The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 81133 sells for about $222,900, or $165 per square foot.
Prices are up +2.1% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 112 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,150 a month.
ZIP 81133 — Fort Garland
The housing market in 81133 remains stable with low transaction volume and a high share of vacant housing units. Prices have seen modest year-over-year growth, driven by demand for affordable rural properties, though the market is constrained by limited infrastructure and remote geography.
This ZIP is best suited for retirees, outdoor enthusiasts, and those seeking affordable rural living, as it offers significant space and natural beauty at a lower price point than urban Colorado.
Median prices moved up 2.1% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 112 days on market with 15.0 months of supply — a slower-moving market.
12% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 96.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 6.2% · poverty 19.8% — a mixed stability profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.6%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.0%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 81133, Costilla County CO
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
The area is served by the Sierra Grande School District, which provides rural educational services to the Fort Garland community.
The region faces moderate wildfire risk typical of the San Luis Valley, with property insurance availability increasingly sensitive to regional fire-mitigation efforts.
Economic momentum is driven primarily by local agriculture, tourism, and regional services, with limited large-scale industrial development.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Colorado) — Statutory Agricultural Land Reclassification and Improvement Valuation: Under C.R.S. § 39-1-102(1.6)(a)(I), up to two acres of land directly underlying a residential improvement on agricultural parcels are segregated and assessed at residential rates (6.80% / 7. State (Colorado) — Senior and Disabled Veteran Property Tax Homestead Exemption: Exempts 50% of the first $200,000 of actual market value of the qualifying primary residential parcel from property taxation (a maximum actual value deduction of $100,000). State (Colorado) — Colorado Split Residential Property Tax Assessment Rate Structure: Imposes annual ad valorem property taxes determined using a bifurcated assessment rate system. Assessed Value = Actual (Market) Value × Assessment Rate. Beginning for tax years 2025/2026, residential property is assessed at 6.
Commuting is primarily rural, with residents traveling to Alamosa or other regional hubs via US Highway 160.
The area offers proximity to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Mountain Home Reservoir for fishing, and extensive outdoor trail access.
The rental market is characterized by limited inventory and a mix of long-term housing and seasonal/short-term rentals catering to tourists.
The economy is largely agrarian and service-oriented, with tourism serving as a major economic driver due to the proximity of national parks.
Transportation is entirely dependent on private vehicles, with US Highway 160 serving as the primary arterial route.
Development is currently limited to small-scale residential improvements and rural infrastructure maintenance.
The Costilla County Assessor manages property valuations, which are updated on a biennial cycle.
Parcels are subject to Sierra Grande School District taxes and local fire protection district assessments.
Property insurance premiums are rising due to regional wildfire exposure, consistent with broader trends in rural Colorado.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau ZCTA 81133 profile.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
Popular spot for fishing and boating.
Historical site detailing the region's military and frontier history.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.