Gunnison County, Colorado Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Gunnison County is located in Colorado with a total population of 17,158. It is the 29th most populous county out of 64 in Colorado.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gunnison County is 37.0 years. This is 1% lower than the state median of 37.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gunnison County is $77,358. This is 16% lower than the state median of $92,470. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 2% lower. The poverty rate stands at 13.1%. This is 39% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.4%. The unemployment rate is 3.7%. This is 18% lower than the state rate of 4.5%. The median home value is $597,200. Housing costs are 19% higher than the state median of $502,200. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.7x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 66.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Gunnison County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.9%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (9.9%) is well below the state average of 22.2%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 3.2%.

Education

59.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Gunnison County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 33% higher than the state rate of 44.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 98.3%. Notably, 17.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.