Real Estate, Rentals, and Housing | Crested Butte + Gunnison

Federal lands comprise 85% of the Gunnison Valley. YOUR trails, rivers and public lands will be OPEN as the snow melts, but personnel cuts at the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Park Service mean all of us will need to keep stewardship top of mind this summer. Pack out all trash, and be extra careful with fire. Together, we can keep our backcountry beautiful!

Finding a Place to Call Home

Small Towns. Big Ideas.

If you love tight-knit communities and the outdoors, you might love living in the Gunnison Valley. Gunnison and Crested Butte are the largest communities in the valley. This is where most of the housing opportunities are. The housing market in the Gunnison Valley ranges from rental properties, houses for sale, land that can be built on and subsidized housing options. Finding the right choice for you depends on your budget and needs. This page has maps for the Gunnison Valley’s municipalities, resources for affordable housing, information about realtors and more. Keep reading to learn more! 

Rental Properties in the Gunnison Valley

While resort communities often face housing challenges, finding a place to live in the Gunnison Valley is achievable with the right approach. Rentals range from small apartments and shared housing to more expensive townhomes and single-family homes. Gunnison typically has the most affordable options while still providing proximity to recreation and amenities. Potential renters should start their search early. Places to search include local property management companies, community bulletin boards and social media groups. Explore other resources below:

Resources for finding a place to rent

    apartments mt crested butte

    Affordable housing in the Gunnison Valley

    What is affordable housing?

    Affordable housing is housing offered below the market rate. The rate is determined by analyzing the area’s cost of living and Area Median Income (AMI) to establish sustainable rent and mortgage expenses. It is typically funded by county and municipal governments. Affordable housing is also usually only available to current residents and people employed locally.

    Affordable Housing projects and resources

     The Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority (GVRHA) and the Valley Housing Fund (VHF) are organizations committed to creating accessible and affordable housing options in the Gunnison Valley. They manage a number of affordable housing resources and projects. These include homeownership opportunities, affordable rental management, utility efficiency programs and more. Many of these projects and opportunities have income requirements and must be applied for. Please reach out to GVRHA and VHF for more information. Learn more about affordable housing projects at the links below. This list may change as projects are completed and new ones are started. Visiting the GVRHA and VHF websites is the best way to find the most updated lists of projects.

    Real estate in the Gunnison Valley

    Are you looking to purchase property? Hiring a realtor can help you find something in your desired location and budget. Whether you’re looking for a cozy cabin in Crested Butte, a family-friendly home in CB South or a ranch-style property in Gunnison, the valley has diverse real estate options. Check for real estate listings on Zillow, Realtor.com, Facebook Marketplace and local brokerage websites. The Gunnison-Crested Butte Association of Realtors has a home buyer assistance program for people in the Gunnison Valley who need financial resources. The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) also offers homebuyer assistance and down payment assistance programs. 

    Local Real Estate Professionals

    Browse real estate agents and brokerages below. 

    Commercial Real Estate and Office space in the Gunnison Valley

    The ICELab @ Western

    The ICELab @ Western has office and coworking amenities for small businesses. Membership options include open coworking space, dedicated desks and private offices. The ICELab also has resources to help you grow your business. 

    Other office space in the Gunnison Valley

    The classifieds in the Crested Butte News and the Gunnison Country Times and the Gunnison Country Shopper are the best resources for finding office space.  Facebook Marketplace might have rental listings as well. 

    Houses in Crested Butte, Colorado

    Places to live in the Gunnison Valley

    The Gunnison Valley is U-shaped and stretches north to south. Gunnison and Almont are to the south. Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte are to the north at the end of Highway 135. Crested Butte South and a couple small residential areas are a few miles south of Crested Butte along Highway 135. Most of the population centers in rural Gunnison Valley are located northeast of Gunnison off U.S. Highway 50. Each of these areas offers its own unique character, amenities and lifestyle opportunities. Keep reading to learn more.

    Towns of the Gunnison Valley

    The Gunnison Valley is comprised of five main mountain towns. These towns vary in size and population. Despite the differences in size, they offer similar costs of living and comparable quality of life. They also all offer access to public lands and outdoor recreation. Learn about each town and what it has to offer below.

