City profile · Colorado · Census ACS 2023

Fruita, CO

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Fruita - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

13,578
Residents
$77,680
Median income
$361,500
Median home
$1,249
Median rent (state)

Fruita - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Fruita places in the 59th percentile for household income and the 73rd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

59th
percentile, household income
73rd
percentile, home value
41st
percentile, median rent
73rd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Fruita, CO

13,578 people live in Fruita, Colorado - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $77,680 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 1.4%. Typical homes in Fruita are valued around $361,500, and the median resident age is 40.8 years. Educational attainment runs 31.1% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 58.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 151 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Growing), up 14% from five years earlier. Fruita reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 781.4 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 52.2°F with 9.9 inches of precipitation per year.

Colorado carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 103.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,249 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Colorado run around $202, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Fruita workers runs 18.3 minutes, with 78.8% driving alone and 8.7% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 75.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

13,578 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Colorado

Median Household Income

$77,680 /yr

Poverty 1.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.1 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Colorado average

How does Fruita compare to other US cities?

Here's how Fruita stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 59% higher than other cities
Home value 73% pricier than other cities
Median rent 41% pricier than other cities
Safety 73% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Colorado, Fruita ranks #25 of 116 Colorado cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Fruita against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Colorado only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Colorado-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent sits close to the middle of Colorado's city distribution

Among the 408 Colorado cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Fruita ranks #283 - the 29th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Fruita only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#199 of 379
47th percentile in Colorado
Median Gross Rent
#283 of 408
29th percentile in Colorado
Median Home Value
#218 of 388
44th percentile in Colorado
Poverty Rate
#283 of 408
30th percentile in Colorado
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#213 of 408
48th percentile in Colorado

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Colorado only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

59thIncome percentile
73rdSafety percentile

59th percentile nationally for median household income · 73rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Fruita's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Fruita's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 58 Avg. percentile National median
Fruita's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Fruita's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$361,500 27th percentile more affordable than 27% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Fruita $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Fruita, CO Fruita, CO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fruita, CO-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Fruita, CO median $77,680/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Fruita, CO's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Fruita, CO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 31.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
13,578
Median Income
$77,680
Median Home Value
$361,500
Median Age
40.8
Poverty Rate
1.4%
Labor force participation
58.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
31.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
781.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
14.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
767.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
52.2°F
Annual Precipitation
9.9"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
7
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
13,200 residents13,400 residents13,600 residents13,800 residents14,000 residents14,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 13,430 residents 14,003 residents ▲ +4.3%
Fruita's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Growing
Total Permits (2024)
151
housing units authorized
Single-Family
96
detached homes
Multifamily
55
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
11.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2023 133
2024 151

Permit volume increased 14% from 2023 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.3 minutes
Drive Alone
78.8%
Carpool
9.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.0%
Work from Home
8.7%
Other
1.3%

Based on 6,060 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Colorado - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$90
avg/month
Natural Gas
$62
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$202
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Colorado state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Colorado state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Fruita sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.1
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,249/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
75.1 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Colorado

Steamboat Springs
13,341 people
Sterling
13,273 people
Superior
13,136 people
Lone Tree
14,136 people
Federal Heights
14,160 people
Castle Pines
12,573 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fruita's 13,578 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Villas, FL
13,578 people
Echelon, NJ
13,577 people
New Providence, NJ
13,577 people
Montgomeryville, PA
13,572 people
Martinsville, VA
13,584 people
Warrensville Heights, OH
13,585 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fruita's $77,680 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lester, AL
$77,679 median income
Deal, NJ
$77,679 median income
Fairview Park, OH
$77,688 median income
Calvert, TX
$77,669 median income
North Yelm, WA
$77,691 median income
Oldenburg, IN
$77,692 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fruita, CO Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Fruita, CO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 85.8% 9.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.3% White 85.8% Black or African American 1.2% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.7% Two or more races 9.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Fruita compares to nearby Colorado cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Fruita (this city) 13,578 $77,680
Steamboat Springs 13,341 $100,156
Sterling 13,273 $44,242
Superior 13,136 $157,909
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CO FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fruita, CO?

What is the population of Fruita, CO? +

13,578 people live in Fruita, CO according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fruita, CO? +

Fruita households earn a median of $77,680 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fruita? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fruita; the closest available measure is the Colorado state average, a cost of living index of 103.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Colorado vary by metro area.

Is Fruita, CO safe? +

Fruita has a total crime rate of 781.4 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Fruita, CO? +

Homes in Fruita carry a median value of $361,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Fruita? +

Fruita has an average annual temperature of 52.2°F, 9.9 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.