Town · Colorado

Crested Butte, Colorado

Crested Butte, town, in Gunnison County, Colorado. Crested Butte had 1,693 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,639 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,229 (±372). GEOID 0818310.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

1,693

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,639 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,229 ±372

Median household income

$74,479

±$41,794 (90% margin)
Colorado: $95,470

Median home value

$1,010,600

±$494,721 (90% margin)
Colorado: $539,400

Median gross rent

$1,365

±$322 (90% margin)
Colorado: $1,761

Where is Crested Butte and what county is it in?

Crested Butte is a town in Gunnison County, Colorado. It covers 0.9 square miles of land, 1,890 residents per square mile in 2020.

Crested Butte (marked with a dot) in Gunnison County, Colorado. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Crested Butte, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 1,693 people lived in Crested Butte on July 1, 2025, up 2.5% since 2020, slower than Colorado (+4.1%). The 2020 Census counted 1,639 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,229 (±372).

  • July 2020→2021 +19 (1,675)
  • 2021→2022 −11 (1,664)
  • 2022→2023 +2 (1,666)
  • 2023→2024 −12 (1,654)
  • 2024→2025 +39 (1,693)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure Crested ButteGunnison CountyColorado Change since 2015-2019
Total population 1,229 ±372 17,241 5,862,189 no clear change
Households 705 ±202 8,494 2,374,218 no clear change
Average household size 1.74 ±0.34 1.89 2.42 −0.56
Housing units 1,179 ±238 12,506 2,589,053 no clear change

Crested Butte's population since 2000

From 1,529 in 2000 to 1,693 in 2025: up 10.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Crested Butte as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 1,529
  • 2005 (estimate) 1,494
  • 2010 Census 1,487
  • 2015 (estimate) 1,547
  • 2020 Census 1,639
  • 2025 (estimate) 1,693

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Crested Butte?

The median resident of Crested Butte is 46.5 years old; 18.6% are under 18 and 18.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 9.4%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure Crested ButteGunnison CountyColorado Change since 2015-2019
Median age 46.5 ±6.1 37.5 37.7 +12.1
Under 18 years 18.6% ±11.9 pts 15.2% 21.0% –
65 years and over 18.1% ±9.3 pts 15.1% 15.6% –
Male 48.0% ±8.0 pts 54.8% 50.7% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.4% ±7.7 pts 10.0% 22.5% –
White alone, not Hispanic 86.5% ±10.9 pts 84.1% 64.8% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±3.4 pts 0.4% 3.8% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±3.4 pts 0.5% 3.2% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±3.4 pts 0.3% 0.4% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±3.4 pts 0.1% 0.1% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 4.1% ±5.7 pts 3.8% 4.6% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±3.4 pts 0.8% 0.5% –
Born outside the United States 1.3% ±1.5 pts 3.7% 9.8% –
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 1.5% ±2.1 pts 5.9% 16.2% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 3.4% ±2.8 pts 5.3% 7.5% –
With a disability 5.0% ±3.6 pts 10.2% 11.4% –
No health insurance coverage 1.3% ±2.1 pts 5.0% 7.7% –
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 99.1% ±1.5 pts 97.6% 92.9% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 75.6% ±10.8 pts 64.7% 45.7% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 18.6% ±9.1 pts 18.3% 17.6% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 95.7% ±4.6 pts 83.7% 84.1% –
Moved from another state in the past year 0.2% ±0.4 pts 5.1% 3.8% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Crested Butte earn?

