81521 Zip Code Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for the zip code 81521, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

81521 is a zip code in Mesa County, Colorado, which covers Fruita CCD and Glade Park-Gateway, with a total population of 15,859 people.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in the 81521 zip code. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in 81521.

The estimated population of people living in 81521 is 15,859, with a median age of 41.6.

We can look back at data from previous years to see how the population in the 81521 area has changed over the last 5 years.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
15,859
 -1.97% -0.40%
2020
16,178
 -0.74% -
2019
16,299
+3.28%
-
2018
15,781
 -0.89% -
2017
15,923
 - -

Population of 81521 by Race and Ethnicity

How much has the race and ethnicity of the population in the 81521 zip code changed? The US Census Bureau gives us a few defined types that the population is broken down into.

Let's look at the total numbers and also the change over the last 5 years.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
85.4%
84%
 +1.67%
Black/African American
1.1%
0.1%
 +1,000.00%
Native
1.8%
1.8%
 0.00%
Hispanic
9.4%
12.4%
 -24.19%
Asian
0.8%
0%
 0.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0.1%
 -100.00%
Two Or More Races
1.3%
1.5%
 -13.33%
Other
0.2%
0%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for anybody studying the 81521 zip for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of 81521 by Age and Gender

We can also monitor the change of the age and gender in the 81521 zip code to track track trends in the population over time.

We can see how the population in 81521 has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 41.6 +8.33% 42.6 +17.68% 40.6 -0.49%
2020 38.4 -6.11% 36.2 -4.23% 40.8 -4.45%
2019 40.9 +5.41% 37.8 +1.89% 42.7 0%
2018 38.8 -0.51% 37.1 +0.54% 42.7 +0.23%
2017 39 - 36.9 - 42.6 -

The median age of the 81521 zip gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population in the 81521 area, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 852 -20.28% 683 +47.41% 669 1,042
10 to 19 1,307 +16.24% 1,505 0.36% 1,521 1,499
20 to 29 863 -26.18% 627 -11.71% 611 539
30 to 39 1,424 -60.64% 822 +6.5% 734 876
40 to 49 1,032 +31.48% 1,433 -13.02% 1,295 1,244
50 to 59 901 +7.85% 871 +8.41% 963 936
60 to 69 1,000 -14.39% 1,038 -2.88% 846 980
70+ 651 +49.41% 914 +18.49% 1,023 1,081

Median Household Income

The latest median household income for the 81521 zip code is $65,823.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less.

The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for 81521.

  • Under 25
    $18,429.00
  • 25 to 44
    $83,225.00
  • 45 to 64
    $76,136.00
  • 65 and over
    $41,127.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in the 81521 zip code, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in 81521, and then dividing that number by the total number of households.

This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of 81521 is currently $85,979.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

7.30% of households in 81521 are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of 81521 against other zip codes.

  • Less than $24,999
    17.63%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    18.76%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    21.81%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    13.49%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    16.04%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    4.98%
  • $200,000 or more
    7.30%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in 81521 is $33,151.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of 81521 by the total population of 81521.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people living in the 81521 area, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in 81521 to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    12.11%
  • Bachelor's degree
    33.83%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    11.10%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    40.12%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.83%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in 81521 that are over the age of 16.

Currently, the total population of the 81521 zip over the age of 16 is 12,067.

Of those people, a total of 63.90% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in 81521 is 61.30%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate. Here's how that breaks down for the 81521 zip code.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 939 57.00% 7.30%
20 to 24 years 459 95.60% 25.70%
25 to 29 years 691 87.30% 0.00%
30 to 34 years 957 75.30% 0.00%
35 to 44 years 1,974 92.40% 3.10%
45 to 54 years 2,059 87.90% 4.60%
55 to 59 years 1,058 79.60% 2.40%
60 to 64 years 889 55.90% 0.00%
65 to 74 years 1,493 26.50% 0.00%
75 years and over 1,548 3.20% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in 81521. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau (which we mentioned earlier in this article).

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 11,083 62.80% 3.30%
Black or African American 113 31.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 177 59.30% 80.00%
Asian 127 100.00% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 165 87.90% 0.00%
Two or more races 402 86.30% 0.00%
Hispanic or Latino 817 89.00% 9.60%
Not Hispanic or Latino 10,686 62.00% 2.40%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations for people living in the 81521 area as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in 81521 is 7,402, with median earnings of $46,250.00.

