Gunnison County, Colorado: commercial real estate data.
Gunnison County, Colorado had an estimated 17,310 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 16,919, across 3,239 square miles. County output reached $1.56 bn in 2024, 1,191 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 38 7(a) approvals worth $22.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Gunnison County
How many people live in Gunnison County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202417,241
- Households8,494
- Average household size2.03
- Median household income$84,527
- Median age37.5
- Median gross rent$1,252 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$621,800
- Home value to household income7.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher64.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree18.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over11,668
- Population under 182,614
- Share under 1815.2 percent
- Population 65 and over2,603
- Share 65 and over15.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6412,024
- Civilian labor force10,924
- Unemployment rate4.7 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over74.7 percent
- Rank by population among Colorado counties29th of 64
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2024th of 3,222
Gunnison County is the 29th largest of 64 Colorado counties by population. A median home costs 7.4 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 15.2 percent against 15.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Gunnison County
Is Gunnison County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202417,310
- Census 2020 base population16,919
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.31 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-24
- Births, 2024124
- Deaths, 202479
- Natural change, 202445
- Net domestic migration, 2024-103
- Net international migration, 202429
- Total net migration, 2024-74
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024126
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1071st of 3,144
The county has grown 2.31 percent since the 2020 census base. More people left than moved in during 2024 and births over deaths did not make up the difference, so the population fell.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Gunnison County
Where are people moving to Gunnison County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving699
- People arriving, from those returns1,051
- Tax returns filed by households leaving748
- Net household movement-49
- Adjusted gross income arriving$101.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$34.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$145,435
- Average income of a leaving household$89,820
- Largest single originEl Paso County (35 households)
- Largest single destinationDenver County (33 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso County | 35 | 52 | $2.0 m |
| Jefferson County | 34 | 47 | $2.1 m |
| Denver County | 33 | 43 | $3.7 m |
| Boulder County | 32 | 49 | $11.7 m |
| Larimer County | 21 | 46 | $1.8 m |
Households arriving report $55,615 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is El Paso County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Gunnison County
What is the Gunnison County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.56 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.51 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.9 percent
- GDP change over five years44.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Colorado areas BEA publishes23rd of 64
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1486th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$90,247
Output grew 2.9 percent in the latest year and 44.1 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Gunnison County
Employment by industry in Gunnison County
- Covered employment, annual average9,692
- Establishments reporting1,343
- Average annual pay$53,768
- Average weekly wage$1,034
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,563
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$31,794
- Retail trade, employment1,061
- Retail trade, average annual pay$37,426
- Construction, employment1,005
- Construction, average annual pay$63,065
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, employment831
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, average annual pay$40,548
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment459
- Health care and social assistance, employment394
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 1,563 | 120 | $31,794 |
| Retail trade | 1,061 | 133 | $37,426 |
| Construction | 1,005 | 250 | $63,065 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 831 | 45 | $40,548 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 459 | 216 | $84,051 |
| Health care and social assistance | 394 | 72 | $46,052 |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 320 | 106 | $60,523 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 315 | 76 | $49,631 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 1,563 jobs, 16.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Gunnison County
How many businesses are in Gunnison County?
- Establishments, all industries1,191
- Employment at those establishments7,194
- Annual payroll$335.5 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents69.1
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Gunnison County
Building permits in Gunnison County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024145
- Declared construction value permitted$145.3 m
- Single family units authorized111
- Multifamily units authorized34
- Multifamily share of units23.4 percent
- Average declared value per unit$1,001,967
- Units authorized per 1,000 households17.1
Single-family homes are 76.6 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Gunnison County
SBA loans in Gunnison County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded38
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$22.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$598,497
- Median 7(a) approval$394,400
- 10th percentile approval$100,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,326,000
- Largest single approval$4,228,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)228
- Jobs per approval6.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active19
- Distinct industries receiving approvals25
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer21.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms8
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter29
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals5.3 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLandscaping Services (6)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (7)
- 504 approvals recorded9
- 504 gross approval dollars$6.8 m
- Average 504 approval$751,333
- Median 504 approval$390,000
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval7.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved9.3
- Most active CDCB:Side Capital (4)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$29.5 m
The average approval of $598,497 sits well above the median of $394,400, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 21.1 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Gunnison County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Gunnison County
Do SBA loans in Gunnison County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded6
- Paid in full6
- Charged off0
- Status: Cancelled7
- Status: Paid in full6
- Status: Exempt from disclosure25
Only 6 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Gunnison County
SBA lending by place in Gunnison County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Crested Butte, approvals20
- Gunnison, approvals17
- Marble, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Crested Butte | 20 | $8,145,600 |
| Gunnison | 17 | $14,317,300 |
| Marble | 1 | $280,000 |
Crested Butte accounts for 20 approvals against 17 in Gunnison. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Gunnison County
How large is Gunnison County?
- Land area3,239 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Colorado counties5th of 64
- Width, east to west74.8 mi
- Height, north to south76.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary8
- Residents per square mile of land5
- Establishments per square mile0.37
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Gunnison County
Flood risk in Gunnison County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Gunnison County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 080078
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 9
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate83.3 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class3
- Radon levels in Gunnison County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Gunnison County (community 080078), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 9, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Gunnison County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 6, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 83.3 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Gunnison County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Gunnison County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202417,241
- Households8,494
- Average household size2.03
- Median household income$84,527
- Median age37.5
Common questions
Gunnison County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Gunnison County, Colorado?
The Census Bureau estimates 17,310 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 17,241, in 8,494 households, ranking 29th of 64 Colorado counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Gunnison County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.31 percent since the 2020 census base of 16,919, to 17,310 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 124 births against 79 deaths, with net migration of -74. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Gunnison County?
$84,527. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $621,800, which is 7.4 times income, and median gross rent is $1,252 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Gunnison County?
1,191 establishments, employing 7,194 people with an annual payroll of $335.5 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Gunnison County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 1,563 jobs, 16.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 9,692 jobs at an average annual pay of $53,768, or $1,034 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Gunnison County?
38 7(a) approvals totaling $22.7 m since FY2020, across 19 lenders, with a median approval of $394,400, plus 9 504 approvals worth $6.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Gunnison County?
145 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $145.3 m. Multifamily was 23.4 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Gunnison County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Gunnison County come from?
The largest single origin is El Paso County, with 35 households. Arriving households report an average income of $145,435 against $89,820 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Gunnison County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Gunnison County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Gunnison County
Cities and places in Gunnison.
6 Census places lie wholly or partly in Gunnison County. All 6 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gunnison | city | 6,766 | 17 | Wholly in this county |
| Crested Butte | town | 1,229 | 20 | Wholly in this county |
| Mount Crested Butte | town | 823 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Marble | town | 309 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Pitkin | town | 131 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Somerset | CDP | 79 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |