Clifton is a community in Mesa County, Colorado, home to about 19,518 people across 6.0 square miles. Its ZIP code is 81520, and parts of 81504 are in Clifton too.
Homes sold for a median of $261 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a balanced market.
Mostly Clifton
Mostly Grand Junction; part is in Clifton
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Clifton. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Clifton’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Clifton well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS)203 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT)5 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Denver, CO197 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Phoenix, AZ430 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Clifton; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Clifton had 20,413 residents in the 2020 census, up 18% since 2000.
It’s the 41st largest of 472 towns in Colorado by population.
Mesa County grew from 9,267 residents in 1900 to 155,703 in 2020.
Mesa County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 93°F in summer, and winter lows average 19°F. About 9 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 13 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Grand Junction 6ese, CO weather station (3 miles away).
56,737 jobs at 4,827 businesses in Mesa County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
14 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Clifton.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 7 |
|---|---|
| Dentists | 1 |
| Mental health providers | 4 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 1 |
| Optometrists | 1 |
| Pharmacies | 1 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (7 nearby)
Grocery stores (3 nearby)
Pharmacies (2 nearby)
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums (1 nearby)
Theaters and performance venues
Counts are within about 2 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Mesa County Valley School District No. 51. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton Elementary SchoolClifton | Pre-K–5 | 346 | Public | 1.5 mi |
| Rocky Mountain Elementary SchoolClifton | Pre-K–5 | 395 | Public | 1.1 mi |
| Mount Garfield Middle SchoolClifton | 6–8 | 569 | Public | 3.3 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around Clifton? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Shares ZIP codes with Grand Junction and Fruitvale.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.