Harry and Lilly Phillips House was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Nov 13, 1997. It is significant for its architecture at the local level. Its architecture is described as Late Victorian.

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3 on the National Register · #72 in COHistoric places →

Know Fruita

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Fruita

City in Colorado, United States

1884Established

13,395Population

7.8 sq miArea

4,514 ftElevation

Fruita () is a home rule municipality located in western Mesa County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 13,395 at the 2020 United States census. Fruita is a part of the Grand Junction, Colorado Metropolitan Statistical Area and lies within the Grand Valley. The geography is identified by the bordering Colorado River (historically known as the Grand River) on the southern edge of the town, the Uncompahgre Plateau known for its pinyon-juniper landscape, and the Book Cliffs range on the northern edge of the Grand Valley. Originally home to the Ute people, farmers settled the town after founder William Pabor in 1884. Ten years later, Fruita was incorporated.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Fruita ranks

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#8Safest in CO #29Most conserved land in CO #41Shortest commute in CO All CO rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code81521

Area code970

Living in Fruita

Housing in Fruita

$486K▲ 2.7% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Fruita home is worth about $486,000, up 2.7% in a year, 9% below the Colorado typical home.

A balanced market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market15

Sale-to-list99.1%

Sold in May18

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Fruita

A⁻

Safety Grade A-

Fruita reports less crime per resident than 77% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Fruita 0.1

Colorado 4.4

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Fruita 8.7

Colorado 22.3

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Fruita

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Fruita for work: only 15% work in town. The top destinations are Grand Junction (57%), Denver (3%) and Clifton (1%). Half commute less than 11 miles.

Grand Junction

57%

Denver

Clifton

Montrose

15%Work in townlive and work in Fruita 11 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 2,953Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Fruita →

Health in Fruita

A⁻

Health Grade A−

Healthier than 83% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Colorado

3worse than CO

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 23 are too close to call.

Conditions 3▼ 9 close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

9.5%More adults who have had cancerCO 7.8% · worse 27%More adults with arthritisCO 22.9% · worse 3.1%More adults who have had a strokeCO 2.7% · worse

Care nearby

Family Health West HospitalFruita · 0.7 mi · ER · rural critical access

Primehealth+ Primary Care PartnersGrand Junction · 10.4 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Fruita · CMS · HRSAHealth in Fruita →

Natural hazards in Fruita

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 27% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding⚡ Lightning🏚️ Earthquakes

0Does Fruita flood?no paid flood claims on record NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 6 declared for Mesa County MapFruita vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Fruita →

Climate in Fruita

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Fruita has chilly winters and hot summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 96°, a January night drops to 16°, and about 18 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

43° / 19°Winter

69° / 38°Spring

93° / 59°Summer

69° / 38°Fall

How much snow does Fruita get?About 18 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 11, with the last in spring around Apr 27.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+2.4° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Fruita →

Schools in Fruita

All Fruita schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Fruita’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 55% of Colorado’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

#54Best public schoolsof 142 in CO

DistrictMesa County Valley School District No. 51Schools6

Shelledy Elementary School C+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 371 students Monument Ridge Elementary School BElementary · Grades PK–5 · 300 students Rim Rock Elementary School BElementary · Grades PK–5 · 292 students Monument View Montessori Charter SchoolElementary · Grades PK–3 · 38 students Fruita Middle School C+Middle · Grades 6–8 · 690 students Fruita Monument High School A-High · Grades 9–12 · 1,427 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within CO. Ratings are from neighbors.