Relocation profile · Federal data
Boulder, CO
LiveAbility 29.6/100 places Boulder #369 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).
- 105.2
- Cost index (US=100)
- $2,124
- 2BR rent / mo
- $82,291
- Median salary
- 29.6
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Boulder ranks #369 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (29.6/100), with its strongest marks in job market and schools.
- #369
- of 387 US metros · Well below median
- 5,957,493
- metro-area population
- 481
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,923
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: safety (7/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Boulder ranks #369 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 105.2 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $2,124/mo, median salary $82,291; LiveAbility Score 29.6/100, strongest in job market and schools.
Signature: LiveAbility 29.6/100 places Boulder #369 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 105.2 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $2,124/mo.
LiveAbility 29.6/100 puts Boulder in the bottom third (#369 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Boulder area is 178,320.
Boulder vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
30 Top 96% higher than 4% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Boulder housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Boulder MSA; housing RPP 157.0 (100 = national average); 2BR $2,124/mo.
Boulder wages and employment
Boulder posts 178,320 total employment with median salary $82,291 against a dearer-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Software Developers | $164,560 |
| Retail Salespersons | $38,700 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $36,190 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $94,040 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $99,990 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Boulder area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Boulder area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Boulder's composite Life Score is 40.7/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Boulder ranks #369 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 29.6/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Boulder - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Job market
Job market
97 /100
- Schools 37
Schools
37 /100
- Low hazard 37
Low hazard
37 /100
- Air quality 26
Air quality
26 /100
- Climate 14
Climate
14 /100
- Cost of living 7
Cost of living
7 /100
- Housing 7
Housing
7 /100
- Safety 7
Safety
7 /100
What this shows Boulder's strongest dimensions are job market and schools; its weakest among scored dims is safety at 7/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Boulder to
Metros near Boulder on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Boulder on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Boulder cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Boulder wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Boulder?
Boulder runs a $82,291 median salary at a 105.2 cost index, ranking #369 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Boulder's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Boulder head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Boulder
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.