Ouray County, Colorado Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Ouray County is located in Colorado with a total population of 5,087. It is the 52nd most populous county out of 64 in Colorado. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ouray County is 55.4 years. This is 47% higher than the state median of 37.7 years. Only 12.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 13.9% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ouray County is $91,020. This is 5% lower than the state median of $95,470. It is also 13% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.3%. This is 55% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.4%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 3.5%. This is 24% lower than the state rate of 4.6%. The median home value is $739,800. Housing costs are 37% higher than the state median of $539,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 82.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% higher than the state average of 66.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Ouray County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.0%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (6.0%) is well below the state average of 22.5%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.2%.

Education

56.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 24% higher than the state rate of 45.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 97.4%. Notably, 19.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Ouray County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Colorado and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.