County · Colorado
Ouray County, Colorado
Ouray County, Colorado. Ouray County had 5,265 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 7.9% since 2020, faster than Colorado (+4.1%). It holds 5 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs and 3 census-designated) and 2 census tracts. GEOID 08091.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,265
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 4,874 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,087
Median household income
$91,020
±$11,186 (90% margin)
Colorado: $95,470
Median home value
$739,800
±$56,060 (90% margin)
Colorado: $539,400
Median gross rent
$1,786
±$298 (90% margin)
Colorado: $1,761
How many people live in Ouray County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 4,874 residents in Ouray County. The Census Bureau estimates 5,265 for July 1, 2025, up 7.9% since 2020, faster than Colorado (+4.1%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 5,087 over 541 square miles of land.
| Measure | Ouray County | Colorado | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,087 | 5,862,189 | +291 |
| Households | 2,623±167 | 2,374,218 | +460 |
| Average household size | 1.94±0.12 | 2.42 | −0.28 |
| Housing units | 3,531±179 | 2,589,053 | +346 |
Ouray County's population since 2000
From 3,742 in 2000 to 5,265 in 2025: up 40.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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.
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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Ouray County?
Ouray County holds 5 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 3 census-designated places. The largest is Ridgway with 1,324 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Ouray County?
The median resident of Ouray County is 55.4 years old; 12.6% are under 18 and 35.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 89.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 6.1%. 3.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Ouray County | Colorado | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.4±4.2 | 37.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 12.6%±3.1 pts | 21.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 35.8%±4.6 pts | 15.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.1%±2.9 pts | 22.5% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 89.1%±3.4 pts | 64.8% | −6.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.4 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.5 pts | 3.2% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.8 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.9%±1.6 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.9%±1.5 pts | 9.8% | +2.2 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.0%±1.7 pts | 16.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.4%±2.6 pts | 7.5% | – |
| With a disability | 13.1%±2.8 pts | 11.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.7%±4.0 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 97.4%±1.5 pts | 92.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 56.5%±3.9 pts | 45.7% | +8.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 19.2%±3.0 pts | 17.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.9%±2.0 pts | 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 Ouray County earn?
Half of Ouray County's 2,623 households earn less than $91,020 a year (±$11,186), against $95,470 in Colorado. In 2015-2019 it was $81,739 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 4.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Ouray County | Colorado | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $91,020±$11,186 | $95,470 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $107,727±$7,922 | $128,255 | – |
| Per capita income | $54,268±$3,547 | $52,636 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 4.3%±1.7 pts | 9.4% | −2.9 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 3.3%±2.5 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.9%±1.9 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.7%±4.2 pts | 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 Ouray County?
Owners occupy 82.5% of Ouray County's occupied homes and renters 17.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $739,800 by its owner (±$56,060). The median renter pays $1,786 a month including utilities, and 44.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Ouray County | Colorado | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $739,800±$56,060 | $539,400 | +$187,218 |
| Median gross rent | $1,786±$298 | $1,761 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 44.5%±15.7 pts | 42.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,982±$259 | $2,326 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 82.5%±4.4 pts | 66.2% | +10.2 pts |
| Housing units | 3,531±179 | 2,589,053 | +346 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.0%±0.8 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 19.1%±11.0 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 75.0%±4.3 pts | 61.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 5.0%±2.1 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2%±0.8 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 13.8%±3.5 pts | 7.0% | – |
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 Ouray County building?
Builders took permits for 76 new housing units across Ouray County in 2025 (76 single-family), 14.4 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Ouray County get to work?
59.6% of Ouray County's workers drive alone and 19.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.3 minutes.
| Measure | Ouray County | Colorado | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.7%±4.2 pts | 68.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5%±2.4 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 59.6%±6.1 pts | 65.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.6%±3.8 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Walked | 8.5%±4.0 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 19.9%±4.7 pts | 21.0% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.3 min±3.4 | 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 are Ouray County's census tracts?
Ouray County is divided into 2 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $88,984 (Tract 9676.01) to $91,447 (Tract 9676.02).
| Tract 9676.0108091967601 | 1,272±145 | $88,984 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9676.0208091967602 | 3,815±145 | $91,447 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Ouray County compare with Colorado's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 52nd of 64 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 6th of 64 |
| Residents per square mile | 35th of 64 |
| Median household income | 20th of 64 |
| Median home value | 6th of 64 |
| Median gross rent | 13th of 63 |
| Poverty rate | 62nd of 63 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8th of 64 |
| Median age | 4th of 64 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Ouray County 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' school search.