Boulder, Colorado has an overall cost of living index of 100.6, which is 0.6 points above the US average of 100 — making it about average versus most American cities. Renters pay a median of $2,018 per month, while the typical home is valued around $1,039,500. Households earn a median of $87,493 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
Median Household Income
$87,493
Annual · Census ACS
Median Gross Rent
$2,018
Per month · Census ACS
Median Home Value
$1,039,500
Census ACS
Cost of Living Index
100.6
BEA RPP · US avg = 100
Studio FMR
$1,553
HUD Fair Market Rent
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,795
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
$2,124
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
$2,820
HUD FMR
HUD Fair Market Rent = 40th percentile gross rent · FY2024
Each category is indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
100.6
Goods
96.3
Rents / Housing
148.6
Services
78.8
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| 💻Software Developer | $186,270 |
| 🏥Registered Nurse | $101,900 |
| 📚Elementary Teacher | $84,770 |
| ⚡Electrician | $65,120 |
| 📊Accountant | $102,070 |
| 🔧Plumber | $73,930 |
| ⚕️Nurse Practitioner | N/A |
| 🏗️Civil Engineer | $111,110 |
| 👔Operations Manager | $180,110 |
| 📈Market Research Analyst | $103,950 |
| 🏢Health Services Manager | $154,830 |
| 🚛Truck Driver | $63,180 |
| 👨⚕️Physician Assistant | N/A |
| 🩺Surgeon | N/A |
| 🧮Data Scientist | N/A |
| 🖥️Computer Engineer | $152,780 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
106,433
Latest estimate
Median Age
28.8 yrs
Census ACS
🌬️
AQI data not available
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
5
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
60
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
N/A
Per month
Avg Home Value
N/A
Census ACS
January Avg
32°F
July Avg
74°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Continental · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
32.4
poor
Hospitals
1
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
96.6%
What is the cost of living index for Boulder?
Boulder has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 100.6. The US national average is 100, so Boulder is 0.6 points above the national average.
What is the median rent in Boulder?
The median gross rent in Boulder is $2,018 per month according to US Census ACS data.
What is the median household income in Boulder?
The median household income in Boulder is $87,493 per year.
What is the median home value in Boulder?
The median home value in Boulder is $1,039,500 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
How is the air quality in Boulder?
Air quality data for Boulder is not yet available.
What are the taxes like in Boulder?
Tax data for Colorado is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
