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West Elkhorn Avenue, Estes Park (2024)-104A4568
Colorado›Larimer County
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Estes ParkCO

Photo: Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo of Estes Park

Estes Park, CO · Photo: Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source ↗

Population
5,780
2025 Census estimate · −2.1% since 2020
Typical home
$683K
+1% in a year
Household income
$86K
median
Median age
55.6
years
Jobs based here
3,582
Balanced
TownGrade
B
#69 of 158 in CO

What should you know before moving to Estes Park?

Estes Park's standout: it has 13 miles of trail. Overall it grades B, 69th of 158 graded towns in Colorado. Residents are healthier than 93% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates and it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 80% of U.S. towns. Its weakest subject is hazard risk: FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 90% of U.S. communities, with avalanches at the top. 34% of residents are 65 or older in Estes Park, above both the Colorado town median (15%) and the median of U.S. towns (18%). Its National Register listings include Rocky Mountain National Park Administration Building and Stanley Hotel. Only 2 of the 159 Colorado towns we compare have a higher age of the median resident than Estes Park.

StrongestA+OutdoorsAHealthA−WalkabilityWeakestDHazard riskCCost of living

What makes Estes Park stand out

Where Estes Park beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.

Rocky Mountain National Park Administration Building
History
Settled in 1859
17 places on the National Register
A history going back 167 years.
90Very high riskLowerHigher
Worth knowing · Natural hazardsD
Avalanches and inland flooding at the top
FEMA National Risk Index.
Rocky Mountain National Park Administration Building
Rocky Mountain National Park Administration Building · National Register of Historic Places
Estes Park’s story

167 years in pictures

Rocky Mountain National Park Administration Building is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1859, comes before those of 89% of the Colorado towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 417 in 1930, 5,904 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1890 and 3 maps from 1957 on.

17 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

  • 1859Estes Park is settled
Explore the history →

How Estes Park grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Colorado), ordered by how far Estes Park is from typical.

How grading works
HealthEstes Park Medical Center 3.1 miles awayAOpen →Hazard riskavalanches tops the listDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.3 of 20; 3.7% of households have no car; 3.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitA−Open →Cost of livingCOpen →Jobs & income$86K median household incomeBOpen →SchoolsBOpen →SafetyBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors20% conserved landA+Open →History3 notable people born hereBOpen →Civic life16.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market67 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 55.6; 57% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

Rocky Mountain National Park and 15 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Estes Park. Close and well known come first.

All 73 attractions →
in town National ParkRocky Mountain National Park4.2M visitors a year9 mi MountainLongs Peak29 mi Stadium & arenaFolsom Field2 mi MuseumBeaver Meadows Visitor Center13 mi MuseumAlpine Visitor Center37 mi Ski areaWinter Park Resort155 runs · 2,898 ft vertical
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits

Rocky Mountain National Park: Charles M. Sauer -- Charlessauer, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Longs Peak: Photo by Scott Bauer., Public domain · Folsom Field: Thelastcanadian, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Beaver Meadows Visitor Center: Dirk Huizenga, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Alpine Visitor Center: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0

Getting set up

Moving to Estes Park: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Estes Park, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →
PowerTown of Estes ParkEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterTown of Estes Park1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Estes Park’s trash rules yet
SchoolsEstes Park School District R-3Which school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Colorado you can register online until 8 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 8 days before).vote.gov
Who runs elections hereLarimer County Clerk and RecorderLarimer County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code8051780517 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Estes Park.

Estes Park is a second-home town and fares better on crime within Colorado than nationally, but it carries more natural-hazard risk than most of Colorado (mostly avalanches).

HealthA

For health, Estes Park earns an A

Within Colorado it is healthier than 65% of the 159 graded towns: Colorado sets a high bar.

Estes Park: 9.9% of adults have diabetes. 13% of adults in Estes Park report frequent mental distress; 24% have obesity.

93%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
Estes ParkColorado townsU.S. towns
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)26%30%36%
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)13%16%17%
Obesity (CDC PLACES)24%26%35%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)8.3%11%14%
26 measures vs. Colorado
10 better9 too close to call7 worse
What stands outEstes ParkCO
Fewer uninsured adults8.1%11.1%
Fewer smokers8.3%10.9%
More adults who have had cancer13.3%7.8%
Estes Park Medical Center
3.1 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
65th
percentile among CO towns
Full pageEstes Park’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsFewer smokersHospitals & doctors nearby3.1 miles to an ER · Estes Park Medical CenterHow adults are doingFewer adults in frequent mental distressEvery CDC estimateBetter than CO on 10 of 26

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

SchoolsB

Estes Park’s schools rank ahead of 59% of Colorado districts

Two of the 3 schools are below, and why each made the list.

