CO
Healthcare workers11%
71st
U.S. 9.7% · CO 8.8%113th of 483 in CO
Rent-burdened renters56%
70th
U.S. 51.1% · CO 52.9%166th of 447 in CO
Median earnings per worker$52,875
63rd
U.S. $49,666 · CO $56,473217th of 478 in CO
Median home value$401,900
62nd
U.S. $332,700 · CO $539,400281st of 461 in CO
Tech workers3.5%
61st
U.S. 3.8% · CO 5.2%189th of 483 in CO
Poverty rate12.2%
57th
U.S. 12.5% · CO 9.4%156th of 482 in CO
Government workers13%
44th
U.S. 14.5% · CO 14.5%331st of 483 in CO
Uninsured rate5.4%
37th
U.S. 8.4% · CO 7.7%304th of 481 in CO
Median household income$69,527
35th
U.S. $80,734 · CO $95,470315th of 460 in CO
Median gross rent$940
17th
U.S. $1,413 · CO $1,761332nd of 400 in CO
Diversity index21
14th
U.S. 61.4 · CO 52.5399th of 484 in CO
Foreign-born residents2.4%
14th
U.S. 14.1% · CO 9.8%342nd of 484 in CO
Unemployment rate2.6%
11th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · CO 4.6%306th of 483 in CO
Population4,763
8th
U.S. 334,922,499 · CO 5,862,189231st of 484 in CO
Residents under 1814.2%
7th
U.S. 22% · CO 21%365th of 484 in CO
Broadband access78.8%
3rd
WeaknessU.S. 91% · CO 93.5%447th of 482 in CO
Population density8/sq mi
1st
U.S. 95/sq mi · CO 57/sq mi325th of 484 in CO

Measure	81252	Custer	CO	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in CO
Median age	58.7	58.2	37.7	38.9	99th	35th of 484
Housing vacancy	40.9%	42.3%	8.3%	10.1%	99th	46th of 482
Self-employed workers	26.3%	23.3%	11.3%	10%	99th	68th of 483
Residents 65 and older	35.2%	33.1%	15.6%	17.2%	98th	45th of 484
Veterans	13.2%	12.3%	7.5%	6.2%	96th	79th of 484
Homeownership rateStrength	87.2%	85.3%	66.2%	65.2%	92nd	99th of 482
Average commuteWeakness	35.7 min	36.9 min	25.2 min	26.4 min	92nd	48th of 450
Work from home	22.1%	23.5%	21%	15.1%	83rd	149th of 483
Income inequality (Gini)	0.474	0.466	0.459	0.483	78th	96th of 480
Bachelor's degree or higher	44.4%	43.7%	45.7%	35.7%	72nd	172nd of 484
Per capita income	$49,403	$48,232	$52,636	$44,673	71st	195th of 483
Healthcare workers	11%	10.7%	8.8%	9.7%	71st	113th of 483
Rent-burdened renters	56%	49.5%	52.9%	51.1%	70th	166th of 447
Median earnings per worker	$52,875	$50,734	$56,473	$49,666	63rd	217th of 478
Median home value	$401,900	$392,100	$539,400	$332,700	62nd	281st of 461
Tech workers	3.5%	3.1%	5.2%	3.8%	61st	189th of 483
Poverty rate	12.2%	12.7%	9.4%	12.5%	57th	156th of 482
Government workers	13%	16.1%	14.5%	14.5%	44th	331st of 483
Uninsured rate	5.4%	5%	7.7%	8.4%	37th	304th of 481
Median household income	$69,527	$72,674	$95,470	$80,734	35th	315th of 460
Median gross rent	$940	$1,069	$1,761	$1,413	17th	332nd of 400
Diversity index	21	20.7	52.5	61.4	14th	399th of 484
Foreign-born residents	2.4%	2.3%	9.8%	14.1%	14th	342nd of 484
Unemployment rateStrength	2.6%	3.7%	4.6%	5.2%	11th	306th of 483
Population	4,763	5,247	5,862,189	334,922,499	8th	231st of 484
Residents under 18	14.2%	13.7%	21%	22%	7th	365th of 484
Broadband accessWeakness	78.8%	80.4%	93.5%	91%	3rd	447th of 482
Population density	8/sq mi	7/sq mi	57/sq mi	95/sq mi	1st	325th of 484

