City profile · Colorado · Census ACS 2023

Crested Butte, CO

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Crested Butte - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,436
Residents
$71,923
Median income
$928,100
Median home
$1,334
Median rent (state)

Crested Butte - the verdict

Nationally, Crested Butte sits in the 52nd percentile for household income and the 78th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

52nd
percentile, household income
97th
percentile, home value
48th
percentile, median rent
78th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Crested Butte, CO

1,436 people live in Crested Butte, Colorado - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Crested Butte households earn a median of $71,923 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Typical homes in Crested Butte are valued around $928,100, and the median resident age is 44.6 years. 75.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 72.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 42 residential building permits were authorized in Crested Butte (Rapid Growth), up 35% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Crested Butte reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 662.7 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 34.2°F with 23.8 inches of precipitation per year and 203.0 inches of snowfall.

Colorado carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Colorado at 103.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,334 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $202 across Colorado, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 45.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

1,436 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Colorado

Median Household Income

$71,923 /yr

Poverty 0.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.1 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Colorado average

How does Crested Butte compare to other US cities?

Crested Butte measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 52% higher than other cities
Home value 97% pricier than other cities
Median rent 48% pricier than other cities
Safety 78% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Colorado alone, Crested Butte ranks #20 of 116 Colorado cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Crested Butte against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Colorado only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Colorado-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Crested Butte near the bottom of Colorado's cities

Among the 408 Colorado cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Crested Butte ranks #302 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Crested Butte only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#224 of 379
41st percentile in Colorado
Median Gross Rent
#267 of 408
34th percentile in Colorado
Median Home Value
#31 of 388
92nd percentile in Colorado
Poverty Rate
#302 of 408
0th percentile in Colorado
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#30 of 408
93rd percentile in Colorado

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Colorado only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

52ndIncome percentile
78thSafety percentile

52nd percentile nationally for median household income · 78th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Crested Butte's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Crested Butte's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 53 Avg. percentile National median
Crested Butte's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Crested Butte's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$928,100 3rd percentile more affordable than 3% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Crested Butte $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Crested Butte, CO Crested Butte, CO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Crested Butte, CO-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Crested Butte, CO median $71,923/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Crested Butte, CO's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Crested Butte, CO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 75.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 72.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,436
Median Income
$71,923
Median Home Value
$928,100
Median Age
44.6
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
72.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
75.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
662.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
120.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
542.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
34.2°F
Annual Precipitation
23.8"
Annual Snowfall
203.0"

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,640 residents1,660 residents1,680 residents1,700 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,656 residents 1,693 residents ▲ +2.2%
Crested Butte's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
42
housing units authorized
Single-Family
8
detached homes
Multifamily
34
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
29.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 31
2020 9
2021 7
2022 12
2023 6
2024 42

Permit volume increased 35% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
28.9%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
1.0%
Walk
28.3%
Work from Home
20.0%
Other
21.8%

Based on 873 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Colorado - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$90
avg/month
Natural Gas
$62
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$202
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Colorado state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Colorado state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Crested Butte sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.1
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,334/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
45.0 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Colorado

Paonia
1,454 people
Alamosa East
1,404 people
Leadville North
1,470 people
Springfield
1,482 people
Loma
1,365 people
Parachute
1,513 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Crested Butte's 1,436 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Miami, AZ
1,436 people
Wisner, NE
1,436 people
Sandia Knolls, NM
1,436 people
Boston Heights, OH
1,436 people
Brightwood, VA
1,436 people
Gordo, AL
1,435 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Crested Butte's $71,923 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lake Norden, SD
$71,923 median income
Laton, CA
$71,926 median income
Decatur, TX
$71,919 median income
Constantine, MI
$71,929 median income
Mystic Island, NJ
$71,917 median income
Cloverdale, VA
$71,929 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Crested Butte, CO Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Crested Butte, CO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.6% White 94.3% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 5.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Crested Butte compares to nearby Colorado cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Crested Butte (this city) 1,436 $71,923
Paonia 1,454 $52,466
Alamosa East 1,404 $44,741
Leadville North 1,470 $96,447
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CO FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Crested Butte, CO?

What is the population of Crested Butte, CO? +

1,436 people live in Crested Butte, CO according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Crested Butte, CO? +

The median household income in Crested Butte is $71,923 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Crested Butte? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Crested Butte; the closest available measure is the Colorado state average, a cost of living index of 103.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Colorado vary by metro area.

Is Crested Butte, CO safe? +

Crested Butte has a total crime rate of 662.7 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Crested Butte, CO? +

Homes in Crested Butte carry a median value of $928,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Crested Butte? +

Crested Butte has an average annual temperature of 34.2°F, 23.8 inches of precipitation, and 203.0 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.