Gun Ownership Comparison
Laws

California vs Colorado: Gun Ownership

Colorado has a higher share of adults who own guns than California.

California flag
California
CA • West
20.7%
Share of adults who personally own a gun (%).
Colorado flag
Colorado
CO • West
Winner
34.3%
Share of adults who personally own a gun (%).

Visual Comparison

California 20.7%
Colorado 34.3%

Difference: 13.60 percentage points — Colorado leads.

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

See where both states fall among all 50 states for gun ownership.

California #43 · 20.7%
Colorado #34 · 34.3%
Lowest Highest

Top 10 States — Gun Ownership

#1 Wyoming flag Wyoming
66.3%
#2 Montana flag Montana
65.7%
#3 Alaska flag Alaska
63.5%
#4 West Virginia flag West Virginia
58.5%
#5 Arkansas flag Arkansas
57.2%
#6 Idaho flag Idaho
56.8%
#7 Alabama flag Alabama
55.5%
#8 Mississippi flag Mississippi
55.2%
#9 South Dakota flag South Dakota
54.9%
#10 North Dakota flag North Dakota
52.1%
Selected states
#43 California flag California
20.7%
#34 Colorado flag Colorado
34.3%

California ranks 43rd and Colorado ranks 34th nationally for gun ownership.

What This Means

California vs Colorado: Gun Ownership in context

Colorado has a gun ownership of 34.3%, compared with 20.7% in California, a gap of 65.7%. Share of adults who personally own a gun (%).

California
20.7%
Colorado
34.3%
Difference
13.60 percentage points

People Also Ask

California vs Colorado Gun Ownership — Common Questions

Q What is California's gun ownership?

California's gun ownership is 20.7%.

Q What is Colorado's gun ownership?

Colorado's gun ownership is 34.3%.

Q Which state has a higher gun ownership — California or Colorado?

Colorado has a higher share of adults who own guns than California.

Q How much more gun ownership does Colorado have compared to California?

13.60 percentage points.

More Comparisons: California vs Colorado

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Full Comparison

Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.