Area data
Fruita, CO — ZIP 81521
Population: 16,613 (Census ACS)
The median home value in ZIP 81521 (Fruita, CO) is $485,728 — up 2.7% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $469,950 after a median 37 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,704/month. 6 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with lightning, avalanche, landslide the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 3.1% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$485,728
Median home value
+2.7%
1-year change
37
Median days on market
Relatively Low
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $485,728
- 1-year appreciation
- +2.7%
- 3-year appreciation
- +10.4%
- 5-year appreciation
- +24.6%
- 10-year appreciation
- +101.5%
- All-time peak (2026-08)
- $485,728
- House Price Index (state)
- 687.4 (-0.6% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- Median sale price
- $469,950
- Median list price
- $489,000
- Median price per sqft
- $294
- 1-year sale-price change
- -8.8%
- Median days on market
- 37 days
- Homes sold (recent period)
- 94
- For-sale inventory
- 153
- Sale-to-list ratio
- 98.7%
- Active listings
- 119
- 1-year forecast
- +1.3%
- Days to pending
- 73 days
- New listings (monthly)
- 40
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Rents
- Typical rent
- $1,704/mo
- 1-year rent change
- +2.3%
- Studio fair-market rent
- $893/mo
- 1BR fair-market rent
- $1,017/mo
- 2BR fair-market rent
- $1,282/mo
- 3BR fair-market rent
- $1,775/mo
- 4BR fair-market rent
- $2,143/mo
Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Above Average)
- 103.1 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 15.9¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $11.20/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 7.40%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.73%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 6
- Elementary schools
- 4
- Middle schools
- 1
- High schools
- 1
- Charter schools
- 1
- Avg student-teacher ratio
- 17.3 : 1
- School districts serving the area
- State Charter School Institute, Mesa County Valley School District No. 51
- Schools include
- Monument View Montessori Charter School, Fruita Middle School, Fruita Monument High School, Shelledy Elementary School, Rim Rock Elementary School
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively Low
- Top hazards (county)
- lightning, avalanche, landslide, drought, inlandFlooding
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- drought: Relatively Moderate · coldWave: Relatively Low · heatWave: Relatively Low · iceStorm: Relatively Low · wildfire: Relatively Moderate · avalanche: Relatively High
- FEMA flood zone
- A
- Flood risk level
- High
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 85% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 24.0%
- Radon potential (county)
- High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- None
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 47.0°F
- Average high
- 62.0°F
- Average low
- 32.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 14.7 in
- Annual snowfall
- 59.1 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 7a (extreme annual low 0 to 5°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Good
- Median AQI (annual)
- 46
- Days with Good air quality
- 238
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 127
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 97
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Walkability & transit
- Walkability index
- 10.2 / 20
- Transit service frequency
- -99,999
- Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
- 5,927
- Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
- 6,850
Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)
Amenities
- National parks within ~60 mi
- 2
- Nearest national park
- Colorado National Monument (8 mi)
- National parks include
- Colorado National Monument, Arches National Park
- Airports within 30 mi
- 8
- Nearest airport
- Mack Mesa Airport (10 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) (15 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 1
- Hospitals include
- FAMILY HEALTH WEST HOSPITAL
- Solar radiation rating
- Good (5.1 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- +513 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,998
- Housing built before 1970
- 12.6%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 46.1%
- Median annual property tax
- $1,754
- Mean commute to work
- 18 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 73.6%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 56,117
- Average weekly wage
- $1,114
- Top industries (by employment)
- Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Construction
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 810
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| ZIP 81521 | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $485,728 | $493,059 | $288,527 |
| Median sale price | $469,950 | $495,000 | $325,000 |
| Median days on market | 37 days | 48 days | 51 days |
| Typical rent | $1,704/mo | $1,992/mo | $1,809/mo |
| Median annual property tax | $1,754 | $1,694 | $2,006 |
State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Common questions
- What is the median home value in ZIP 81521?
- $485,728.
- What is the median sale price in ZIP 81521?
- $469,950.
- How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 81521?
- Median days on market: 37 days.
- What is typical rent in ZIP 81521?
- Typical rent: $1,704/month.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 81521?
- Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: lightning, avalanche, landslide, drought, inlandFlooding.
- Is ZIP 81521 in a flood zone?
- High (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone A.
- What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 81521?
- Risk to homes is higher than 85% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in ZIP 81521?
- High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 81521?
- No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
- How many schools serve ZIP 81521?
- 6 schools (4 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
- Is ZIP 81521 walkable?
- Walkability index: 10.2/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
- What is the air quality in ZIP 81521?
- Good. Median AQI: 46. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in ZIP 81521?
- Regional Price Parity: 103.1 (100 = US average) (Above Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
Nearby ZIP codes
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Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →