Boulder, CO vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | BoulderBoulder, CO | DenverDenver, CO | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Good | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Moderate | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Exposed | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 21.8% for Boulder, CO and 11.2% for Denver, CO, the poverty rate in Boulder is 10.6 percentage points higher according to 2023 Census figures. Boulder’s average commute is 19 minutes, placing it in the 20th percentile, while Denver’s 25.4-minute commute falls in the 64th percentile, a difference of 6 minutes longer. The median age in Boulder is 28.8 (6th percentile) compared to Denver’s 35.2 (27th percentile), making Denver 6.4 years older on average.
Violent crime per 100,000 people stands at 353 in Boulder (71st percentile) versus 875 in Denver (97th percentile), with Denver 2.5 times higher. Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 11 in Boulder (29th percentile) and 17 in Denver (51st percentile), a 49% higher rate in Denver. The air quality index (AQI) is 49 for Boulder (78th percentile) and 55 for Denver (93rd percentile), meaning Denver’s AQI is 12% higher.
Boulder’s nearest large city is 24 miles away (29th percentile), while Denver’s is 0 miles (0th percentile), reflecting their different strategic positions. The cost-of-living index is 239 for Boulder (94th percentile) and 175 for Denver (86th percentile), making Boulder 37% higher. Median home values are $982,600 in Boulder (95th percentile) and $586,700 in Denver (87th percentile), a 67% higher figure for Boulder.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 23994th pctl | 17586th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Boulder, CO 239; Denver, CO 175; Boulder is 37% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $982,60095th pctl | $586,70087th pctl | Median home value: Boulder, CO $982,600; Denver, CO $586,700; Boulder is 67% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,92490th pctl | $1,77083rd pctl | Median rent: Boulder, CO $1,924; Denver, CO $1,770; Boulder is 9% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $85,36465th pctl | $91,68171st pctl | Median household income: Boulder, CO $85,364; Denver, CO $91,681; Denver is 7% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $150,91995th pctl | $113,98689th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Boulder, CO $150,919; Denver, CO $113,986; Boulder is 32% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $221,85195th pctl | $167,55989th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Boulder, CO $221,851; Denver, CO $167,559; Boulder is 32% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Stretched | Housing affordability: Boulder, CO F; Denver, CO C-; Denver is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Denver needs about
$54,900
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 239 vs 175). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 4.1%70th pctl | 4.3%77th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.7%9th pctl | -0.6%10th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $59,45087th pctl | $61,20288th pctl | About the same |
| Poverty rate | 21.8%86th pctl | 11.2%48th pctl | Poverty rate: Boulder, CO 21.8%; Denver, CO 11.2%; Boulder is 10.6 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 19 min20th pctl | 25.4 min63rd pctl | Average commute: Boulder, CO 19 min; Denver, CO 25.4 min; Denver is 6 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 31.6%97th pctl | 24.4%90th pctl | Work from home: Boulder, CO 31.6%; Denver, CO 24.4%; Boulder is 7.2 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Strong | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Stable | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 35371st pctl | 87597th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Boulder, CO 353; Denver, CO 875; Denver is 2.5 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,39985th pctl | 4,12698th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Boulder, CO 2,399; Denver, CO 4,126; Denver is 72% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Dangerous | Crime & safety: Boulder, CO C+; Denver, CO F; Boulder is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Dry | Dry | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Poor | Clean | Tap water: Boulder, CO D-; Denver, CO A-; Denver is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Workable | Workable | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Colorado, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Colorado →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 24 mi29th pctl | 0 mi0th pctl | Nearest large city: Boulder, CO 24 mi; Denver, CO 0 mi; Boulder is higher (Denver: 0 mi). |
| Target proximity | Good | Poor | Target proximity: Boulder, CO A-; Denver, CO F; Boulder is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 574 mi80th pctl | 556 mi77th pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 713 mi85th pctl | 701 mi83rd pctl | About the same |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Vulnerable | Strategic location: Boulder, CO C-; Denver, CO D-; Boulder is graded higher. |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 106,27489th pctl | 713,73499th pctl | Population: Boulder, CO 106,274; Denver, CO 713,734; Denver is 6.7 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 3,94786th pctl | 4,66390th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Boulder, CO 3,947; Denver, CO 4,663; Denver is 18% higher. |
| Median age | 28.86th pctl | 35.227th pctl | Median age: Boulder, CO 28.8; Denver, CO 35.2; Denver is 6.4 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 76.8%97th pctl | 55.6%85th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Boulder, CO 76.8%; Denver, CO 55.6%; Boulder is 21.2 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.215th pctl | 2.112th pctl | About the same |
More about Boulder's residents · Denver's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Boulder and Denver
- Median rent: $1,924 in Boulder, $1,770 in Denver
- Median home value: $982,600 in Boulder, $586,700 in Denver
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 239 in Boulder, 175 in Denver
- Median household income: $85,364 in Boulder, $91,681 in Denver
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $221,851 in Boulder, $167,559 in Denver
- Unemployment: 4.1% in Boulder, 4.3% in Denver
- Average commute: 19 min in Boulder, 25.4 min in Denver
- Violent crime per 100k: 353 in Boulder, 875 in Denver
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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