Pitkin County, Colorado: commercial real estate data.
Pitkin County, Colorado had an estimated 16,643 residents on July 1, 2024, down 4.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 17,366, across 971 square miles. County output reached $3.85 bn in 2024, 1,708 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 29 7(a) approvals worth $26.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Pitkin County
How many people live in Pitkin County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202416,985
- Households9,215
- Average household size1.84
- Median household income$102,645
- Median age47.2
- Median gross rent$2,004 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$1,139,100
- Home value to household income11.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income23.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher62.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree25.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over13,802
- Population under 182,484
- Share under 1814.6 percent
- Population 65 and over3,875
- Share 65 and over22.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6410,626
- Civilian labor force10,190
- Unemployment rate2.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over70.3 percent
- Rank by population among Colorado counties30th of 64
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2037th of 3,222
Pitkin County is the 30th largest of 64 Colorado counties by population. A median home costs 11.1 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 22.8 percent against 14.6 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Pitkin County
Is Pitkin County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202416,643
- Census 2020 base population17,366
- Population change since the 2020 census base-4.16 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-47
- Births, 2024123
- Deaths, 202443
- Natural change, 202480
- Net domestic migration, 2024-194
- Net international migration, 202460
- Total net migration, 2024-134
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-1,197
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2918th of 3,144
The county has lost 4.16 percent of its population 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.
Pitkin County
Where are people moving to Pitkin County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving796
- People arriving, from those returns1,057
- Tax returns filed by households leaving965
- Net household movement-169
- Adjusted gross income arriving$425.2 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$160.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$534,172
- Average income of a leaving household$274,273
- Largest single originGarfield County (101 households)
- Largest single destinationGarfield County (175 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield County | 101 | 142 | $5.2 m |
| Eagle County | 95 | 127 | $10.9 m |
| Denver County | 39 | 50 | $5.9 m |
| Los Angeles County | 23 | 41 | $27.5 m |
| Boulder County | 20 | 24 | $2.9 m |
Households arriving report $259,899 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 Garfield 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.
Pitkin County
What is the Pitkin County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.85 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.62 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.2 percent
- GDP change over five years65.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Colorado areas BEA publishes17th of 64
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes830th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$226,473
Output grew 6.2 percent in the latest year and 65.4 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.
Pitkin County
Employment by industry in Pitkin County
- Covered employment, annual average18,030
- Establishments reporting2,084
- Average annual pay$78,151
- Average weekly wage$1,503
- Accommodation and food services, employment4,703
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$56,459
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, employment2,568
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, average annual pay$69,827
- Retail trade, employment1,436
- Retail trade, average annual pay$68,315
- Real estate and rental and leasing, employment1,275
- Real estate and rental and leasing, average annual pay$87,494
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment1,033
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment889
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 4,703 | 166 | $56,459 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 2,568 | 67 | $69,827 |
| Retail trade | 1,436 | 234 | $68,315 |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 1,275 | 319 | $87,494 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,033 | 114 | $59,856 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 889 | 339 | $141,128 |
| Other services, except public administration | 871 | 264 | $68,345 |
| Construction | 775 | 148 | $98,774 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 4,703 jobs, 26.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Pitkin County
How many businesses are in Pitkin County?
- Establishments, all industries1,708
- Employment at those establishments17,629
- Annual payroll$1.05 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents100.6
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.
Pitkin County
Building permits in Pitkin County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024147
- Declared construction value permitted$555.9 m
- Single family units authorized46
- Multifamily units authorized101
- Multifamily share of units68.7 percent
- Average declared value per unit$3,781,417
- Units authorized per 1,000 households16.0
Multifamily is 68.7 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Pitkin County
SBA loans in Pitkin County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded29
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$26.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$909,669
- Median 7(a) approval$200,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,964,000
- Largest single approval$4,850,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)258
- Jobs per approval8.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active15
- Distinct industries receiving approvals23
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer13.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms4
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter25
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countPlumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (3)
- Most active lenderTimberline Bank (12)
- 504 approvals recorded11
- 504 gross approval dollars$6.7 m
- Average 504 approval$606,182
- Median 504 approval$406,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval2.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved3.9
- Most active CDCB:Side Capital (9)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$33.0 m
The average approval of $909,669 sits well above the median of $200,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 13.8 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.
Pitkin County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Pitkin County
Do SBA loans in Pitkin County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded10
- Paid in full10
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure14
- Status: Paid in full10
- Status: Cancelled4
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 10 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.
Pitkin County
SBA lending by place in Pitkin County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Aspen, approvals19
- Basalt, approvals7
- Snowmass Village, approvals3
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Aspen | 19 | $7,238,800 |
| Basalt | 7 | $12,166,600 |
| Snowmass Village | 3 | $6,975,000 |
Aspen accounts for 19 approvals against 7 in Basalt. 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.
Pitkin County
How large is Pitkin County?
- Land area971 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Colorado counties44th of 64
- Width, east to west55.8 mi
- Height, north to south26.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land17
- Establishments per square mile1.76
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.
Pitkin County
Flood risk in Pitkin County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Pitkin County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 080287
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 7
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Pitkin 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 Pitkin County (community 080287), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 7, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Pitkin 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 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 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 Pitkin 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 Pitkin County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202416,985
- Households9,215
- Average household size1.84
- Median household income$102,645
- Median age47.2
Common questions
Pitkin County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Pitkin County, Colorado?
The Census Bureau estimates 16,643 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 16,985, in 9,215 households, ranking 30th of 64 Colorado counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Pitkin County's population growing?
The population has fallen 4.16 percent since the 2020 census base of 17,366, to 16,643 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 123 births against 43 deaths, with net migration of -134. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Pitkin County?
$102,645. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,139,100, which is 11.1 times income, and median gross rent is $2,004 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Pitkin County?
1,708 establishments, employing 17,629 people with an annual payroll of $1.05 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Pitkin County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 4,703 jobs, 26.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 18,030 jobs at an average annual pay of $78,151, or $1,503 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Pitkin County?
29 7(a) approvals totaling $26.4 m since FY2020, across 15 lenders, with a median approval of $200,000, plus 11 504 approvals worth $6.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Pitkin County?
147 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $555.9 m. Multifamily was 68.7 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Pitkin 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 Pitkin County come from?
The largest single origin is Garfield County, with 101 households. Arriving households report an average income of $534,172 against $274,273 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Pitkin 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 Pitkin 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.
Pitkin County
Cities and places in Pitkin.
6 Census places lie wholly or partly in Pitkin County. 5 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked. The rest are named here and not linked, because the American Community Survey and the SBA record between them do not carry enough about them to write an honest page. A place existing is itself worth knowing, so nothing in the county is left out.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspen | city | 6,756 | 19 | Wholly in this county |
| Basalt | town | 4,335 | 7 | 43.8 percent here, 56.2 percent Eagle County |
| Snowmass Village | town | 2,972 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Redstone | CDP | 144 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Woody Creek | CDP | 109 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Norrie | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby