Boulder city, Colorado Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Boulder city is a major urban center located in Colorado. The total population is 106,274. It ranks as the 12th most populous out of 471 cities and towns in Colorado.

Age Demographics

The median age in Boulder city is 28.8 years. This is 23% lower than the state median of 37.5 years. Only 11.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Boulder city is $85,364. This is 8% lower than the state median of $92,470. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 9% higher. The poverty rate stands at 21.8%. This is 132% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.4%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 6.1%. This is 35% higher than the state rate of 4.5%. The median home value is $982,600. Housing costs are 96% higher than the state median of $502,200. The home-value-to-income ratio of 11.5x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 47.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 28% lower than the state average of 66.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Boulder city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.2%. The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (5.7% vs 3.2%).

Education

76.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Boulder city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 72% higher than the state rate of 44.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.9%. Notably, 39.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Boulder city, Colorado is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Colorado state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 471 Census-designated places in Colorado. For official data, visit data.census.gov.