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METRO AREA

Boulder Metro

Boulder, CO · 1 counties · 328,560 residents (2025 est.) · 726.385 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#1Most work-from-homeof 92531.2%#2Most educatedof 92564.2%#21Highest median rentof 925$1,966#22Most expensive homesof 925$756,300
The short version

Boulder is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $103,994. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 64% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $756,300. It ranks in the top 1% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
64% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 80%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
328,961
+13%since 2000
from 291,288 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
453 / sq mi
+13%since 2000
from 401 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.7
+13%since 2000
from 33.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:328,560 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
215K246K278K310K341K1990201020202024Boulder
2024329K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$103,994
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $55,861 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$62,436
+115%since 2000
from $28,976 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
62.6%
+19.0 ptssince 2009
from 43.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.2%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 9.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.492
+2%since 2010
from 0.483 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information9.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services5.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade4.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food3.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Finance & insurance3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$756,300
+80%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $231,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,966
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $825 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
62.0%
−2.8 ptssince 2000
from 64.7% in 2000
38.0% rent
Vacancy rate
5.3%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
23.5%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 29.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
57.2%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 56.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
7.3
+76%since 2000
from 4.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
81
RELATED:See current rent listings in Boulder on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.6%(243,512)
Black0.8%(2,393)
Hispanic / Latino10.5%(30,456)
Asian3%(8,834)
Other0%
Diversity Score32.3%(94,129)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic74.5%(245,197)
Black0.8%(2,490)
Hispanic / Latino14.7%(48,466)
Asian4.7%(15,302)
Other5.3%(17,506)
Diversity Score52.2%(171,745)
Segregation Score24.1%(79,294)
Diversity Score
52
+62%since 2000
from 32 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
24
−11%since 2020
from 27 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
64.2%
+11.8 ptssince 2000
from 52.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.8%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 92.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
30.0%
+8.8 ptssince 2000
from 21.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.3 min
+49%since 2000
from 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
52.8%
−14.1 ptssince 2009
from 67.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.3%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.6%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
31.2%
+21.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
3.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.8%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 6.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.9%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 69.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
58.2%
−14.8 ptssince 2009
from 73.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Female
49.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Foreign born
10.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.3%
−46.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.4%
+2.3 ptssince 2012
from 7.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.4%
−84.3 ptssince 2013
from 88.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.7%
+7.2 ptssince 2017
from 88.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
84.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 83.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
8.2%
−1.1 ptssince 2016
from 9.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

BoulderCENTRAL105,689
What's inside

1 component county

Boulder CountyCENTRAL328,560
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Boulder

Bremerton
Pop 283,374
Lacey
Pop 304,261
Trenton
Pop 399,289
Greeley
Pop 378,426
Places similar to Boulder
Head to head

Compare Boulder side by side

BOULDER VS
Bremerton
Income$104,158same
Home value$555,100−27%
Population283,374−14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOULDER VS
Lacey
Income$96,563−7%
Home value$480,300−36%
Population304,261−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOULDER VS
Trenton
Income$100,645−3%
Home value$377,700−50%
Population399,289+22%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BOULDER VS
Greeley
Income$97,097−7%
Home value$471,700−38%
Population378,426+15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Boulder, CO?

Boulder, CO has about 328,961 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Boulder, CO?

The typical household in Boulder, CO earns about $103,994 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Boulder, CO expensive?

In Boulder, CO, the median home is worth about $756,300, and the typical rent is about $1,966 a month.

How educated are people in Boulder, CO?

About 64.2% of adults age 25 and over in Boulder, CO hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Boulder, CO?

About 11.2% of people in Boulder, CO live below the federal poverty line.

Has Boulder, CO grown since 1990?

Yes, Boulder, CO has grown since 1990. The population has added about 103,622 residents, a change of about 46 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →