Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Ouray’s average trip to work is 12 minutes, below both the Colorado town median (25 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Only 4 of the 160 Colorado towns we compare have a higher median age than Ouray. Ouray’s trail density is 3.6 miles per square mile, above both Colorado’s towns (1.3) and U.S. towns (0.4). Its National Register listings include Beaumont Hotel and Ouray City Hall and Walsh Library. Ouray has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Ouray beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 864 in 1880, a peak of 2,534 in 1890, 898 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1880 and 3 maps from 1902 on.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Ouray, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Ouray.
Most working residents leave Ouray for work: only 18% work in town. 3.6% of residents live below the poverty line in Ouray. Since 2013, Ouray has added 80 jobs, to 605 in 2023.
| Ouray | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 18% | 7.7% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.6% | 8.4% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $78,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Its public schools are run by the Ouray School District No. R-1. Its three schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ouray Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–4 | Grades PK–4 | 79 | B |
| Ouray Senior High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 46 | A+ |
| Ouray Middle SchoolTop results in townGrades 5–8 | Grades 5–8 | 55 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 90% of U.S. communities. Since 1982, 5 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Ouray.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
The typical Ouray home is worth about $677,000, up 4.1% in a year, 28% above the Colorado typical home.
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Ouray has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Ouray’s July high is 77°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
10 crimes were reported in Ouray in 2025: 6 property and 4 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Ouray is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Ouray beats the Colorado average on 5 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 24% of Ouray adults have obesity.
| Ouray | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 26% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 30% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 17% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 16% | 25% |
| What stands out | Ouray | CO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6.6% | 11.1% |
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7.3% | 9.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.5% | 7.8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Rotary Park | — | 4 |
| 2. Fellin Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Ouray. Close and well known come first.
33 mi National ParkBlack Canyon of the Gunnison National Park250K visitors a year
7 mi National forestUncompahgre National Forest12 mi Ski areaTelluride Ski Area161 runs · 3,803 ft vertical
9 mi WaterfallBridal Veil Falls29 mi Ski areaPurgatory Resort92 runs · 1,963 ft vertical19 mi Ski areaCimarron Mountain Club45 runs · 1,542 ft verticalBlack Canyon of the Gunnison National Park: http://www.terraprints.com, CC BY 2.5 · Uncompahgre National Forest: Unknown authorUnknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bridal Veil Falls: Terry Foote (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0
None within 15 miles of Ouray; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Ouray residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Colorado.
Where Ouray’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
3 places in Ouray on the National Register of Historic Places.
6 notable people were born in Ouray.
City in Colorado, United States
Ouray ( YOOR-ay) is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Ouray County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 898 as of the 2020 census. The Ouray Post Office has the ZIP Code 81427. Located at an elevation of 7,792 feet (2,375 m), Ouray's climate, natural alpine environment, and scenery have earned it the nickname "Switzerland of America".
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Ouray has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real. Home to 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
6 notable people were born here, including William Lee Knous and Gordon M. Graham.
