Pitkin, Colorado, 2014
Pitkin’s story
147 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,891 in 1880, 72 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 3 maps from 1941 on.
- 1879Pitkin is settled
PitkinCO
A town of 74, settled in 1879.
Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 3.0
Population
74
2025 Census estimate · −2.6% since 2020
Typical home
$443K
+9.9% in a year
Household income
$86K
median
Median age
35.6
years
Land area
0 sq mi
Is Pitkin a good place to live?
Pitkin’s peak summer temperature is 73°F, where Colorado’s towns sit at 89°F and U.S. towns at 85°F. Only one of the 160 Colorado towns we compare has a lower January low than Pitkin. Pitkin has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
74 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Pitkin: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Pitkin, and how to reach them.
PowerGunnison County Elec Assn.EIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterNorth Valley Subdivision Utility CompanyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Pitkin’s trash rules yet
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.govWho runs elections hereGunnison County Clerk and RecorderGunnison County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code8124181241 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 Pitkin.
Natural hazards
Top of a very high hazard risk in Pitkin: avalanches
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 91% of U.S. communities. 64% of Pitkin’s expected losses from natural hazards come from avalanches, followed by inland flooding at 34%.
91risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
AvalanchesInland flooding
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers: that is Pitkin’s year
Pitkin has cold winters and cool summers, with very little rain.
73°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter2–31°
Spring21–49°
Summer40–71°
Fall24–53°
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
73°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Housing
A home in Pitkin is worth about $443K, on Zillow’s estimate
For households in Pitkin, the share who live in a home they own is 94%. In the year to September 2026, typical home values climbed 9.9%.
$443KZillow home value
Typical home value
Pitkin$443K
Colorado$529K
+9.9%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Health
A smaller share of adults report frequent mental distress in Pitkin than in most of Colorado or the rest of the country
6.4% of Pitkin adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance, below both Colorado’s towns (10%) and U.S. towns (8.1%). In Pitkin, 16% of adults say their health is fair or poor. CDC measures, 26 in all: Pitkin beats Colorado on 8 and trails on 8. Among 160 Colorado towns, just 2 have a higher share of adults who had a checkup this year than Pitkin.
| Pitkin | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 30% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 16% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 18% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 27% | 35% |
26 measures vs. Colorado
8 better10 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Pitkin | CO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6.4% | 11.1% |
| Fewer binge drinkers | 14% | 19% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 14.1% | 7.8% |
Gunnison Valley Hospital
22.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Pitkin
16pages on Pitkin
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Pitkin; the nearest are
Western Colorado UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Gunnison22.2 mi$11,318 in-state tuitionCommunity College of AuroraCommunity college · Public · Aurora119.5 mi$4,470 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Pitkin residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Colorado.
About Pitkin
Town in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Pitkin is a statutory town in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States. The population was 72 at the 2020 census. Pitkin was founded in 1879, and is said to be Colorado's first mining camp west of the Continental Divide. Originally named Quartzville, it was renamed to honor Governor Frederick Walker Pitkin.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 9,216 ft
- ZIP code
- 81241
- Area code
- 970
Questions about Pitkin
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Pitkin, CO a good place to live?
Pitkin has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.