Zip code 81520: Clifton, Colorado

Q: What city is zip code 81520?

81520 is assigned to Clifton, Colorado. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 81520 in?

81520 is in Mesa County, Colorado.

Q: What is the population of 81520?

About 12,892 people live in 81520, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 81520?

The median household income in 81520 is $50,283.

Q: What zip codes are near 81520?

The closest zip codes to 81520 are 81504, 81526, 81503, 81501, 81506.

Residential delivery areaMesa CountyMountain Time

Population

12,892

Median household income

$50K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$250K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,026/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

38.4

U.S. 38.9

Land area

21 sq mi

627 people/sq mi

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

About 81520

81520 is a suburban zip code in Clifton, Colorado (Mesa County), covering 21 sq mi of land. About 12,892 people live here, or 627 per square mile. The median resident is 38.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $50,283 a year, 38% below the national median of $80,734. 20.9% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $249,600, 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. 67% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,026 a month.

14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 22.5 minutes each way, and 13% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; production and manufacturing; and healthcare.

How 81520 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Unemployment rate8.3%
88th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · CO 4.6%43rd of 483 in CO
Poverty rate20.9%
86th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · CO 9.4%46th of 482 in CO
Uninsured rate13%
83rd
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · CO 7.7%76th of 481 in CO
Veterans7.6%
73rd
U.S. 6.2% · CO 7.5%224th of 484 in CO
Self-employed workers11.5%
73rd
U.S. 10% · CO 11.3%297th of 483 in CO
Rent-burdened renters55.7%
69th
U.S. 51.1% · CO 52.9%173rd of 447 in CO
Healthcare workers10.6%
66th
U.S. 9.7% · CO 8.8%125th of 483 in CO
Government workers15%
60th
U.S. 14.5% · CO 14.5%258th of 483 in CO
Residents 65 and older17.1%
54th
U.S. 17.2% · CO 15.6%278th of 484 in CO
Work from home12.9%
51st
U.S. 15.1% · CO 21%308th of 483 in CO
Income inequality (Gini)0.436
51st
U.S. 0.483 · CO 0.459185th of 480 in CO
Residents under 1821.9%
48th
U.S. 22% · CO 21%182nd of 484 in CO
Homeownership rate67.3%
47th
U.S. 65.2% · CO 66.2%337th of 482 in CO
Median age38.4
45th
U.S. 38.9 · CO 37.7315th of 484 in CO
Broadband access91.3%
43rd
U.S. 91% · CO 93.5%272nd of 482 in CO
Diversity index41.5
38th
U.S. 61.4 · CO 52.5217th of 484 in CO
Population density627/sq mi
36th
U.S. 95/sq mi · CO 57/sq mi137th of 484 in CO
Foreign-born residents6.4%
36th
U.S. 14.1% · CO 9.8%192nd of 484 in CO
Median home value$249,600
33rd
U.S. $332,700 · CO $539,400369th of 461 in CO
Average commute22.5 min
26th
U.S. 26.4 min · CO 25.2 min301st of 450 in CO
Median earnings per worker$40,877
24th
U.S. $49,666 · CO $56,473381st of 478 in CO
Median gross rent$1,026
23rd
U.S. $1,413 · CO $1,761305th of 400 in CO
Population12,892
20th
U.S. 334,922,499 · CO 5,862,189161st of 484 in CO
Per capita income$27,088
12th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · CO $52,636447th of 483 in CO
Median household income$50,283
9th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · CO $95,470408th of 460 in CO
Bachelor's degree or higher14%
8th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · CO 45.7%453rd of 484 in CO
Housing vacancy2.5%
7th
U.S. 10.1% · CO 8.3%423rd of 482 in CO
Tech workers0.4%
5th
U.S. 3.8% · CO 5.2%345th of 483 in CO

Measure	81520	Mesa	CO	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in CO
Unemployment rateWeakness	8.3%	5.4%	4.6%	5.2%	88th	43rd of 483
Poverty rateWeakness	20.9%	10.7%	9.4%	12.5%	86th	46th of 482
Uninsured rateWeakness	13%	9.9%	7.7%	8.4%	83rd	76th of 481
Veterans	7.6%	9.5%	7.5%	6.2%	73rd	224th of 484
Self-employed workers	11.5%	13.5%	11.3%	10%	73rd	297th of 483
Rent-burdened renters	55.7%	48.7%	52.9%	51.1%	69th	173rd of 447
Healthcare workers	10.6%	11.6%	8.8%	9.7%	66th	125th of 483
Government workers	15%	14.6%	14.5%	14.5%	60th	258th of 483
Residents 65 and older	17.1%	21.1%	15.6%	17.2%	54th	278th of 484
Work from home	12.9%	13.7%	21%	15.1%	51st	308th of 483
Income inequality (Gini)	0.436	0.444	0.459	0.483	51st	185th of 480
Residents under 18	21.9%	20.4%	21%	22%	48th	182nd of 484
Homeownership rate	67.3%	72.5%	66.2%	65.2%	47th	337th of 482
Median age	38.4	41.3	37.7	38.9	45th	315th of 484
Broadband access	91.3%	92.6%	93.5%	91%	43rd	272nd of 482
Diversity index	41.5	36	52.5	61.4	38th	217th of 484
Population density	627/sq mi	48/sq mi	57/sq mi	95/sq mi	36th	137th of 484
Foreign-born residents	6.4%	4.1%	9.8%	14.1%	36th	192nd of 484
Median home value	$249,600	$378,600	$539,400	$332,700	33rd	369th of 461
Average commute	22.5 min	18.9 min	25.2 min	26.4 min	26th	301st of 450
Median earnings per worker	$40,877	$46,960	$56,473	$49,666	24th	381st of 478
Median gross rent	$1,026	$1,182	$1,761	$1,413	23rd	305th of 400
Population	12,892	158,601	5,862,189	334,922,499	20th	161st of 484
Per capita incomeWeakness	$27,088	$40,076	$52,636	$44,673	12th	447th of 483
Median household incomeWeakness	$50,283	$73,658	$95,470	$80,734	9th	408th of 460
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	14%	32.3%	45.7%	35.7%	8th	453rd of 484
Housing vacancy	2.5%	5.9%	8.3%	10.1%	7th	423rd of 482
Tech workers	0.4%	1.6%	5.2%	3.8%	5th	345th 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