    Downtown Gunnison, Colorado in summer.

    Gunnison

    colorful downtown crested butte

    Crested Butte

    Almont

    Mt. Crested Butte

    An A-frame cabin in Pitkin, Colorado

    Pitkin

    South Valley

    Gunnison and Almont

    Gunnison is the largest population center in the Gunnison Valley. Most of the Gunnison Valley’s workforce lives here. It’s also home to Western Colorado University, Gunnison Valley Hospital and the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport. It is also where the majority of gas stations, grocery stores and other infrastructure are located. On top of that, access to U.S. Highway 50, shipping and the airport is easier from a base in Gunnison vs. the rest of the valley. Hartman Rocks Recreation Area, one of the best places to mountain bike and fat bike in the Gunnison Valley, is only a few minutes from downtown Gunnison. Curecanti National Recreation Area, Blue Mesa Reservoir, Fossil Ridge Wilderness and parts of Gunnison National Forest are also easily accessible from Gunnison. There is plentiful hiking, biking, boating, Nordic skiing and other things to do in Gunnison. 

    Almont is located north of Gunnison at the headwaters of the Gunnison River. Almont is a small but growing community. It is the gateway to Taylor Canyon, Taylor Park and Taylor Reservoir. Taylor Park has dozens of miles of OHV and off-roading trails. Taylor Reservoir is a popular boating spot. Spring Creek, an area with hiking and biking trails, can also be reached from CR 742 (the road Taylor Canyon is on). Doctor Park, a favorite trail with the locals, is up Spring Creek.

    North Valley

    Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte

    Crested Butte is the second-largest community in the Gunnison Valley. Crested Butte is a historic mining town that is quaint, colorful and walkable. Crested Butte has little commercial development. Despite this, you can get gas, groceries, hardware store items and more in town. Crested Butte Mountain Resort is about three miles from Crested Butte. Many summer and winter trails start right in town or are an easy walk or bike ride. The West Elk Wilderness, which is part of Gunnison National Forest, is close to Crested Butte.

    Mt. Crested Butte is a couple miles north of Crested Butte. Living in Mt. Crested Butte puts you very close to the skiing and biking that the Gunnison Valley is known for. Crested Butte Mountain Resort is located in Mt. Crested Butte. You are also close to trails such as Snodgrass, the 401 and Copper Creek Trail. 

    north valley map

    Crested Butte South, Skyland, Riverland, Riverbend

    Crested Butte South (CB South) is about eight miles from Crested Butte. Living in CB South offers a unique blend of small-town charm and easy access to outdoor adventure. As one of the larger residential communities in the Gunnison Valley, it attracts a mix of year-round residents, seasonal homeowners and visiting outdoor enthusiasts. Skyland and Riverbend also have a mix of full time residents, second homes and vacation rentals. This part of the valley does not have a big commercial area. However, CB South has a few restaurants and stores. Its commercial district continues to grow. You’ll also find the only industrial park north of Gunnison. Affordable housing opportunities in this part of the valley are growing. You’re close to Crested Butte’s outdoor recreation opportunities from this area. Cement Creek is also just up the road from CB South. Explore the trails in Cement Creek.

    *Please note that the Crested Butte airport in Buckhorn Ranch is a private airstrip with very, very limited services.

    Rural Gunnison County

    Pitkin and Ohio City

    Pitkin is the largest community in rural Gunnison Valley. It is located northeast of Gunnison. While there aren’t as many amenities in Pitkin as other parts of the Gunnison Valley, the town is growing. There are places to eat, get drinks and purchase necessities. Pitkin lies right in Gunnison National Forest. It is a paradise for anyone who wants to live off the beaten path and spend most of their time outside. Off-roading, snowmobiling, mountain biking, fishing and hunting are popular activities around Pitkin. You can do these activities practically out your front door. Many of the homes in Pitkin are vacation homes, but there is a small tight-knit year-round population.

    Ohio City is on the same road as Pitkin. It is a semi-ghost town with a small population of year-round residents. There are no amenities in Ohio City.

    Business in the Gunnison Valley

    Discover articles to help you run and grow your business on our blog. You can also learn more about economic development efforts in the Gunnison Valley. 

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