81501 is a true toss-up. About 51% of voters here vote Democratic and 49% Republican.
About 63% of adults in 81501 typically vote, near the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 81501, ~32% vote Democratic, ~31% Republican, and ~37% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 81501 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 81501 sits roughly in the middle of the political spectrum, with 10 neighbors leaning further in the place's direction and 0 leaning the other way.
81501 runs about 9 points more Republican than Colorado as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 81501. The west side runs the most Democratic (D+36) and the southeast side runs the most Republican (R+21), a spread of about 58 points.
Why 81501 leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in 81501. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Paved land cover and Democratic lean
Places with extensive paved surfaces tend to lean Democratic; 81501, CO sits in the top tenth nationally on this measure. Paved ground does not change how people vote; it mostly reflects how urban and built-up a place is.
Why turnout in 81501 looks the way it does
Areas with limited routine healthcare access turn out at lower rates. 81501 is in the bottom quarter nationally for routine-care measures such as insurance coverage, preventive screenings, and dental visits. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Zip Codes
Zip Codes with Similar Populations
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Colorado Secretary of State, Elections, distributed by the Voting and Election Science Team. Demographic inputs come from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates and the 2020 Decennial Census). Health and environmental inputs come from the CDC (PLACES and the Environmental Justice Index). Land cover comes from the USGS and EPA. Election-day and lead-up weather come from PRISM 4km daily grids and the NOAA Global Historical Climatology Network. Mail-voting and election-administration patterns come from the MIT Election Lab's Survey of the Performance of American Elections. Block-group crime detail comes from CrimeGrade. Internet data and modeling support provided by ISPreports.org.
Modeling and analysis by the BestNeighborhood data science team. Full methodology and findings: political spectrum map.
Methodology reviewed by the BestNeighborhood data team. Last updated May 2026.