Women in 81521 are earning approximately 68.90% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 7,402 $46,250.00
Male 3,975 $51,578.00
Female 3,427 $35,531.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings for 81521 even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 1,009 $72,831.00
Business and Financial 277 $81,652.00
Computer and Mathematical 30 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 199 $51,546.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 52 $48,929.00
Community and Social Service 35 $0.00
Legal 46 $98,750.00
Educational and Library 620 $32,619.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 44 $46,719.00
Healthcare Practitioners 700 $66,298.00
Healthcare Support 193 $22,083.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 37 $0.00
Law Enforcement 175 $58,760.00
Food Preparation and Serving 422 $10,693.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 346 $13,913.00
Personal Care and Service 183 $12,404.00
Sales 373 $30,563.00
Office and Administrative Support 791 $33,233.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 16 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 630 $49,655.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 121 $54,338.00
Production 327 $32,924.00
Transportation and Material Moving 621 $47,473.00

Occupations by Gender

Now we can also look at the occupations by category for 81521 when it is broken down by male and female.

This lets us see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings for 81521.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 666 $57,738.00 343 $73,551.00
Business and Financial 64 $81,429.00 213 $83,194.00
Computer and Mathematical 15 $0.00 15 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 199 $51,546.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 38 $90,357.00 14 $0.00
Community and Social Service 0 $0.00 35 $0.00
Legal 15 $0.00 31 $0.00
Educational and Library 167 $34,226.00 453 $27,589.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 33 $0.00 11 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 249 $66,198.00 451 $67,426.00
Healthcare Support 21 $0.00 172 $30,536.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 37 $0.00 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 151 $58,998.00 24 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 98 $0.00 324 $11,588.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 173 $16,490.00 173 $9,232.00
Personal Care and Service 52 $0.00 131 $53,003.00
Sales 231 $54,855.00 142 $9,231.00
Office and Administrative Support 94 $15,640.00 697 $34,205.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 16 $0.00 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 600 $51,100.00 30 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 104 $55,370.00 17 $0.00
Production 207 $34,025.00 120 $14,258.00
Transportation and Material Moving 611 $47,639.00 10 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household is defined by the US Census Bureau as a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 5,865 households in 81521, with an average household size of 2.69 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 4,345 families living in the 81521 zip code with an average family size of 3.18 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each, that live in 81521:

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 3,376 460 509 1,520
Average Household Size 3.22 3.2 3.28 1.16
Total Families 3,376 460 509 0
Average Household Size 3.22 2.92 3.18 0

Poverty

Of the 4,345 families living in 81521, 4.50% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in 81521:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 6,084 housing units in 81521.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 5,865 96.40%
Vacant 219 3.60%

17.88% of the total 6,084 housing units in 81521 are rental units. This is approximately 1,088 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 4,525 are occupied by the owner - or 74.38% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in 81521 is $1,271.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in 81521 that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    252
  • Less than $500
    61
  • $500 to $999
    410
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    297
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    320
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in 81521 is $286,800.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in 81521 that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    210
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    38
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    348
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    432
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    1,371
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    1,542
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    441
  • $1,000,000 or more
    143

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in 81521. The chart below shows the number of properties in 81521 that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    813
  • 1940 to 1949
    0
  • 1950 to 1959
    26
  • 1960 to 1969
    170
  • 1970 to 1979
    475
  • 1980 to 1989
    725
  • 1990 to 1999
    1,308
  • 2000 to 2009
    1,872
  • 2010 to 2013
    695
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in 81521 that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    349
  • 1 vehicle available
    1,876
  • 2 vehicles available
    1,930
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    1,710

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in 81521 get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in 81521 that commute to work in a particular way.

20.2 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in 81521.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    230
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,073
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    854
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    1,117
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    1,897
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    472
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    407
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    0
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    26
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    47
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    125
  • 90 or more minutes
    191

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for 81521 in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

States in 81521

If you want to see how the population and demographics of 81521 compare to other zip codes in Colorado, check out the list of all Colorado zip codes below: