Many of the people who live in Gunnison and Crested Butte are passionate about the Gunnison Valley. They love the outdoors and want to be part of a small community. Mountain living isn’t always easy, but many who do it find it worth it. Learn more about living in the Gunnison Valley with information on cost of living, quality of life, public lands and infrastructure. Read about real estate and rentals to learn more about housing. If you’re looking for a local job or want to attend school, read about the workforce, the public schools and Western Colorado University.
The people and community are a big part of why many people choose to live here. One way to experience it is by attending a local event. Join the community for costume contests, ski races, live music, art workshops, gallery showings and more.
Gunnison Crested Butte is the kind of place where people value their community and work hard for it. Volunteering is part of the culture here. From trail work days to events like the Alley Loop or the Gunnison Growler, so much of what we accomplish here is truly a labor of love often powered by volunteers.
Residents, both year-round and part-time, contribute their time and resources to support dozens of non-profit organizations in the Valley. The local public school system is a top-ranked district staffed by caring, engaged teachers. Locals engage with governments at all levels and, especially locally, collaboration and pragmatism tend to be the name of the game.
The Gunnison Valley is teeming with arts and culture. The Gunnison Arts Center and the Center for the Arts Crested Butte are the homes of performing and visual arts scenes in the Valley. There are also private venues, intimate indoor ones to large outdoor venues, throughout the Valley that offer places for acts of all sizes to perform. Museums to visit, music festivals, concerts and an independent film festival every fall round out the arts and culture scene in the Gunnison Valley.
Residents in the Gunnison Valley can enjoy music throughout the year at numerous venues in Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte. The music scene really kicks off in summer. In August, the town boasts numerous art galleries and open-air sculptures and is the host of the nationally recognized Crested Butte Arts Festival each August.