Economy, jobs and prices in Boulder, Colorado: official figures
The median household income in Boulder was $87,493 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 339th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Colorado median $95,470.
What is the per capita income in Boulder?
Income per resident (per capita income) in Boulder averaged $63,074 a year in 2020-2024, 85th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Colorado: $52,636).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Boulder?
Boulder's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.561 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 5th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Boulder, Colorado?
6.0% of the civilian labor force in Boulder was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (3,660 people), 263rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Colorado's 4.6%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Boulder have jobs?
57,272 residents of Boulder held civilian jobs, 59.8% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 61 served in the armed forces.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Boulder?
The largest industry group for working residents of Boulder was education, health care and social assistance (26.8% of employed residents), followed by professional, scientific, management and administrative services (21.2%) and arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (14.4%), 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Boulder work in manufacturing?
Manufacturing employed 6.1% of working residents of Boulder, 178th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 21.2% (US: 12.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow long is the commute in Boulder, Colorado?
Commuters in Boulder took 18.1 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 76th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 3.5% travelled an hour or more and 43.5% less than 15 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow do people in Boulder get to work?
34.4% of workers living in Boulder worked from home in 2020-2024, 16th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 39.1% drove to work alone, 3.2% carpooled, 5.1% used public transport and 9.5% walked.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Boulder, Colorado?
The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Boulder was $2,018 a month in 2020-2024, 160th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Colorado: $1,761).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Boulder?
Owner-occupied homes in Boulder had a median value of $1,039,500 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 48th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Colorado: $539,400).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow affordable are homes in Boulder?
The median home value in Boulder was 11.9 times the median household income, 8th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Boulder have no internet?
1.8% of households in Boulder (812) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 66th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 7.1% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Boulder compares with other cities in the United States
Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Boulder ranks 339 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median household income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 336 | Pico Rivera | $88,201 |
| 337 | Goose Creek | $88,178 |
| 338 | Alhambra | $88,024 |
| 339 | Boulder | $87,493 |
| 340 | Long Beach | $87,430 |
| 341 | Sacramento | $87,321 |
| 342 | Davie | $87,250 |
Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Boulder ranks 85 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Per capita income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 82 | Denver | $64,163 |
| 83 | Huntington Beach | $64,102 |
| 84 | Irvine | $64,055 |
| 85 | Boulder | $63,074 |
| 86 | Folsom | $62,962 |
| 87 | Austin | $62,862 |
| 88 | Collierville | $62,842 |
Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)
Boulder ranks 5 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Sarasota | 0.583 |
| 3 | Bloomington | 0.565 |
| 4 | Champaign | 0.562 |
| 5 | Boulder | 0.561 |
| 6 | Baton Rouge | 0.561 |
| 7 | Boca Raton | 0.559 |
| 8 | Atlanta | 0.557 |
Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)
Boulder ranks 263 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) |
|---|---|---|
| 260 | St. Cloud | 6.0% |
| 261 | Baldwin Park | 6.0% |
| 262 | Cleveland | 6.0% |
| 263 | Boulder | 6.0% |
| 264 | Cathedral City | 6.0% |
| 265 | Walnut Creek | 6.0% |
| 266 | Torrance | 6.0% |
Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)
Boulder ranks 542 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Labor force participation rate (16 and over) |
|---|---|---|
| 539 | Pompano Beach | 63.8% |
| 540 | Paterson | 63.7% |
| 541 | Conway | 63.7% |
| 542 | Boulder | 63.7% |
| 543 | Alhambra | 63.7% |
| 544 | San Buenaventura (Ventura) | 63.7% |
| 545 | Philadelphia | 63.6% |
Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)
Boulder ranks 748 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Mean travel time to work (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 745 | Jackson | 18.2 |
| 746 | Asheville | 18.2 |
| 747 | Rogers | 18.2 |
| 748 | Boulder | 18.1 |
| 749 | Muncie | 18.1 |
| 750 | Bellingham | 18.1 |
| 751 | Oshkosh | 18.1 |
Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)
Boulder ranks 16 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers who worked from home |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Palo Alto | 35.4% |
| 14 | Seattle | 34.8% |
| 15 | Dublin | 34.7% |
| 16 | Boulder | 34.4% |
| 17 | Dunwoody | 33.9% |
| 18 | San Ramon | 33.9% |
| 19 | Kirkland | 33.9% |
Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)
Boulder ranks 99 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers commuting by public transportation |
|---|---|---|
| 96 | Provo | 5.1% |
| 97 | Bellevue | 5.1% |
| 98 | Troy | 5.1% |
| 99 | Boulder | 5.1% |
