81403 and 81401 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
81403
81401
Opportunity
59 · Top 41%
vs55 · Top 50%
Growth
70 · Top 15%
vs70 · Top 15%
Climate
58 · Bottom 9%
vs55 · Bottom 6%
Physical resilience
37 · Bottom 30%
vs35 · Bottom 27%
Housing affordability
65 · Bottom 28%
vs72 · Bottom 38%
Access
97 · Top 25%
vs100 · Top 2%
Economic stability
49 · Bottom 31%
vs48 · Bottom 30%
Measured values
| Metric | 81403 | 81401 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,138 | 24,228 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $80,893 | $71,286 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,675 | $38,661 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 24/sq mi | 121/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $515,300 | $374,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,369 | $1,174 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 82.8% | 71.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.0% | 29.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.5% | 11.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 173 | 173 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 8.2 | 8.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 18.5% | 18.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 78°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 14°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 8.3" | 21.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 22.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 50.6 | 46.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 1 | 11 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 8.88 | 17.95 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 39.4% | 55.2% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
81403
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
81401
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Full profiles: 81403 — Montrose, CO · 81401 — Montrose, CO · How this is calculated: methodology