59%of CO districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
SchoolLevelStudentsLetter
Estes Park K-5 SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5Grades PK–5431C+
Estes Park High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12Grades 9–12288A
Full pageEstes Park’s schools pageOpen the page
The districtsEstes Park School District R-3Every school3 schools · Estes Park K-5 SchoolQuestions“Are Estes Park’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within CO on state tests and graduation

OutdoorsA+

Estes Park has set aside 20.4% of its land for conservation

The trail network density for Estes Park comes to 2.0 miles per square mile. The biggest park or preserve is Rocky Mountain National Park, at 40 acres. 4 parks and preserves cover 64 acres here.

#49for trails in CO
20.4%
conserved · 879 of 4,306 acres
13 mi
of trails · 2 per sq mi
Biggest places to walkTrailsAcres
1. Knoll-Willows Open Space0.8 mi22
2. Rocky Mountain National Park—40
3. Rocky Mountain Wilderness—1
Full pageEstes Park’s outdoors pageOpen the page
Trail map13 miles of trail, mappedPick a walk0.8 miles of trail · Knoll-Willows Open SpaceConserved land20.4% conserved · 879 acres protectedQuestions“Where can I hike in Estes Park?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D

Very high risk in Estes Park, with avalanches at the top

FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 95% of Colorado towns; that rating is what its D for hazard risk is built on.

Flood insurance has paid out on 73 claims in Estes Park since 1978. Of the losses FEMA expects locally, 50% come from avalanches and 38% from inland flooding.

90risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
90Very high riskLowerHigher
AvalanchesInland floodingWildfire
73
paid flood claims since 1978
4
federal disasters paid out here
Full pageEstes Park’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesVery high riskFlood claims73 paid flood claims · Since 1978Past disasters4 federal disasters · Paid out in Estes ParkGet ready0.2 events a year, on average · Ready for avalanches

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

HousingCost of living grade C

The typical home in Estes Park is valued at about $683K

On the market in Estes Park: a median 67 days to sell. Its typical rent stands at $1,511 a month. Also worth knowing: homes in Estes Park sold for 97.3% of their list price on average.

$683KZillow home value
Estes ParkColorado townsU.S. towns
Median rent$1,511 a month$1,812 a month$1,185 a month
Households that own their home69%71%73%

Typical home value

Estes Park$683K
Colorado$529K
Market temperature
Buyer’s marketA balanced marketBuyer’sSeller’s
67
days on market
97.3%
sale-to-list price
+1%
value change, 1 year
18
homes sold in May
Full pageEstes Park’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page
Prices over the yearsUp 1% in a yearYears of income to buyA typical home costs 7.9 years of incomeRents$1,511 a month · Median rent

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Climate

Snowy winters and pleasant summers: that is Estes Park’s year

The Estes Park 1.8 S weather station records that 118 inches of snow fall in a normal winter, more than in 98% of U.S. towns.

Estes Park’s typical July afternoon high comes in at 79°F.

118″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter12–37°
Spring25–52°
Summer43–75°
Fall27–57°
Sep 17
typical first frost
May 30
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
Full pageEstes Park’s climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 79°, January lows 11°Rain & snow118″ of snow a winter · 19 inches of rain and snow a yearHeating & coolingMostly a heating billThen and now+1.7° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Work & commuteJobs & income grade B

Estes Park stands out in Colorado and nationally, with the average trip to work shorter than most

The average commute for its 2,606 working residents takes 13.3 minutes, against 25.2 across Colorado. Jobs based here grew from 2,642 in 2013 to 3,582.

Half commute less than 3 miles. In Estes Park, 47% of working residents work locally. This Colorado town had 3,582 jobs in 2023, up 940 from 2013. The top destinations are Denver (6%), Fort Collins (3%) and Boulder (3%).

47%work in town
Estes ParkColorado townsU.S. towns
Working residents who work in town47%7.5%8%
Average trip to work13 minutes25 minutes25 minutes
Median household income$86,000$95,000$80,000
Below the poverty line8%8.5%9.6%

Where working residents work

In Estes Park47%
Denver6%
Fort Collins3%
Boulder3%
Loveland2%
3 mi
median commute distance
3,582
jobs based in Estes Park
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 80% of U.S. towns
Full pageEstes Park’s work & commute pageOpen the page
The jobs here3,582 jobs based here · BalancedWhere people work47% work in Estes ParkCommute times13 minutes · The average commuteHow far they goHalf commute less than 3 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

SafetyB

Less crime per resident in Estes Park than in 55% of U.S. towns

At 16.5 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 70% of Colorado’s graded towns. Violent crime is rare: 7 reported in 2025, 1.2 per 1,000 residents.

In Estes Park, the level of property crime is 8.3 per 1,000 residents. Its level of violent crime is 1.2 per 1,000 residents.

55%of U.S. towns report more crimeBSafety Grade
Estes ParkColorado townsU.S. towns
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)8.3 per 1,000 residents15.59.9
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)1.2 per 1,000 residents2.31.6

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Estes Park1.2
Colorado4.4
U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Estes Park8.3
Colorado22.4
U.S.15.5
55th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
70th
percentile among CO towns
7
violent crimes reported in 2025
48
property crimes reported in 2025
Full pageEstes Park’s safety reportOpen the page
Violent crime by type1.2 violent crimes per 1,000Crime over the yearsSteady since 2023Questions“Is Estes Park, CO safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Estes Park

20pages on Estes Park
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 59% of CO districts · 3 schoolsSafetyB1.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than CO on 10 of 26 CDC measuresCost of livingC$683K typical home · up 1% in a yearWork & commuteB$86K median household income · 3,582 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 90% of U.S. communities · avalanches
Out and about
OutdoorsA+13 mi of trails · 20% conserved landPlacesAttractions73 nearby · Rocky Mountain National Park 1 miLibraryA−Estes Valley Public Library DistrictColleges
The story
HistoryBSettled 1859 · 17 on the National RegisterFamous people3 born in Estes ParkTown Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 35 residentsClimate79° summer highs · 118″ of snow
Day to day
News3 recent stories about Estes ParkWeatherHandbookZIP code 80511, 80517Town SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Estes Park; the nearest are

Colorado State University-Fort CollinsUniversity or college · Public · Fort Collins27.6 mi$13,373 in-state tuitionCommunity College of AuroraCommunity college · Public · Aurora59.2 mi$4,470 in-state tuition

About 2 of every 100 Estes Park residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Colorado.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

Get outside

13 miles of trails in Estes Park

20.4% of the town is conserved land, across 4 parks and preserves.

Map of trails and conserved land in Estes ParkConservedTrails
1
Knoll-Willows Open Space0.8 mi of trails · 22 acres
Directions
2
Rocky Mountain National Park40 acres
Directions
3
Rocky Mountain Wilderness1 acres
Directions
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US

Landmarks

17 places in Estes Park on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →
Rocky Mountain National Park Administration BuildingNational Historic Landmark
Stanley Hotel
Elkhorn Lodge
Rocky Mountain National Park Utility Area Historic District

Famous people from Estes Park

3 notable people were born in Estes Park.

See all 3 →
Tommy CaldwellAmerican rock climber · born 1978
Mark Muir MillsAmerican nuclear physicist · 1917–1958
James H. DickinsonAmerican Army general · born 1965

About Estes Park

Statutory town in Larimer County, Colorado, United States

Official town website ↗

Estes Park () is a statutory town in southwestern Larimer County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 5,904 at the 2020 United States census. Estes Park is a part of the Fort Collins, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Front Range Urban Corridor. A popular summer resort and the location of the headquarters for Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park lies along the Big Thompson River. Landmarks include The Stanley Hotel and The Baldpate Inn. The town overlooks Lake Estes and Olympus Dam.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established
1859
Area
5.9 sq mi
Elevation
7,523 ft
ZIP code
80511, 80517
Area code
970

Questions about Estes Park

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Estes Park, CO a good place to live?

By most measures, yes. Estes Park grades B overall, better than 63% of U.S. towns and #69 of 158 in Colorado. It grades A for health, B for safety and B for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D.

Is Estes Park, CO expensive?

That is 7.3 years of the area's median household income ($93,765 across the Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.

What is Estes Park, CO known for?

3 notable people were born here, including Tommy Caldwell and Mark Muir Mills.