Zip code 81521: Fruita, Colorado

Q: What city is zip code 81521?

81521 is assigned to Fruita, Colorado. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 81521 in?

81521 is in Mesa County, Colorado.

Q: What is the population of 81521?

About 16,613 people live in 81521, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 81521?

The median household income in 81521 is $88,458.

Q: What zip codes are near 81521?

The closest zip codes to 81521 are 81525, 81524, 81507, 81523, 81505.

Residential delivery areaMesa CountyMountain Time

Population

16,613

Median household income

$88K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$423K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,398/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

43.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

182 sq mi

92 people/sq mi

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

About 81521

81521 is a small-town zip code in Fruita, Colorado (Mesa County), covering 182 sq mi of land. About 16,613 people live here, or 92 per square mile. The median resident is 43.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $88,458 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 3.7% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $422,900, or 4.8 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 82% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,398 a month.

34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 20.6 minutes each way, and 11% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; healthcare; and construction and repair.

How 81521 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Veterans9.7%
88th
U.S. 6.2% · CO 7.5%149th of 484 in CO
Self-employed workers13.6%
86th
U.S. 10% · CO 11.3%231st of 483 in CO
Homeownership rate82.2%
83rd
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · CO 66.2%158th of 482 in CO
Residents under 1825.9%
81st
U.S. 22% · CO 21%92nd of 484 in CO
Healthcare workers11.8%
79th
U.S. 9.7% · CO 8.8%92nd of 483 in CO
Median age43.2
78th
U.S. 38.9 · CO 37.7195th of 484 in CO
Median earnings per worker$60,353
76th
U.S. $49,666 · CO $56,473144th of 478 in CO
Residents 65 and older20.2%
75th
U.S. 17.2% · CO 15.6%199th of 484 in CO
Median home value$422,900
65th
U.S. $332,700 · CO $539,400264th of 461 in CO
Uninsured rate8.9%
65th
U.S. 8.4% · CO 7.7%188th of 481 in CO
Median household income$88,458
60th
U.S. $80,734 · CO $95,470203rd of 460 in CO
Per capita income$43,586
59th
U.S. $44,673 · CO $52,636264th of 483 in CO
Bachelor's degree or higher34%
55th
U.S. 35.7% · CO 45.7%248th of 484 in CO
Government workers14.3%
55th
U.S. 14.5% · CO 14.5%281st of 483 in CO
Median gross rent$1,398
50th
U.S. $1,413 · CO $1,761229th of 400 in CO
Work from home10.7%
39th
U.S. 15.1% · CO 21%341st of 483 in CO
Broadband access90.7%
39th
U.S. 91% · CO 93.5%291st of 482 in CO
Tech workers2.1%
35th
U.S. 3.8% · CO 5.2%258th of 483 in CO
Income inequality (Gini)0.414
32nd
U.S. 0.483 · CO 0.459258th of 480 in CO
Unemployment rate3.6%
26th
U.S. 5.2% · CO 4.6%252nd of 483 in CO
Rent-burdened renters43.9%
26th
U.S. 51.1% · CO 52.9%295th of 447 in CO
Population16,613
25th
U.S. 334,922,499 · CO 5,862,189139th of 484 in CO
Diversity index27.8
21st
U.S. 61.4 · CO 52.5350th of 484 in CO
Average commute20.6 min
15th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · CO 25.2 min347th of 450 in CO
Foreign-born residents2.2%
13th
U.S. 14.1% · CO 9.8%346th of 484 in CO
Population density92/sq mi
12th
U.S. 95/sq mi · CO 57/sq mi192nd of 484 in CO
Housing vacancy2.8%
9th
U.S. 10.1% · CO 8.3%414th of 482 in CO
Poverty rate3.7%
5th
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · CO 9.4%399th of 482 in CO

Measure	81521	Mesa	CO	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in CO
Veterans	9.7%	9.5%	7.5%	6.2%	88th	149th of 484
Self-employed workers	13.6%	13.5%	11.3%	10%	86th	231st of 483
Homeownership rateStrength	82.2%	72.5%	66.2%	65.2%	83rd	158th of 482
Residents under 18	25.9%	20.4%	21%	22%	81st	92nd of 484
Healthcare workers	11.8%	11.6%	8.8%	9.7%	79th	92nd of 483
Median age	43.2	41.3	37.7	38.9	78th	195th of 484
Median earnings per worker	$60,353	$46,960	$56,473	$49,666	76th	144th of 478
Residents 65 and older	20.2%	21.1%	15.6%	17.2%	75th	199th of 484
Median home value	$422,900	$378,600	$539,400	$332,700	65th	264th of 461
Uninsured rate	8.9%	9.9%	7.7%	8.4%	65th	188th of 481
Median household income	$88,458	$73,658	$95,470	$80,734	60th	203rd of 460
Per capita income	$43,586	$40,076	$52,636	$44,673	59th	264th of 483
Bachelor's degree or higher	34%	32.3%	45.7%	35.7%	55th	248th of 484
Government workers	14.3%	14.6%	14.5%	14.5%	55th	281st of 483
Median gross rent	$1,398	$1,182	$1,761	$1,413	50th	229th of 400
Work from home	10.7%	13.7%	21%	15.1%	39th	341st of 483
Broadband access	90.7%	92.6%	93.5%	91%	39th	291st of 482
Tech workers	2.1%	1.6%	5.2%	3.8%	35th	258th of 483
Income inequality (Gini)	0.414	0.444	0.459	0.483	32nd	258th of 480
Unemployment rate	3.6%	5.4%	4.6%	5.2%	26th	252nd of 483
Rent-burdened renters	43.9%	48.7%	52.9%	51.1%	26th	295th of 447
Population	16,613	158,601	5,862,189	334,922,499	25th	139th of 484
Diversity index	27.8	36	52.5	61.4	21st	350th of 484
Average commuteStrength	20.6 min	18.9 min	25.2 min	26.4 min	15th	347th of 450
Foreign-born residents	2.2%	4.1%	9.8%	14.1%	13th	346th of 484
Population density	92/sq mi	48/sq mi	57/sq mi	95/sq mi	12th	192nd of 484
Housing vacancy	2.8%	5.9%	8.3%	10.1%	9th	414th of 482
Poverty rateStrength	3.7%	10.7%	9.4%	12.5%	5th	399th of 482

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

21%

5–17

18–24

25–34

14%

35–44

13%

45–54

13%

55–64

12%

65–74

75+

Median age

43.2

Under 18

25.9%

65 and over

20.2%

Race and ethnicity

White84%
Black1%
Hispanic10%
Asian0.3%
Native American0.2%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.7%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

27.8

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

2.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

52.7%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

93%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.5%

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 6,436
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 71.6%
Married couples: 58.1%
Living alone: 25.1%
Veterans (of adults): 9.7%
Male / female: 47% / 53%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

10%

$25–50k

16%

$50–75k

12%

$75–100k

19%

$100–150k

19%

$150–200k

10%

$200k+

14%

Median household income

81521

$88,458

Mesa Co.

$73,658

Colorado

$95,470

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$43,586

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

3.7%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

23.7%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.414

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

81521

$422,900

Mesa Co.

$378,600

Colorado

$539,400

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

81521

$1,398

Mesa Co.

$1,182

Colorado

$1,761

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

87%

2–4 units

5–19 units

0.7%

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 6,618
Owner-occupied: 82.2%
Vacant: 2.8%
Median year built: 1998
Median rooms: 6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 43.9%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 21.2%
Home value to income: 4.8× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

77%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

11%

Other

0.3%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

20%

10–19

29%

20–29

37%

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

20.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.6%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

62.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

12%

Healthcare

12%

Construction and repair

11%

Sales

11%

Office and admin

10%

Transportation and moving

Education

Food service

Production

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Cleaning and personal care

Police and fire

Business and finance

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Health care and social assistance

16%

Construction

11%

Education

Retail

Restaurants and hotels

Manufacturing

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Professional and technical services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Public administration

Other services

Agriculture and mining

Arts and recreation

Admin, support and management

Wholesale

Information

0.9%

Median earnings per worker

$60,353

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

13.6%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

14.3%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

9.4%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	81521	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$77,356	$74,888
Service	$30,971	$26,804
Sales and office	$31,782	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$60,995	$49,199
Production and transportation	$77,690	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

30%

Some college

26%

Associate's

Bachelor's

25%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 96.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 34%
Graduate or professional degree: 8.8%
Households with broadband: 90.7%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 73.6%
No internet access: 7.1%
Without health insurance: 8.9%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Fruita
State: Colorado
County: Mesa County
Center point: 39.1566° N, 108.8788° W
Land area: 182 sq mi
Water area: 2.3 sq mi
Time zone: Mountain Time (UTC-7, UTC-6 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Fruita4% of zip

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

Zip codes near 81521

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
81525	Mack, CO	8.5 mi	1,127	$113,796	$429,500
81524	Loma, CO	12 mi	2,760	$99,947	$665,600
81507	Grand Junction, CO	16 mi	15,947	$107,528	$515,500
81523	Glade Park, CO	16 mi	983	$106,518	$761,200
81505	Grand Junction, CO	16 mi	13,279	$90,830	$467,800
81506	Grand Junction, CO	17 mi	11,412	$78,651	$448,300
81501	Grand Junction, CO	19 mi	24,011	$53,666	$314,700
81504	Grand Junction, CO	21 mi	32,376	$70,958	$316,500
81503	Grand Junction, CO	23 mi	16,558	$75,053	$352,100
81502	Grand Junction, CO · PO box	23 mi	—	—	—
81520	Clifton, CO	24 mi	12,892	$50,283	$249,600
81630	De Beque, CO	27 mi	1,058	$64,875	$269,400

Zip codes like 81521 elsewhere

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

Questions about 81521

What city is zip code 81521?

81521 is assigned to Fruita, Colorado. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 81521 in?

81521 is in Mesa County, Colorado.

What is the population of 81521?

About 16,613 people live in 81521, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 81521 in?

81521 is in Mountain Time.

What is the median household income in 81521?

The median household income in 81521 is $88,458.

What zip codes are near 81521?

The closest zip codes to 81521 are 81525, 81524, 81507, 81523, 81505.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 81521, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.