CountyScore

Boulder County

Colorado · CO

#60 in Colorado
62.3
County Score

County Report Card

About Boulder County, Colorado

Boulder ranks above national median

Boulder County scores 60.7 on the composite index, placing it in the 60th percentile nationally and above the national median of 50.0. However, this score masks a county of paradoxes—high incomes offset by extreme housing costs.

Below state average despite wealth

At 60.7, Boulder County falls below Colorado's state average of 71.8, surprising for one of Colorado's most affluent counties. The gap reflects that even six-figure incomes cannot keep pace with median home values exceeding $700,000.

Highest incomes in Colorado

Boulder County leads with an income score of 50.5 and median household income of $102,772, supporting highly educated professionals and tech workers. The tax score of 87.2 offers an effective rate of 0.535%, providing some fiscal relief.

Housing costs are extraordinary

With a cost score of just 43.4, Boulder County's median home value of $713,900 and median rent of $1,893 represent some of Colorado's steepest housing burdens. Limited data on safety, health, schools, and other livability dimensions is not yet available.

For affluent professionals only

Boulder County suits well-compensated professionals, tech workers, and wealthy families who prioritize Colorado's most desirable communities and can comfortably afford six-figure housing costs. This is a county for the financially elite.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax87.2Cost43.4SafetyComing SoonHealth84.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome50.5Risk9.3WaterComing Soon
🏛87.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠43.4
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼50.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤84.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡9.3
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Boulder County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Hardee County
Florida
62.3
Median income: $54,231
Martin County
Florida
62.3
Median income: $80,701
Okaloosa County
Florida
62.3
Median income: $79,097
Cumberland County
Maine
62.3
Median income: $92,983
Kalamazoo County
Michigan
62.3
Median income: $70,525

Deep Dives

Boulder County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Boulder County

via TaxByCounty

Boulder taxes above national average

Boulder County's effective rate of 0.535% exceeds the national median of 0.52%, placing it in the top 50% of U.S. counties. The median property tax of $3,821 is 42% higher than the national median of $2,690, reflecting both high tax rates and premium home values.

Among Colorado's highest-taxed

Boulder County's effective rate of 0.535% runs 36% above Colorado's 0.393% average, ranking it in the upper tier statewide. Its median tax of $3,821 is 145% above the state median of $1,560—the highest in Colorado.

Highest taxes in metro Denver

Boulder County's 0.535% rate exceeds all nearby Denver metro counties including Adams (0.604%), Arapahoe (0.526%), and Broomfield (0.616%). Only Broomfield's absolute dollars are higher due to even pricier homes ($632k vs. $714k).

What your $714k home costs

A median-valued home in Boulder County at $713,900 generates approximately $3,821 in annual property taxes. With mortgage tax deductions included, your effective cost remains high at $3,842 per year.

Appeal if assessment outpaces market

Boulder County's booming market can trigger aggressive assessments that exceed true market value, especially after sales spikes. File an appeal if your assessed value exceeds recent comparable sales—hundreds of Boulder homeowners recover thousands annually.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Boulder County

via CostByCounty

Colorado's most expensive county

Boulder County households earn $102,772—37% above the national average—yet renters spend 22.1% of income on housing at $1,893/month, the highest rent among these eight counties. Even top earners feel the squeeze of this tech and education hub's premium pricing.

Priciest homes in Colorado sample

Boulder County's median home value of $713,900 shatters the state comparison, running 235% above Alamosa's $218,800 median. With rents of $1,893—51% above Colorado's state average—this county represents the state's upper tier of housing costs.

Silicon Valley of the Rockies

Boulder's $1,893 median rent exceeds every other county analyzed—$1,081 more than Alamosa and $521 more than Arapahoe County. Home values tell the same story: $713,900 versus Arapahoe's $526,000, reflecting Boulder's status as Colorado's most coveted address.

Housing takes 22.1% of top earners

A Boulder County household earning the median $102,772 dedicates $1,893/month to rent, consuming 22.1% of income—or $1,970/month for ownership, eating 23% of earnings. Even at the state's highest incomes, housing claims a substantial share of household budgets.

Premium income required

Boulder County demands the highest salary floor among Colorado counties; you'll need the $102,772 median income to afford $1,893 rents without stretching too thin. This is where remote workers earning six figures and established professionals with equity stakes choose to live.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Boulder County

via IncomeByCounty

Boulder County dominates at 37% above US

Boulder County's median household income of $102,772 towers 37% above the national median of $74,755, placing it among America's wealthiest counties. The Boulder-Broomfield corridor's concentration of tech companies, biotech firms, and educated professionals drives this exceptional performance.

