Discover Boulder, CO: Scores, Rankings, and Comparisons

Mountain range

Riley Pope on Unsplash

The Flatirons

Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash

❮ ❯

Boulder is strongly liberal and has a Democratic representative in Congress

107,360

Boulder Population7

57,959

Median Income6

5.1

Unemployment Rate17

Internet Connectivity

87
- Access to 25+ mbps wired broadband24
  
  91.9 %
- Access to 100+ mbps broadband24
  
  89.6 %
- Average download speed24
  
  109 mpbs
- Households with broadband25
  
  89.9 %
Local Transportation

84
- Walkability score10
  
  57
- Bikeability score10
  
  86
- Transit score10
  
  49
- Commute via public transit17
  
  7.4 %
- Commute via walking17
  
  11.0 %
- Commutes via driving solo17
  
  51.3 %
- Commute time (avg)17
  
  19.1 minutes
Taxes

75
- City income tax
  
  0.0 % (for median earners)
- City income tax
  
  0.0 % (for high earners)
- State income tax16
  
  3.2 % (for median earners)
- State income tax16
  
  4.0 % (for high earners)
- City sales tax19
  
  5.9 %
- State sales tax19
  
  2.9 %
- Property tax21
  
  0.5 %
- Vehicle tax21
  
  1.8 %
Outdoor Activities

73
- Beaches9
  
  6
- Parks15
  
  95
- Ski resorts
  
  8
Healthcare

68
- Hospitals (<50 miles)2
  
  35
- Hospital rating (avg)2
  
  3.81 / 5
- 5-star hospitals2
  
  4
- 5-star hospitals (%)2
  
  19.0 %
- 5-star hospital (nearest)
  
  26.1 miles from city center
Safety

62
- Property crimes1
  
  3,414.7 per 100,000 residents
- Violent crimes1
  
  272 per 100,000 residents
Education

60
- Public schools rated 8+4
  
  13
- Public schools rated 8+ (%)4
  
  41.9 %
- High schools in top 25%14
  
  2
- High schools in top 25% (%)14
  
  28.6 %
- Top rated public high school14
  
  Fairview High School
- Top rated public high school (national rank)14
  
  249
Air Quality

54
- Unhealthy air quality
  
  0 days per year
- Unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups13
  
  5 days per year
- High PM2.5 pollution13
  
  47 days per year
- High ozone13
  
  195 days per year
Travel Connectivity

53
- Airports
  
  1
- Train stations
  
  4
Economy

50
- Income6
  
  $25,729
- Income (full-time)6
  
  $57,959
- Income ($100,000 or more)6
  
  25.8 %
- Income ($25,000 and less)6
  
  13.4 %
- Income growth (1-year)6
  
  1.9 %
- Income growth (10-year)6
  
  9.8 %
- Employment rate17
  
  94.9 %
- Employment rate (full-time)6
  
  33.8 %
- Employment rate growth (1-year)17
  
  1.2 %
- Employment rate growth (10-year)17
  
  15.4 %
- Population growth (1-year)7
  
  1.0 %
- Population growth (10-year)7
  
  10.6 %
Climate

49
- Sunny days3
  
  69 days
- Rainy days11
  
  87 days
- Hot days11
  
  36 days
- Cold days11
  
  155 days
- Average humidity11
  
  47 %
- Average wind speed11
  
  8 mph
- Annual snowfall11
  
  57 inches
- Temperature in January11
  
  31 °F
- Temperature in July11
  
  74 °F
- Wildfire risk23
  
  Medium
- Hurricane risk23
  
  None
- Tornado risk23
  
  Low
- Earthquake risk23
  
  Low
- Flood risk23
  
  High
Diversity

49
- White or Middle Eastern7
  
  79.8 %
- Black7
  
  1.1 %
- Asian7
  
  5.6 %
- Hispanic7
  
  9.8 %
Attractions

40
- Restaurants8
  
  25.4 per 100,000 residents
- Bars8
  
  37.3 per 100,000 households
- Performing arts centers8
  
  75.5 per 100,000 households
- Museums8
  
  9.5 per 100,000 households
- Music venues18
  
  27
- Historical sites
  
  0
- Golf courses20
  
  16
- Wineries
  
  0
- Casinos22
  
  36
Home Pricing

25
- Median home value5
  
  $803,341
- Median home value (sq ft)12
  
  $777
- Median rent price12
  
  $2,500

Since 2010, the population of Boulder has grown 71% faster than the national average, partially driven by the segment of the population that is 65- to 74-year olds which grew by 60%

Age

28.7

Median Age7

10.6

Population Growth Since 20107

Proportion of Population by Age Group vs. United States average7

Boulder residents are mostly white; however, the city is slowly becoming more diverse as the white community has shrunk by 0.3% since 2010, while the Hispanic community, 2nd largest in the city, has grown by 28.6%

Race

68.3

Colorado Population, White7

61.1

United States population, White7

Population Distribution by Race/Ethnicity7

Boulder's high elevation of 5,328 feet leads to frequently cold weather and heavy snowfall, but warm summers, relatively low humidity, and little rainfall. The temperature drops to 32°F or below 155 days per year with 47% humidity, 57 inches of annual snowfall, and 14 inches of annual rainfall

Weather

Chance of Rain11

Chance of Sunshine3

Average Temperature36

The average home value in Boulder increased by 70% since 2010 which is 28% higher than the national average and 6% lower than the state average

Rent

2,500

Monthly Average12

Renters37

Average Home Value5

Boulder is a somewhat low tax location with income tax near the national average and property tax 52% lower than the national average, but sales tax 29% higher than the national average.

Other

0.53

Property Tax21

8.85

Sales Tax19

1.79

Vehicle Tax21

Effective Income Tax Rate at Various Income Levels (Married, Filing Jointly)38

Boulder has a high employment rate of 95% which is 1% higher than the national average. The largest employers are Zayo Group and Boulder Community Health

Income

13.4

<$25,0006

25.8

$100,000+6

Distribution by Industry17

Boulder is strongly liberal and has a Democratic representative in Congress

2016 Presidential Election Results39

Representatives

Mayor27	Sam Weaver Democratic
House of Representative27	Joe Neguse Democratic

The nearest 5-star hospital, Rose Medical Center, is 26.1 miles from the center of Boulder, the nearest Veterans Affairs medical center, Cheyenne VA Medical Center, is 79.3 miles away, and the nearest top-rated hospital for cancer care, Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, is 25.9 miles away

Medicare-Rated Hospitals (<50 Miles)2

Is Marijuana Legal?

Medical28	Yes
Decriminalized28	Yes

In Colorado, 37.9% of adults live in a household with at least one gun, which is a decrease since 2000 when 46.7% of adults lived in households with guns

Gun Laws

Yes

Universal Background Checks29

Permit to Purchase Law29

Property Crimes and Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents

#18	2020 Best Cities to Live by Niche30
#90	2020 Best Cities to Retire by Niche31
#16	2020 Best Cities for Families by Niche32

1	2018 Offenses Known to Law Enforcement \| FBI
2	Medicare-certified hospitals \| Medicare.gov
3	Sunshine - Average Percent of Possible
4	School Rankings & Reviews for Public and Private Schools \| Great Schools
5	Zillow Housing Data
6	2018 Earnings in the Past 12 Months \| ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles \| United States Census
7	2018 Demographic And Housing Estimates \| ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles \| United States Census
8	2017 County Business Patterns \| United States Census
9	Beaches \| Yelp
10	2020 City & Neighborhood Scores \| Walk Score
11	Comparative Climatic Data \| National Centers for Environmental Information
12	United States Home Prices & Home Values
13	AirData \| United States Environmental Protection Agency
14	Best High Schools in the US \| U.S. News & World Report's
15	Parks \| Yelp
16	State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets for 2020 \| Tax Foundation
17	2018 Economic Characteristics \| ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles \| United States Census
18	Music Venues \| Yelp
19	2020 State and Local Sales Tax Rates \| Tax Foundation
20	Golf Courses \| Yelp
21	2020 Property and Vehicle Taxes by State \| WalletHub
22	Casinos \| Yelp
23	Natural Center for Disaster Preparedness \| Columbia University
24	Internet Service Providers: Availability & Coverage \| Broadband Now
25	2018 Social Characteristics \| ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles \| United States Census
26	Zippia, The Career Expert
27	Who represents me \| Ballotpedia
28	State Policy \| Marijuana Policy Project
29	State-Level Estimates of Household Firearm Ownership \| The RAND Corporation
30	2020 Best Cities to Live \| Niche
31	2020 Best Cities to Retire \| Niche
32	2020 Best Cities for Families \| Niche
33	2010 Demographic And Housing Estimates \| ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles \| United States Census
34	Elevations and Distances \| U.S. Geological Survey Publications Repository
35	Normal Precipitation, Inches
36	Normal Daily Minimum Temperature, °F
37	2018 Selected Housing Characteristics \| ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles \| United States Census
38	Federal Income Tax Calculator \| smartasset
39	2016 Presidential Election Results \| Politico

Boulder, CO

City Score

Internet Connectivity

Local Transportation

Taxes

Outdoor Activities

Healthcare

Safety

Education

Air Quality

Travel Connectivity

Economy

Climate

Diversity

Attractions

Home Pricing

Population

Age