The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 81050 sells for about $200,000, or $114 per square foot.
Prices are up +22.4% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 95 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $783 a month.
ZIP 81050 — La Junta
The 81050 housing market is characterized by low inventory and a median sale price of $200,000, reflecting a stable but slow-moving environment. Recent data indicates a buyer's market with a median of 95 days on market and a sale-to-list ratio of 94.5%. The market is driven by local demand in La Junta, with limited new construction activity.
This ZIP is well-suited for budget-conscious family buyers and local workers seeking affordable housing options in a small-town setting with a lower cost of living.
Median prices moved up 22.4% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 95 days on market with 0.2 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
0% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 94.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 7.3% · poverty 22.6% — 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 8.1%/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 3.0%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net influx — more people moved in than out
ZCTA 81050, Otero County, CO
The area is served by the La Junta School District, which provides public education for the local community.
The region is subject to standard high-plains climate risks, including wind and occasional severe weather events typical of southeastern Colorado.
Economic activity is anchored by local government, education, and regional agricultural services, with limited large-scale industrial development reported.
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) — 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. 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).
The average commute time is approximately 19 to 21 minutes, reflecting the local nature of employment within La Junta and the immediate Otero County area.
Local amenities include parks and recreational facilities within La Junta, with access to regional outdoor activities along the Arkansas River corridor.
The rental market is characterized by a 30.9% renter share and a vacancy rate of approximately 7.4%, with HUD-defined fair market rents for a two-bedroom unit at $1,020.
The economy is driven by local government, healthcare services, and agricultural support industries in the Otero County region.
Transportation is primarily automobile-dependent, with regional access provided by US Highway 50.
Otero County Assessor manages property valuations for tax purposes.
Parcels are subject to local school district and county-level special district levies.
Property insurance premiums are influenced by regional wildfire and severe weather risk profiles common to southeastern Colorado.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau and ZCTA-level reporting.
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. Source: NCES EDGE public school locations 2023-24.
Central community green space for local recreation.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.