Half of Crested Butte's 705 households earn less than $74,479 a year (±$41,794), against $84,527 in Gunnison County and $95,470 in Colorado. In 2015-2019 it was $86,941 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure Crested ButteGunnison CountyColorado Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $74,479 ±$41,794 $84,527 $95,470 no clear change
Mean household income $120,554 ±$31,022 $108,255 $128,255 –
Per capita income $68,338 ±$15,379 $52,685 $52,636 +$19,319
People below the poverty line 3.2% ±3.4 pts 11.3% 9.4% –
Children under 18 below the poverty line 0.0% ±16.9 pts 16.7% 11.1% –
Households receiving SNAP 10.2% ±10.8 pts 7.6% 8.5% –
Households with a computer 100.0% ±5.8 pts 98.4% 97.2% –
Households with a broadband subscription 87.7% ±10.6 pts 92.3% 93.5% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Crested Butte?

Owners occupy 68.4% of Crested Butte's occupied homes and renters 31.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,010,600 by its owner (±$494,721). The median renter pays $1,365 a month including utilities, and 53.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure Crested ButteGunnison CountyColorado Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $1,010,600 ±$494,721 $621,800 $539,400 no clear change
Median gross rent $1,365 ±$322 $1,252 $1,761 −$415
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 53.8% ±28.8 pts 44.7% 42.7% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $2,642 ±$446 $2,307 $2,326 –
Owner-occupied homes 68.4% ±14.7 pts 66.8% 66.2% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 31.6% ±14.7 pts 33.2% 33.8% –
Housing units 1,179 ±238 12,506 2,589,053 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 2.0% ±3.4 pts 1.3% 0.8% –
Rental vacancy rate 0.0% ±16.0 pts 7.6% 5.1% –
Single-family detached homes 66.9% ±9.2 pts 63.6% 61.4% –
Mobile homes 3.9% ±5.2 pts 4.3% 3.5% –
Built 2020 or later 0.0% ±3.5 pts 1.7% 3.0% –
Built 2010 to 2019 2.7% ±2.9 pts 5.5% 12.8% –
Built 1939 or earlier 10.0% ±5.3 pts 7.1% 7.0% –
Households with no vehicle 0.0% ±5.8 pts 2.4% 5.2% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Crested Butte building?

Builders took permits for 4 new housing units in Crested Butte in 2025 (4 in single-family houses), 2.4 per 1,000 residents against 5.6 across Colorado.

  • 2019 31 units
  • 2020 9 units
  • 2021 7 units
  • 2022 12 units
  • 2023 6 units
  • 2024 42 units
  • 2025 4 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Crested Butte work and get to work?

24.7% of Crested Butte's workers drive alone and 32.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 13.9 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure Crested ButteGunnison CountyColorado Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 75.2% ±12.6 pts 72.8% 68.6% –
Unemployment rate 13.3% ±9.3 pts 4.7% 4.6% –
Drove alone to work 24.7% ±15.0 pts 53.9% 65.1% –
Carpooled 0.0% ±6.4 pts 10.9% 7.7% –
Public transportation 0.0% ±6.4 pts 4.1% 1.6% –
Walked 18.4% ±16.9 pts 8.0% 2.5% –
Worked from home 32.4% ±13.9 pts 18.5% 21.0% –
Mean travel time to work 13.9 min ±7.4 20.2 min 25.2 min no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Crested Butte?

No census tract lies mostly in Crested Butte; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Crested Butte, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Crested Butte
Tract 9638Gunnison County4,363 $87,743 $848,10042%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Crested Butte) · Census block assignment files

How does Crested Butte compare with other places in Colorado?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Crested Butte is the 8,304th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 126th-most populous of 272 in Colorado.

Crested Butte ranks 155th of 218 places in Colorado with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Crested Butte's rank in Colorado (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate126th272
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)65th150
Residents per square mile75th221
Median household income155th218
Per capita income42nd220
Median home value15th217
Median gross rent133rd200
Bachelor's degree or higher13th216
Median age34th220
Owner-occupied share128th218
Work from home27th176
Travel time to work205th221

Crested Butte's figures with every place in Colorado (CSV)

Every place in Colorado, sortable · Compare Crested Butte with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Crested Butte?

26 of the 57 figures for Crested Butte on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Crested Butte are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Crested Butte.