Cost of Living in Boulder County, Colorado
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Boulder County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Boulder County ranks #3,074 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 2%)
Sourced county brief
Boulder County Median Home Value Estimated at $756,300
The median home value in Boulder County is $756,300, which is significantly above the Colorado unweighted county mean of $427,513. The median gross rent is $1,966 per month, also exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $1,303. For households in owner-occupied units, the median selected monthly owner cost is $2,032, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $1,272. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 35.0%. This figure is 5.4 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 29.6%. Among renter households, the median income is $63,666. The 35.0% rent-to-income ratio is the official B25071 GRAPI measurement reported by the U.S. Census Bureau for the 2020-2024 period. This snapshot does not account for market trends occurring after the survey. See ACS table B25077 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Boulder County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 35.0% of renter household income in Boulder County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,966 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,032. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $78,640 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Colorado unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,303 per month. Boulder County's $1,966 median is 50.9% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Boulder County
Rent Burden
22.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,427
per month
Owner Cost Burden
23.4%
of gross income
The median home in Boulder County may be a stretch
Median home value is $756,300. Estimated monthly cost: $6,038 vs. your max of $2,427.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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