1939 · Improvised protection for a stream bank · Library of Congress
Ridgway’s story
Ridgway in pictures
12 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
RidgwayCO
A town of 1,237. Public schools that outperform most of Colorado.
Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0
Population
1,237
+28% since 2010
Typical home
$852K
+4.6% in a year
Household income
$84K
median
Median age
40.5
years
Jobs based here
877
A job hub
What makes Ridgway stand out
The 3 things Ridgway does most differently from other towns.
Small town
1,237 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Ridgway’s report card
Now in Ridgway
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Ridgway? Is an A+ for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Ridgway’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →61°
Mostly Cloudy
H 73° · L 47°
Local news
All →- Ridgway vs Ignacio - Girls Varsity Volleyball 09/25/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 25
- Ridgway vs Montrose - Girls Junior Varsity Basketball 12/01/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 3
- Calendar & EventsOuray News · Aug 6
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Ridgway. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Ridgway’s public schools outperform 97% of Colorado districts
The public schools Ridgway’s kids attend outperform 97% of Colorado’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
A+School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ridgway Elementary School | PK–5 | 149 | A |
| Ridgway Middle School | 6–8 | 74 | B+ |
| Ridgway High School | 9–12 | 97 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CO on state testsAll 3 schools →
Housing
A typical Ridgway home is worth about $852K
The typical Ridgway home is worth about $852,000, up 4.6% in a year, 60% above the Colorado typical home.
$852KZillow home value
Typical home value
Ridgway$852K
Colorado$533K
+4.6%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Health
Healthier than 95% of U.S. towns
Ridgway beats the Colorado average on 4 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 2.
AHealth Grade
26 measures vs. Colorado
4 better20 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Ridgway | CO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6.3% | 11.1% |
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 6.9% | 9.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.1% | 7.8% |
Montrose Regional Health
23.2 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
74th
percentile among CO towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Work & commute
About one in four working residents works right in Ridgway
About one in 4 of Ridgway’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Ouray (15%), Montrose (7%) and Denver (7%). Half commute less than 15 miles.
26%work in town
Where working residents work
In Ridgway26%
Ouray15%
Montrose7%
Denver7%
Telluride7%
15 mi
median commute distance
877
jobs based in Ridgway
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Natural hazards
Very high risk, with inland flooding at the top
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 · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Ridgway has cold, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 8°, and about 81 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
81″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter10–40°
Spring28–60°
Summer46–83°
Fall29–63°
Sep 13
typical first frost
Jun 11
typical last frost
+2.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Safety
Crime reported in Ridgway
Ridgway's reported crime rate is well below Colorado's. No violent crimes were reported in 2025.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Ridgway0
Colorado4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Ridgway0
Colorado22.3
U.S.15.5
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
0
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Outdoors
5.1% of Ridgway is conserved land
0.3 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves.
5.1%conserved
5.1%
conserved · 60 of 1,180 acres
0.3 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ridgway Town Park | — | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
A job hub
Every workday, about 752 people come to Ridgway for work
Where Ridgway’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
877jobs based in Ridgway
26%of working residents work in town
15 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Ridgway
Town in Colorado, United States
The Town of Ridgway is a home rule municipality that is the most populous municipality in Ouray County, Colorado, United States. The town is a former railroad stop on the Uncompahgre River in the northern San Juan Mountains. The town population was 1,183 at the 2020 census. Steep forested mountains and cliffs surround Ridgway on the south, east, and northeast. The Uncompahgre River runs through the town and flows into the Ridgway State Park and Reservoir, to the north. Dallas Creek also flows from the south-west and forms a confluence with the Uncompahgre before entering the reservoir. There is a notable wildlife presence — mountain lions, badgers, deer, elk, bears, coyotes, wild turkey, an…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 1,183
- Area
- 1.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 6,900 ft
- ZIP code
- 81432
- Area code
- 970
More about Ridgway
Still missing for Ridgway:upcoming events