ZIP Code · CO

ZIP 81321

Part of Cortez, CO

Pop. 14,236·Montezuma County·120th most expensive ZIP in Colorado

Median rent (all units)

$1,747/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.7%

Month-over-Month

+0.4%

vs US Median

-$185

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 81321 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 81321 · $1,747

More affordable than 55% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$870

1 BR

$930

2 BR

$1,210

3 BR

$1,610

4 BR+

$1,900

Research median

$1,210/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Colorado

Rent in ZIP 81321 changed +3.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 155 Colorado ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.3%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($59,506) is $1,488 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,210); a 3-bedroom is $1,610.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 81321. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$20,964/yr

At $1,747/mo median

Location

CityCortez

StateCO

CountyMontezuma County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.7% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.7% YoY, +0.4% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 81321 (Cortez, CO) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 26.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

14,236

Median income

$59,506

Median age

41.8

Renters

25.4%

Age distribution

21.2%

19.3%

23.2%

13.6%

22.7%

Under 1821.2%

18–3419.3%

35–5423.2%

55–6413.6%

65+22.7%

Gender

49%

51%

Male49%

Female51%

Race & ethnicity

74.7%

14.7%

White74.7%

Hispanic14.7%

Asian0.5%

Other10%

Education (25+)

33.2%

31.2%

26.4%

No HS diploma9.3%

HS diploma33.2%

Some college31.2%

Bachelor's+26.4%

Housing tenure

74.6%

25.4%

Owner74.6%

Renter25.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 81321 in Cortez, CO has changed in 5 years

Income

$57,929 → $59,506

up 2.7%

Population

15,050 → 14,236

down 5.4%

Renter share

30.8% → 25.4%

-5.4 pts

Bachelor's+

27% → 26.4%

-0.6 pts

Median age

42.8 → 41.8

-1.0 yrs

Median household income climbed from $57,929 to $59,506 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.7% shift. Census counts show ZIP 81321 in Cortez, CO losing about 814 residents over the five-year window, down 5.4% on net. The renter share has eased from 30.8% to 25.4%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 81321

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 81321

About renting in ZIP 81321

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 81321 covers Cortez, CO. The median rent here is $1,747/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $930/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,210/mo.

At 35% of local median household income ($59,506/yr), ZIP 81321 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 81321?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $70,000/year (about $34/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,747/mo in ZIP 81321. The local median household income is $59,506/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 81321?

Rent in ZIP 81321 has risen 3.7% over the past year.

How does ZIP 81321 compare to other ZIPs in Colorado?

ZIP 81321 is one of the more affordable among Colorado ZIP codes for rent, ranking #120 of 168 at $1,747/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 81321 changed +3.7%, against a typical +1.3% across the 155 Colorado ZIP codes Zillow tracks.