Boulder, CO

Boulder CO scores 75/100 on safety (above average). Crime is about 21% above the national average. Pick the neighborhood carefully. Some ZIPs are fine, others are not.

Detail: overall crime index 121 (100 = avg); violent crime index 90; property crime index 151. Indexes near 100 track a typical U.S. load. Higher means more crime pressure on that category.

Campus scores in the report: Boulder Elementary (elementary) at 7/10; Boulder Middle School (middle) at 7/10; Boulder High School (high) at 8/10. On this 10-point scale, 7 is solidly middle; 9 is a standout.

District picture: about B+ (above average) · Top 35% statewide. Student-teacher staffing: 16:1. If schools drive your move, compare the specific campuses that serve your target address against statewide peers.

Typical rent in Boulder is about $2,124/month (expensive). At $2,124/month for a typical unit, you need about $76,464+ in household income to rent comfortably without stretching (3× rent × 12). Typical home value: $919,700.

Median household income is $80,243, property taxes run about 1.45%, and homes typically sell in around 28 days. Local median income ($80,243) clears the $76,464 comfort line for that rent.

Walk Score 68 (Somewhat Walkable); transit score 42 (Some Transit).

Average temperature is about 76°F (highs near 90°F, lows near 62°F).

Most of the year is outdoor-friendly; peak summer still needs AC for comfort. Cooling costs matter more than heating for most of the year. If you visit, go in late summer so you feel the heat, not just a mild weekend.

Who tends to thrive in Boulder: (1) Households that want quieter streets (safety sits at 75/100) (2) Dual-income households (at $2,124/month, the rent math works much better with two salaries) (3) Tech and finance workers (the job market is real and local pay near $80,243 helps carry housing costs) (4) People relocating for a job who can pick a safer ZIP (citywide safety is 75/100)

Who should look elsewhere: (1) Single earners under $70k (the rent-to-income ratio is tight at $2,124/month) (2) Anyone stretching past 40% of take-home on housing at $2,124/month (3) Households expecting top marks on rent, safety, and schools at once (Boulder does not clear every bar)

Income sniff test: clear about $76,464 household income for $2,124/month rent. Under that, pick a cheaper ZIP or a different city.

Boulder holds up well on the core metrics. Safety at 75/100 and B+ schools make it a reasonable choice for families who can manage $2,124/month rent.