Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The best of Telluride’s subject grades are an A+ for health and an A for schools and walkability; the weakest is a D for hazard risk. 86% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Telluride, above both Colorado’s towns (44%) and U.S. towns (29%). On hazard risk, just 18 of Colorado’s 218 towns do worse. 68% of the land in Telluride is conserved, against 6.9% in Colorado’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. Telluride's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 96% of U.S. towns. Telluride Historic District and Smuggler-Union Hydroelectric Power Plant is on the National Register of Historic Places. Telluride has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Telluride beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
| Widest gap | Telluride | CO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6.2% | 11.1% |
2,325 counted in 2010 and 2,607 in 2020; an estimated 2,454 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Colorado), ordered by how far Telluride is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 766 in 1890, a low of 512 in 1930, 2,607 in 2020. The archive holds 11 old photos and papers going back to 1890 and 3 maps from 1897 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Telluride, 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 Telluride.
Telluride’s median rent is $3,056 a month. Typical home values rose 14% in the year to September 2026. 85% of Telluride households own their home.
| Telluride | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $3,056 a month | $1,808 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 85% | 71% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Its public schools are run by the Telluride School District No. R-1. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telluride Intermediate SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades 3–6 | Grades 3–6 | 237 | B |
| Telluride High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 298 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CO on state tests and graduation
The trail density in Telluride is 7.0 miles per square mile. The biggest place to walk is Town Park, 30 acres with 1.1 miles of trail. 15 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Town Park | 1.1 mi | 30 |
| 2. Judy Long Memorial Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Telluride beats the Colorado average on 10 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 23% of adults have high blood pressure in Telluride.
| Telluride | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 27% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 30% | 36% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 16% | 25% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 9.4% | 12% | 14% |
| What stands out | Telluride | CO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6.2% | 11.1% |
| Fewer adults who get no exercise | 12.1% | 17.7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
51% of Telluride’s working residents work right in town. No town among the 160 in Colorado we compare has a lower average trip to work than Telluride. Jobs based in Telluride grew to 2,354 in 2023, 801 more than in 2013.
| Telluride | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 6 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 51% | 7.7% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.6% | 8.4% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $102,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 87% of U.S. communities. Since 2007, 4 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Telluride.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Telluride has cold, snowy winters and cool summers. No town among the 160 in Colorado we compare has a lower July high than Telluride.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Telluride. Close and well known come first.
40 mi National ParkBlack Canyon of the Gunnison National Park250K visitors a year2 mi Ski areaTelluride Ski Area161 runs · 3,803 ft vertical
3 mi WaterfallBridal Veil Falls
4 mi National forestUncompahgre National Forest22 mi Ski areaPurgatory Resort92 runs · 1,963 ft vertical
37 mi National Recreation AreaCurecanti National Recreation Area807K visitors a yearBlack Canyon of the Gunnison National Park: http://www.terraprints.com, CC BY 2.5 · Bridal Veil Falls: Terry Foote (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Uncompahgre National Forest: Unknown authorUnknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Curecanti National Recreation Area: The original uploader was Nationalparks at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.5
None within 15 miles of Telluride; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Telluride residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Colorado.
Where Telluride’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
3 notable people were born in Telluride.
Home rule town in Colorado, United States
Telluride is the county seat and most populous town of San Miguel County in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Colorado. The town is a former silver mining camp on the San Miguel River in the western San Juan Mountains. The first gold mining claim was made in the mountains above Telluride in 1875, and early settlement of what is now Telluride followed. The town was founded in 1878. Telluride sits in a box canyon. Steep forested mountains and cliffs surround it, with Bridal Veil Falls situated at the canyon's head. Numerous weathered ruins of old mining operations dot the hillsides. A free gondola connects the town with its companion town, Mountain Village, at the base of the ski …
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.
3 notable people were born here, including Sievert Allen Rohwer and Ingo Swann.