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

12%

5–17

18–24

25–34

35–44

11%

45–54

20%

55–64

26%

65–74

75+

Median age

58.7

Under 18

14.2%

65 and over

35.2%

Race and ethnicity

White89%
Black0%
Hispanic5%
Asian1%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other1%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

2.4%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

28.3%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

97%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.5%

Asian / Pacific

Other

0.3%

Households

Households: 2,477
Average household size: 1.9
Family households: 56%
Married couples: 49%
Living alone: 36.7%
Veterans (of adults): 13.2%
Male / female: 52% / 48%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

21%

$25–50k

14%

$50–75k

20%

$75–100k

11%

$100–150k

17%

$150–200k

$200k+

10%

Median household income

81252

$69,527

Custer Co.

$72,674

Colorado

$95,470

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$49,403

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

12.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

16.7%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.474

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

81252

$401,900

Custer Co.

$392,100

Colorado

$539,400

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

81252

$940

Custer Co.

$1,069

Colorado

$1,761

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

86%

2–4 units

0.8%

5–19 units

20+ units

0.4%

Mobile home

10%

Boat, RV, van

0.6%

Housing units: 4,190
Owner-occupied: 87.2%
Vacant: 40.9%
Median year built: 1995
Median rooms: 5.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 56%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 32%
Home value to income: 5.8× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

57%

Carpooled

17%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

22%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

18%

10–19

30%

20–29

13%

30–44

15%

45–59

60+

19%

Average commute

35.7 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

2.6%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

44.1%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

17%

Management

15%

Transportation and moving

12%

Healthcare

11%

Sales

Business and finance

Office and admin

Education

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

Cleaning and personal care

Police and fire

Food service

Production

Legal and social services

Engineering and science

0.6%

Industries

Construction

16%

Health care and social assistance

12%

Retail

11%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Manufacturing

Professional and technical services

Other services

Agriculture and mining

Education

Public administration

Finance, insurance and real estate

Restaurants and hotels

Arts and recreation

Admin, support and management

Information

0.4%

Wholesale

Median earnings per worker

$52,875

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

26.3%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

13%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.6%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	81252	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$78,646	$74,888
Service	$33,281	$26,804
Sales and office	$56,875	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$35,268	$49,199
Production and transportation	$36,019	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

22%

Some college

20%

Associate's

Bachelor's

25%

Graduate

19%

High school graduate or higher: 94.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 44.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 19.1%
Households with broadband: 78.8%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 44.2%
No internet access: 17%
Without health insurance: 5.4%
Limited-English households: 0.2%

Geography

City (USPS): Westcliffe
State: Colorado
County: Custer County
Center point: 38.1106° N, 105.4275° W
Land area: 613 sq mi
Water area: 1.2 sq mi
Time zone: Mountain Time (UTC-7, UTC-6 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Silver Cliff3% of zip

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

Zip codes near 81252

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
81232	Hillside, CO	15 mi	0	—	—
81253	Wetmore, CO	20 mi	524	$76,346	$285,000
81223	Cotopaxi, CO	20 mi	2,457	$51,889	$355,800
81131	Crestone, CO	22 mi	1,051	$45,156	$333,500
81244	Rockvale, CO	23 mi	660	$51,250	$195,200
81143	Moffat, CO	23 mi	796	$30,915	$168,600
81221	Coal Creek, CO	23 mi	324	$34,000	$199,000
81226	Florence, CO	24 mi	7,459	$53,969	$258,800
81040	Gardner, CO	25 mi	360	$30,978	—
81215	Canon City, CO · PO box	26 mi	—	—	—
81290	Florence, CO · PO box	26 mi	—	—	—
81222	Coaldale, CO	27 mi	538	—	$383,300

Zip codes like 81252 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 81252

What city is zip code 81252?

81252 is assigned to Westcliffe, Colorado. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 81252 in?

81252 is in Custer County, Colorado.

What is the population of 81252?

About 4,763 people live in 81252, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 81252 in?

81252 is in Mountain Time.

What is the median household income in 81252?

The median household income in 81252 is $69,527.

What zip codes are near 81252?

The closest zip codes to 81252 are 81232, 81253, 81223, 81131, 81244.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 81252, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.