Colorado's 2nd highest-income county

Boulder County ranks 2nd among all Colorado counties for median household income at $102,772, trailing only Broomfield's $121,025. The county's economy of innovation, higher education, and knowledge workers consistently outperforms state and national benchmarks.

Significantly richer than surrounding areas

Boulder's $102,772 median household income vastly exceeds neighboring Broomfield ($121,025—only local peer) and the wider Denver metro, reflecting Boulder's unique position as a wealth concentration hub. The county's university anchor and tech ecosystem create few equals in the region.

High income offsets expensive housing

Boulder County's 22.1% rent-to-income ratio is remarkably efficient given the median home value of $713,900—the state's highest. The exceptional incomes allow even premium housing to remain affordable relative to earnings.

Elite market for wealth acceleration

Boulder County's $102,772 median income and concentrated professional workforce create unparalleled opportunities for aggressive wealth building, investment sophistication, and entrepreneurial ventures. Maximize retirement contributions, explore diversified investment portfolios, consider real estate leverage, and evaluate business ownership to capitalize on the county's exceptional economic fundamentals.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Boulder County

via HealthByCounty

Boulder leads nation on life expectancy and health

At 82.3 years, Boulder County residents live 3 years longer than the U.S. average of 79.3 years, and only 11.4% report poor or fair health—well below the national average of 16.7%. Boulder represents one of America's healthiest communities, driven by strong healthcare access, high education levels, and robust preventive care culture.

Boulder is Colorado's healthiest county

Boulder's 82.3-year life expectancy exceeds Colorado's 78.2-year state average by 4.1 years, making it the clear health leader among Colorado counties analyzed. With only a 5.9% uninsured rate—the lowest of any county here—Boulder combines universal coverage and excellent health outcomes.

Boulder dramatically outpaces metro Denver peers

Boulder's 82.3-year life expectancy and 11.4% poor/fair health rate stand far above Arapahoe County (79.1 years, 14.2%) and Adams County (76.9 years, 19.1%). Boulder's 120 primary care providers per 100K and 943 mental health providers per 100K represent the densest healthcare infrastructure in this analysis, enabling prevention-first medicine.

Abundant providers and high coverage sustain health

Boulder's 120 primary care providers per 100K and 943 mental health providers per 100K—the highest density in this group—ensure rapid access to prevention and treatment. Combined with a 5.9% uninsured rate, Boulder's healthcare system catches problems early and supports residents throughout their lifespans.

Boulder's coverage strength benefits all

Boulder's 5.9% uninsured rate is the lowest in Colorado, yet every uninsured family deserves coverage security. If you're among Boulder's remaining uninsured, Colorado's marketplace at CoverColorado.com offers competitive plans—many qualify for subsidies that lower monthly costs dramatically.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Boulder County

via RiskByCounty

Boulder County faces Colorado's highest disaster risk

Boulder County scores 90.71 on the composite risk scale, among the highest in the state and well above national averages, indicating relatively moderate but substantial multi-hazard exposure. This score reflects acute vulnerabilities across tornadoes, wildfire, flooding, and earthquakes.

Third-highest risk county in Colorado overall

Boulder's 90.71 composite score trails only Arapahoe (93.80) and Adams (91.19) in statewide disaster risk, facing more than double Colorado's average (40.67). The county's mountain-valley geography and population density concentrate multiple hazard vulnerabilities.

Boulder leads the Front Range in composite risk

Boulder (90.71) substantially exceeds Broomfield (34.70) to the east and ranks alongside Adams (91.19) and Arapahoe (93.80) as part of Colorado's highest-risk trio. This elevated exposure reflects the county's mountainous terrain and urban concentration.

Wildfire and floods define Boulder's hazard profile

Wildfire risk reaches 97.87—the highest in Colorado—reflecting extensive forests and terrain, while flood risk of 92.24 poses acute danger in canyons and drainages. Tornado exposure (92.59) and earthquake risk (80.50) add further complexity to this multi-peril environment.

Comprehensive multi-peril insurance is essential

Boulder residents must carry flood insurance (92.24 risk) and maintain wildfire defensibility with adequate coverage, as standard policies exclude both hazards. Earthquake insurance should also be considered given the 80.50 risk score, making layered protection critical in this high-risk county.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.