Median Income
$63,229
household / year
Median Home Value
$408,600
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,101
gross / month
Cost of Living
99
national avg = 100

Is Gunnison, CO a Good Place to Live?

Gunnison is a small town of 6,629 in Colorado, with a median household income of $63,229 and a 4.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 99 (US average = 100), which is 1% below the national average.

Strengths: Gunnison stands out for solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Gunnison is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Gunnison city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 99.1

Gunnison's overall cost of living index is 99.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Gunnison costs roughly 1% less than the average American city.

Metric Gunnison, CO National Avg
Median Home Value $408,600 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,101 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 40.6% 65.9%
Median Household Income $63,229 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Gunnison's violent crime rate is 391.5 per 100,000 residents — 3% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
391.5 /100k
Property Crime
3769.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Gunnison is served primarily by Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Gunnison, CO National Avg
School District Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J —
Elementary Schools 2 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools 2 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 14.7:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 55.9% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 99.3% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Gunnison sees average highs of 26.1°F in January and 79.9°F in July, with 12.7 inches of annual precipitation and 45.5 inches of snow per year.

MetricGunnison, CO
Average High — January26.1°F
Average High — July79.9°F
Annual Precipitation12.7"
Annual Snowfall45.5"

Demographics

MetricGunnison, CONational Avg
Population6,629—
Median Age24.938.9
Unemployment Rate4.8%3.7%
Avg Commute Time18.2 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)86.6%59.3%
Black or African American2.7%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino4.4%18.9%
Asian1.1%6.3%
Under 1814.0%22.2%
65 and over10.8%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Crested Butte, CO 22 mi Pitkin, CO 23 mi Mount Crested Butte, CO 25 mi Cathedral, CO 33 mi Garfield, CO 34 mi

ZIP Codes in Gunnison

Gunnison, CO is covered by 1 ZIP code:

81230

Gunnison vs Other Cities

Gunnison, CO vs Crested Butte, CO Gunnison, CO vs Pitkin, CO Gunnison, CO vs Mount Crested Butte, CO Gunnison, CO vs Cathedral, CO Gunnison, CO vs Garfield, CO

Frequently Asked Questions

Gunnison's cost of living index is 99, where 100 is the national average. That makes Gunnison roughly 1% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $408,600 and median rent is $1,101/month.
Gunnison's violent crime rate is 391.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3769.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Gunnison are operated by Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1. 55.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Gunnison, CO has a population of 6,629, a median household income of $63,229, and an unemployment rate of 4.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Gunnison averages 26.1°F in January and 79.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 12.7 inches with about 45.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Gunnison, CO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 81230.
The population of Gunnison, Colorado is 6,629 with a median age of 24.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Gunnison: cost of living index 99 (100 = US average), median home $408,600, median household income $63,229, crime index 134 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Gunnison side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.