15%

5–17

18–24

14%

25–34

16%

35–44

11%

45–54

13%

55–64

12%

65–74

75+

Median age

38.4

Under 18

21.9%

65 and over

17.1%

Race and ethnicity

White73%
Black0.6%
Hispanic21%
Asian0.7%
Native American0.2%
Pacific Islander0.0%
Other0.8%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

41.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

6.4%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

52.6%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

90%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.6%

Other

Households

Households: 5,291
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 60.5%
Married couples: 41.1%
Living alone: 31.1%
Veterans (of adults): 7.6%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

22%

$25–50k

27%

$50–75k

22%

$75–100k

$100–150k

12%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

81520

$50,283

Mesa Co.

$73,658

Colorado

$95,470

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$27,088

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

20.9%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

7.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.436

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

81520

$249,600

Mesa Co.

$378,600

Colorado

$539,400

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

81520

$1,026

Mesa Co.

$1,182

Colorado

$1,761

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

54%

2–4 units

21%

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

21%

Boat, RV, van

0.2%

Housing units: 5,428
Owner-occupied: 67.3%
Vacant: 2.5%
Median year built: 1984
Median rooms: 5.1
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 55.7%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 24.2%
Home value to income: 5.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

71%

Carpooled

10%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

0.0%

Worked from home

13%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

12%

10–19

46%

20–29

29%

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

22.5 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

8.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

58.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

17%

Production

11%

Healthcare

11%

Transportation and moving

10%

Sales

Management

Office and admin

Food service

Engineering and science

Cleaning and personal care

Business and finance

Police and fire

Education

Legal and social services

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.5%

Computer and math

0.4%

Arts, media and sports

0.4%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

15%

Construction

14%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

11%

Retail

10%

Restaurants and hotels

Finance, insurance and real estate

Manufacturing

Other services

Public administration

Professional and technical services

Admin, support and management

Education

Agriculture and mining

Information

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$40,877

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

11.5%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

15%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

5.2%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	81520	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$48,201	$74,888
Service	$42,892	$26,804
Sales and office	$27,049	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$47,853	$49,199
Production and transportation	$37,278	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

17%

High school

34%

Some college

27%

Associate's

Bachelor's

11%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 82.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 14%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.4%
Households with broadband: 91.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 73.4%
No internet access: 7.7%
Without health insurance: 13%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Clifton
State: Colorado
County: Mesa County
Center point: 39.1111° N, 108.4338° 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

Clifton (unincorporated)17% of zip

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

Zip codes near 81520

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
81504	Grand Junction, CO	3 mi	32,376	$70,958	$316,500
81526	Palisade, CO	5.1 mi	5,559	$87,500	$501,800
81503	Grand Junction, CO	6 mi	16,558	$75,053	$352,100
81501	Grand Junction, CO	6.6 mi	24,011	$53,666	$314,700
81506	Grand Junction, CO	6.8 mi	11,412	$78,651	$448,300
81502	Grand Junction, CO · PO box	6.9 mi	—	—	—
81505	Grand Junction, CO	11 mi	13,279	$90,830	$467,800
81507	Grand Junction, CO	14 mi	15,947	$107,528	$515,500
81643	Mesa, CO	15 mi	1,133	$106,813	$605,300
81524	Loma, CO	20 mi	2,760	$99,947	$665,600
81527	Whitewater, CO	22 mi	1,462	$76,815	$425,600
81646	Molina, CO	23 mi	115	$67,321	—

Zip codes like 81520 elsewhere

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

Questions about 81520

What city is zip code 81520?

81520 is assigned to Clifton, Colorado. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 81520 in?

81520 is in Mesa County, Colorado.

What is the population of 81520?

About 12,892 people live in 81520, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 81520 in?

81520 is in Mountain Time.

What is the median household income in 81520?

The median household income in 81520 is $50,283.

What zip codes are near 81520?

The closest zip codes to 81520 are 81504, 81526, 81503, 81501, 81506.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 81520, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.