George Jackson House · National Register of Historic Places
Portland’s story
148 years in pictures
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1878Portland is settled
PortlandCO
A town of 125, settled in 1878.
George Jackson House · Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain
Population
125
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$946K
Census ACS
Median age
59.8
years
Jobs based here
21
A commuter town
Is Portland a good place to live?
Portland’s midpoint age is 59.8 years, where Colorado’s towns sit at 38.3 years and U.S. towns at 40.5 years. Among 160 Colorado towns, just one has a higher share of homes lived in by their owners than Portland. 63% of the land in Portland is conserved, against 6.9% in Colorado’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. George Jackson House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Portland has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
125 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Portland: who provides what
Portland is unincorporated, so Ouray County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerSan Miguel Power Assn16.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTri County Wcd water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & county servicesOuray CountyOuray County provides services here
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 hereOuray County Clerk and RecorderOuray County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code8143281432 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 Portland.
Outdoors
Conservation land takes up nearly a third of Portland
Portland’s trail network density is 0.4 miles per square mile.
62.7%conserved
62.7%
conserved · 1,280 of 2,041 acres
1.3 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazards
Very high risk in Portland, with inland flooding at the top
Only 9 of the 160 Colorado towns we compare have a higher natural-hazard score from FEMA than Portland. 43% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by avalanches at 39%. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 90% of U.S. communities.
90risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingAvalanchesLandslides
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commute
Portland has 0.4 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
The median commute is under 6 miles. For Portland, the typical journey to work is 19 minutes. The top destinations are Ridgway (28%), Ouray (22%) and Montrose (14%).
0%work in town
Where working residents work
In Portland0%
Ridgway28%
Ouray22%
Montrose14%
Telluride6%
6 mi
median commute distance
21
jobs based in Portland
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
126″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter14–37°
Spring29–55°
Summer48–77°
Fall32–58°
Oct 1
typical first frost
May 17
typical last frost
+2.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Portland stands out in Colorado and nationally, with fewer of its adults who binge drink
For adults in Portland, the share who get no exercise outside work is 16%. The town does better than the Colorado average on 8 of 26 CDC measures and worse on 8. Only 4 of the 160 Colorado towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have high blood pressure than Portland. In Portland, 13% of adults report frequent mental distress, and 79% had a checkup this year.
| Portland | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 18% | 16% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 16% | 17% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 79% | 71% | 79% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 26% | 35% |
26 measures vs. Colorado
8 better10 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Portland | CO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 5% | 11.1% |
| Fewer binge drinkers | 13.8% | 19% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 13.1% | 7.8% |
Montrose Regional Health
28.6 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Nearby attractions
All 11 attractions →Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and 7 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Portland. Close and well known come first.
29 mi National ParkBlack Canyon of the Gunnison National Park250K visitors a year
9 mi National forestUncompahgre National Forest14 mi Ski areaTelluride Ski Area161 runs · 3,803 ft vertical
12 mi WaterfallBridal Veil Falls33 mi Ski areaPurgatory Resort92 runs · 1,963 ft vertical15 mi Ski areaCimarron Mountain Club45 runs · 1,542 ft verticalSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Black 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
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Portland
16pages on Portland
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Portland; the nearest are
Western Colorado UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Gunnison52.8 mi$11,318 in-state tuitionSan Juan CollegeCommunity college · Public · Farmington, NM94.8 mi$1,928 in-state tuition
About 9 of every 100 Portland residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Colorado.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Portland for work
Where Portland’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
21jobs based in Portland
0%of working residents work in town
6 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Questions about Portland
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Portland, CO a good place to live?
Portland has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.