| 100 | Berwyn | 5.0% |
| 101 | Milwaukee | 5.0% |
| 102 | San Mateo | 4.9% |
Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)
Boulder ranks 646 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents working in manufacturing |
|---|---|---|
| 643 | Lake Havasu City | 6.2% |
| 644 | Moore | 6.2% |
| 645 | Colorado Springs | 6.1% |
| 646 | Boulder | 6.1% |
| 647 | Wilmington | 6.1% |
| 648 | Iowa City | 6.1% |
| 649 | Virginia Beach | 6.1% |
Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)
Boulder ranks 160 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance |
|---|---|---|
| 157 | Lafayette | 26.8% |
| 158 | Salt Lake City | 26.8% |
| 159 | Millcreek | 26.8% |
| 160 | Boulder | 26.8% |
| 161 | Porterville | 26.8% |
| 162 | League City | 26.7% |
| 163 | Hartford | 26.7% |
Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)
Boulder ranks 160 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median gross rent per month |
|---|---|---|
| 157 | Holly Springs | $2,021 |
| 158 | Eagle Mountain | $2,020 |
| 159 | Herriman | $2,019 |
| 160 | Boulder | $2,018 |
| 161 | Frisco | $2,014 |
| 162 | Scottsdale | $2,013 |
| 163 | Garden Grove | $2,012 |
Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)
Boulder ranks 48 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median value of owner-occupied homes |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Torrance | $1,074,700 |
| 46 | Fountain Valley | $1,072,300 |
| 47 | Walnut Creek | $1,057,300 |
| 48 | Boulder | $1,039,500 |
| 49 | Novato | $1,032,500 |
| 50 | Gilroy | $1,027,400 |
| 51 | Mission Viejo | $1,009,600 |
Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)
Boulder ranks 7 of 820, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median home value as a multiple of median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Arcadia | 12.7x |
| 5 | San Luis Obispo | 12.7x |
| 6 | Glendale | 12.5x |
| 7 | Boulder | 11.9x |
| 8 | Redwood City | 11.4x |
| 9 | Hawthorne | 11.4x |
| 10 | San Rafael | 11.4x |
Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)
Boulder ranks 669 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Occupied homes lived in by their owners |
|---|---|---|
| 666 | Fayetteville | 47.4% |
| 667 | San Diego | 47.3% |
| 668 | Waterbury | 47.2% |
| 669 | Boulder | 47.2% |
| 670 | Iowa City | 47.2% |
| 671 | Marietta | 47.2% |
| 672 | Missoula | 47.0% |
Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)
Boulder ranks 146 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with a broadband subscription |
|---|---|---|
| 143 | South San Francisco | 95.6% |
| 144 | Meridian | 95.6% |
| 145 | San Mateo | 95.6% |
| 146 | Boulder | 95.6% |
| 147 | Mableton | 95.6% |
| 148 | Kent | 95.6% |
| 149 | Yorba Linda | 95.6% |
Households with no internet access (2020-2024)
Boulder ranks 758 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with no internet access |
|---|---|---|
| 755 | Mooresville | 1.9% |
| 756 | Santa Cruz | 1.9% |
| 757 | Marana | 1.8% |
| 758 | Boulder | 1.8% |
| 759 | Bothell | 1.8% |
| 760 | Gilbert | 1.8% |
| 761 | Eden Prairie | 1.8% |
More on Boulder: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08013: Aggregate Travel Time to Work (in Minutes) of Workers by Sex (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 6939fdfa046fd5bb829ec8da9549e66298cc740f6a3f5dd60e1920a08e3083fb), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f94e7878b6a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B23025: Employment Status for the Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 264a5bd9367c5f58d9773fa4966fa94fe1e02f9c7106bc2ab39168d6de7c3e4a), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2630e6946370…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini Index of Income Inequality (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 338f7a1191eaaf3913913e78c36aaa9d82f2b5c8faaf889be2e597b28869205e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b8cf854b1f94…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C24030: Sex by Industry for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 66a2799a71a5fc36f0e3bc22767fe5bdd8f96eb29e85b91311e990d35cc14114), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5d717c57e7e4…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19013: Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b25a176b0e6c339b6f3a2a0d3d8446bf06f5f080b4395993ec9a8313efb1c229), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d8a264807c6…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08301: Means of Transportation to Work (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 552b24c135b6e7c566910914a861cda6fc798ba0cd47801b1eb64295a128c2ee), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 eaf823006d53…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19301: Per Capita Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 9fc107e98fee7fa49bb8314560205569184fad65fb64b80adb5c5bdd83ccc409), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c1e725b26a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25064: Median Gross Rent (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b36e6dc1fcef36b8b307d31b37517b64c80d8b9c70d48c9b1894242860f42eb0), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b842a7ff825c…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25077: Median Value (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 89eb2153764a2330b23959d8bbc29b3a8f3016f087b990f2a8ea0d5096d9a816), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 22b59a3b1acb…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B28002: Presence and Types of Internet Subscriptions in Household (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 12446ff0691b8818f5908cdc398817361772c5b3078c506d0409adc9c841840b), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4b375b368bf9…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25003: Tenure (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 68e963e1ed60fcf6b0658579cefc6498b7a9eb780b9f3e87fd1b9775c4d4ac6c), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2983c28f47fa…)
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