Community Data

The 2026 PRC Community Engagement & Behavioral Health Survey is a data-driven approach to measuring community engagement and behavioral health needs in the Gunnison Valley of Colorado. Subsequently, this information may be used to inform decisions and guide efforts to improve community health and wellness. 

GCEM is a time-series economic model of Gunnison County covering 2005 through 2034: twenty years of historical data and a ten-year forecast horizon. It captures household income, sector output, and the cross-sector relationships that connect them, all in real 2024 dollars. The model produces three classes of results. First, a historical accounting of how the economy has changed since 2005. Second, a baseline projection of where current trends lead by 2034. Third, scenario simulations that quantify the trade-offs among alternative paths. The four scenarios reported here were selected for this study: a tourism shock, continued structural change at Western Colorado University, accelerated housing development, and economic diversification, but the model architecture supports as many additional scenarios as the community can define. 

The Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS) is the state’s most comprehensive survey on the health and well-being of young people. The survey is an anonymous and voluntary opportunity for young people to report their health status, and is administered to public high school and middle school students every two years. The GCSAPP Community Presentation HKCS demonstrates local data trends to better understand young people in our community and how to support their health and well-being. 

Guided by the theoretical frameworks of Social Determinants of Health, Intersectionality Theory, and Narrative Inquiry and in partnership with Gunnison Country Food Pantry, this study employed qualitative methods to answer the following questions to inform programmatic development: 1) What distinguishes immigrants’ experiences of food insecurity in Gunnison County, CO from the experience of those that are not immigrants? and 2) What resources and community-based support is most needed and desired by the immigrant population in order to help them achieve greater food security, self-sufficiency, and overall well-being? The findings illuminated some of the motivations, values, and experiences of immigrants, and also indicated the most prominent issues faced by this population. 

The 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) provides a comprehensive look at the most pressing health challenges facing Gunnison County. Through community input, data analysis, and regional collaboration, the assessment identifies key gaps in services and opportunities to better align resources with community needs. The assessment identified four priority areas impacting the health and well-being of local residents: specialty care, preventive care, behavioral health, and housing. 

The purpose of this report is to update the 2022 report by narrowing the focus to the most indicative metrics, understanding the underlying forces, and highlighting opportunities for improvement. The goal is to utilize this report as a way to educate on what behavioral health is, engage in dialogue, and create a strategic plan that is solution-focused, cross-sector and based on needs of all our community members.

The 2024 Gunnison Valley Housing Needs Assessment evaluates how well the local housing market meets the needs of residents and workers across the region. It identifies housing gaps by income level, outlines the types and quantities of housing needed, and supports informed planning, policy-making, and investment. The report combines input from employers and residents to guide efforts that improve housing affordability and availability throughout the valley. Click here to learn more about housing reports and data in the Gunnison Valley.

The Health Coalition commissioned this report to better understand the needs and gaps across behavioral health systems in the community. The goal is to utilize this report as a way to educate on what behavioral health is, engage in dialogue, and create a strategic plan that is solution-focused, cross-sector and based on needs of all our community members.