City profile · Colorado · Census ACS 2023

Estes Park, CO

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

5,879
Residents
$73,313
Median income
$634,200
Median home
$1,732
Median rent (state)

Estes Park - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Estes Park places in the 54th percentile for household income and the 63rd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

54th
percentile, household income
91st
percentile, home value
70th
percentile, median rent
63rd
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: Estes Park, CO

5,879 people live in Estes Park, Colorado - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Estes Park households earn a median of $73,313 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.8%. Estes Park's housing stock carries a median value of $634,200, and the median resident age is 60.7 years. 56.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 48.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 67 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 72% from five years earlier. Estes Park reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1017.4 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 43.0°F with 17.4 inches of precipitation per year and 104.0 inches of snowfall.

Colorado carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 103.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,732 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $202 across Colorado, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 90.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

5,879 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Colorado

Median Household Income

$73,313 /yr

Poverty 2.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.1 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Colorado average

How does Estes Park compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 54% higher than other cities
Home value 91% pricier than other cities
Median rent 70% pricier than other cities
Safety 63% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Colorado, Estes Park ranks #37 of 116 Colorado cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Estes Park's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Colorado, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

54thIncome percentile
63rdSafety percentile

54th percentile nationally for median household income · 63rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Estes Park's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Estes Park'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 46 Avg. percentile National median
Estes Park'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 Estes Park's home value compares nationally

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

$634,200 9th percentile more affordable than 9% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $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. Estes Park $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 - Estes Park, CO Estes Park, CO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Estes Park, 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 Estes Park, CO median $73,313/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%
Estes Park, 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 Estes Park, CO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 56.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.3%

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

Population
5,879
Median Income
$73,313
Median Home Value
$634,200
Median Age
60.7
Poverty Rate
2.8%
Labor force participation
48.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
56.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1017.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
224.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
793.2
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
43.0°F
Annual Precipitation
17.4"
Annual Snowfall
104.0"

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,750 residents5,800 residents5,850 residents5,900 residents5,950 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,904 residents 5,780 residents ▼ -2.1%
Estes Park's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
67
housing units authorized
Single-Family
19
detached homes
Multifamily
48
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
11.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 39
2020 18
2021 67
2022 20
2023 19
2024 67

Permit volume increased 72% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.7%
Carpool
4.2%
Public Transit
0.6%
Walk
1.8%
Work from Home
14.6%
Other
2.1%

Based on 2,576 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 Estes Park sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.1
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,732/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
90.1 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Colorado

Eaton
5,832 people
Salida
5,786 people
Sheridan
6,031 people
Avon
6,057 people
Gleneagle
6,207 people
Mead
5,503 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Estes Park's 5,879 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Alma, AR
5,879 people
Bonadelle Ranchos, CA
5,879 people
Northchase, NC
5,879 people
Lakemoor, IL
5,878 people
Oelwein, IA
5,878 people
Salamanca, NY
5,878 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Estes Park's $73,313 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Post Falls, ID
$73,313 median income
Rock Springs, WY
$73,307 median income
Bridgeton, MO
$73,320 median income
Rushford, MN
$73,321 median income
Spring City, PA
$73,323 median income
Montalvin Manor, CA
$73,333 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Estes Park, 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 Estes Park, CO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.4% White 90.4% Black or African American 0.4% Asian 2.8% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 5.3% 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 Estes Park 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
Estes Park (this city) 5,879 $73,313
Eaton 5,832 $106,146
Salida 5,786 $69,773
Sheridan 6,031 $58,571
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CO FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Estes Park, CO?

What is the population of Estes Park, CO? +

Estes Park, CO counts 5,879 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Estes Park, CO? +

Median annual household income in Estes Park runs $73,313, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Estes Park? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Estes Park; 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 Estes Park, CO safe? +

Estes Park has a total crime rate of 1017.4 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 Estes Park, CO? +

Estes Park's median home value sits at $634,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Estes Park? +

Climate normals put Estes Park's yearly average temperature at 43.0°F, 17.4 inches of precipitation, and 104.0 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 Editorial

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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.