1st Advantage MortgageAbout 62% of Boulder County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $103,994. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Boulder County, CO: the basics
- Renting and owning in Boulder County
- Paychecks and income spread in Boulder County
- How Boulder County residents earn a living
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Boulder County
- How Boulder County compares with nearby counties
- A Boulder County household budget, worked through
- Who lives in Boulder County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Boulder County
- Lender oversight for Boulder County
- Steps before you apply in Boulder County
- More guides for Boulder County
- Frequently asked questions
Boulder County, CO: the basics
Boulder County is home to about 328,961 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 9th most populous of 64 county-level areas in Colorado. Packed into 726 square miles, that is close to 453 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Boulder, CO metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 33 Census places inside Boulder County, Boulder leads by population with about 106,433; 10 of the 33 are incorporated.
Renting and owning in Boulder County
Renters in Boulder County pay a median of $1,966 a month, 12% above the Colorado figure of $1,761. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 60% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $756,300, about 7.3 times the median household income. 62% of Boulder County households own their home and 38% rent. The median year built is 1986.
| Boulder County | Colorado | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,966/mo | $1,761/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $756,300 | $539,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 60% | 53% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.3% | 3.5% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Paychecks and income spread in Boulder County
At $103,994, the typical Boulder County household income is 58% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 8th among Colorado's 64 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Boulder County | +/- vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.6% | +1.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 30.7% | -5.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.0% | -2.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 23.7% | +6.8 pts |
Some 18% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 52% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 11.2%, 2 points higher than the state's 9.4%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Boulder County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Boulder County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (21%). Professional and administrative services stands out: 21% of workers here, versus 16% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.8% in Boulder County. About 53% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 5.2% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Boulder County workers | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.8% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 21.2% | +5.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.0% | +1.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.9% | -0.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.8% | +2.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.2% | -2.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Boulder County
33 Census places fall mainly inside Boulder County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 328,771 residents, leaving about 0% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $63,606 in Pine Brook Hill to $230,268 in Paragon Estates. Median rent ranges from $1,311 in Allenspark to $3,501 in Altona. City guides exist for the linked Boulder County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | city | 106,433 | $87,493 | $2,018 | 9 mi |
| Longmont | city | 99,406 | $90,671 | $1,816 | 16 mi |
| Erie | town | 33,808 | $173,349 | $2,805 | 19 mi |
| Lafayette | city | 30,602 | $119,040 | $2,121 | 17 mi |
| Louisville | city | 20,786 | $147,319 | $2,166 | 16 mi |
| Superior | town | 13,305 | $159,434 | $2,457 | 17 mi |
| Gunbarrel | CDP | 10,051 | $109,407 | $1,972 | 12 mi |
| Niwot | CDP | 3,447 | $146,492 | $1,414 | 13 mi |
| Lyons | town | 1,838 | $122,837 | $1,981 | 11 mi |
| Nederland | town | 1,655 | $122,917 | $1,453 | 11 mi |
| Allenspark | CDP | 825 | $108,056 | $1,311 | 11 mi |
| Lazy Acres | CDP | 778 | $147,625 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Paragon Estates | CDP | 667 | $230,268 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Altona | CDP | 587 | $149,327 | $3,501 | 6 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
How Boulder County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Gilpin County at 18 miles out to Grand County at 38. Broomfield County leads the group on income ($123,874), Grand County trails ($88,612), and Boulder County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder County | - | $103,994 | $1,966/mo | 62% |
| Gilpin County, CO | 18 mi | $95,361 | $1,658/mo | 88% |
| Broomfield County, CO | 21 mi | $123,874 | $2,126/mo | 63% |
| Clear Creek County, CO | 32 mi | $94,577 | $1,467/mo | 82% |
| Denver County, CO | 36 mi | $94,718 | $1,831/mo | 49% |
| Jefferson County, CO | 37 mi | $110,656 | $1,861/mo | 71% |
| Grand County, CO | 38 mi | $88,612 | $1,493/mo | 73% |
A Boulder County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Boulder County's medians:
- Start: $8,666 gross per month ($103,994 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,966, or 23 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,154 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Who lives in Boulder County, in numbers
Degree holders: 64% of adults over 25. 4.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Boulder County | Colorado | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 37.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 64.2% | 45.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.2% | 7.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.4% | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 31.2% | 21.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.3% |
| 60+ min | 5.3% |
Local borrowing considerations for Boulder County
Based on the Boulder County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Consolidation math. With 52% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Renters under pressure. When 60% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Lender oversight for Boulder County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Boulder County borrowers answers to the Colorado Division of Banking. Colorado also has the Colorado Attorney General's office, which administers the state's Uniform Consumer Credit Code for consumer credit. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Colorado guide.
Steps before you apply in Boulder County
A short checklist for Boulder County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Colorado.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Boulder County
More local guides:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Boulder County household make?
About $103,994 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 9% above the Colorado median.
Is Boulder County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,966 against $1,761 statewide, and 60% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Boulder County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 33 Census places: Boulder, Longmont, Erie, Lafayette, Louisville.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Boulder County or elsewhere in Colorado, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Boulder County residents?
The Colorado Division of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Colorado; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.