Population 16,654 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of ZIP 81521: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in ZIP 81521
Household size in ZIP 81521
| Period | ZIP 81521 | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.62 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.70 | 2.63 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.52 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.64 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
At 2.64 people per household, ZIP 81521 sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Colorado as a whole, where it has 2.54 people. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in ZIP 81521
| Period | ZIP 81521 | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.7 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.5 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.7 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.1 | 39.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.4 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of ZIP 81521 is 43.1 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.7, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the northwest and oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in ZIP 81521
| Period | ZIP 81521 | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 9.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in ZIP 81521: 8.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Colorado as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share has fallen 2.7 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in ZIP 81521
Renters in ZIP 81521
| Period | ZIP 81521 | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.7% | 32.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.1% | 35.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.1% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.8% | 33.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 17.8% of households in ZIP 81521 rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. More than one in five owners (22.8%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the south and least common in the northeast. The renter share has fallen 2.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in ZIP 81521
| Period | ZIP 81521 | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 8.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −3.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in ZIP 81521: just 5.1% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy is down 3.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in ZIP 81521
| Period | ZIP 81521 | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1992 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1994 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1995 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1997 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in ZIP 81521 is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1997, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1992 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in ZIP 81521
| Period | ZIP 81521 | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $818 | $1,051 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,142 | $1,165 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,154 | $1,450 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,663 | $1,963 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$845 | +$912 | +$606 |
A typical rental in ZIP 81521 costs $1,663 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in Colorado overall ($1,963). Rents are up $845 a month from 2006–10, a 103% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 32.8% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in ZIP 81521
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 81521
| Period | ZIP 81521 | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.5% | 36.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.0% | 37.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.7% | 40.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.9% | 45.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.4 pts | +9.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in ZIP 81521 as nationally: 34.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is lower than in Colorado as a whole (45.9%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 10.4 points, as it has nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in ZIP 81521
| Period | ZIP 81521 | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.8% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.9% | 90.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.2% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.3% | 92.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.5 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in ZIP 81521: 96.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 6.5 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in ZIP 81521
| Period | ZIP 81521 | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.6% | 6.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 7.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 4.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in ZIP 81521 runs below the national rate: 3.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
ZIP 81521 compared with nearby ZIP codes
| ZIP code | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 81521 | 2.64 | 43.1 | 8.5% | 17.8% | 5.1% | 1997 | $1,663 | 34.9% | 96.3% | 3.4% |
| ZIP 81524 | 2.91 | 32.4 | 7.1% | 22.9% | 2.2% | 2004 | $1,684 | 42.0% | 97.3% | 6.1% |
| ZIP 81507 | 2.42 | 51.0 | 5.7% | 8.9% | 8.5% | 1983 | $1,604 | 54.6% | 96.8% | 6.0% |
| ZIP 81505 | 2.34 | 40.7 | 8.5% | 29.3% | 4.1% | 1998 | $1,333 | 41.1% | 96.6% | 2.6% |
| ZIP 81506 | 2.19 | 51.1 | 7.3% | 33.9% | 7.7% | 1988 | $1,177 | 43.0% | 95.4% | 4.2% |
| ZIP 81525 | 3.05 | 43.8 | 12.5% | 25.1% | 2.8% | 2004 | $1,630 | 26.2% | 92.4% | 13.5% |
| ZIP 81501 | 1.89 | 37.8 | 9.3% | 53.5% | 6.6% | 1966 | $1,084 | 26.8% | 91.5% | 7.8% |
| ZIP 81503 | 2.62 | 39.1 | 8.0% | 22.1% | 7.8% | 1984 | $1,351 | 25.9% | 94.1% | 4.4% |
| ZIP 81504 | 2.51 | 36.9 | 14.1% | 20.9% | 4.4% | 1991 | $1,618 | 24.3% | 90.6% | 4.9% |
| ZIP 81520 | 2.46 | 39.1 | 13.9% | 31.8% | 2.6% | 1984 | $1,139 | 14.8% | 83.8% | 7.7% |
| ZIP 81526 | 2.29 | 50.9 | 7.1% | 24.7% | 9.5% | 1979 | $1,249 | 33.6% | 93.7% | 6.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Zip codes with similar populations: 92845, CA · 22963, VA · 28714, NC · 29078, SC · 29334, SC · 40212, KY · 77587, TX · 81503, CO · 83858, ID · 85131, AZ
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up ZIP 81521. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.