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Boulder County, Colorado Demographics 2026

Boulder County, Colorado has a population of 328,961, the 9th most populous county in Colorado. The median household income is $103,994 and the median home value is $756,300. The poverty rate is 11.2%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Boulder County Quick Facts

Population 328,961
Median Household Income $103,994
Median Home Value $756,300
Poverty Rate 11.2%
Unemployment Rate 4.8%
Median Age 37.7 years
Homeownership Rate 62.0%
Affordability Ratio 7.3x
Bachelor's Degree+ 64.2%
High School Graduation 95.8%
Cities/Places 29
Population 328,961 9th of 64
Median Income $103,994 9% higher than state
Poverty Rate 11.2%
Unemployment 4.8%

How Boulder County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population328,317328,961+0.2%
Median household income$102,772$103,994+1.2%
Median home value$713,900$756,300+5.9%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 12.6%
$25K-$50K 12.2%
$50K-$100K 23.6%
$100K+ 51.7%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.0%
$10K-$15K
2.3%
$15K-$20K
2.6%
$20K-$25K
2.7%
$25K-$30K
2.5%
$30K-$35K
2.5%
$35K-$40K
2.3%
$40K-$45K
2.3%
$45K-$50K
2.5%
$50K-$60K
5.1%
$60K-$75K
7.6%
$75K-$100K
10.9%
$100K-$125K
8.8%
$125K-$150K
8.2%
$150K-$200K
11.1%
$200K+
23.7%

Employment

4.8% Unemployment Rate State: 4.6%|National: 5.2%
66.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 62.0%
Renter 38.0%
Affordability Index Very Expensive
7.3x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,966/mo 22.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

42out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 52 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Boulder County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Boulder106,433$87,49321.4%$1,039,500
Lafayette30,602$119,0405.6%$686,500
Louisville20,786$147,3194.5%$883,900
Gunbarrel10,051$109,4078.8%$821,000
Niwot3,447$146,4922.2%$995,700
Lyons1,838$122,83711.9%$845,400
Nederland1,655$122,9172.7%$707,100
Allenspark825$108,0568.2%$742,900
Lazy Acres778$147,62517.1%$1,024,700
Paragon Estates667$230,2685.0%$1,617,500
Altona587$149,3273.9%$1,084,000
Pine Brook Hill543$63,6063.1%$1,099,100
Sugarloaf474N/A0.0%$1,255,400
Eldora465N/A52.9%$500,000
St. Ann Highlands453$188,1250.0%$936,200
Tall Timber382$203,1100.0%$1,086,200
Sunshine330N/A7.3%$1,043,600
Jamestown324$149,3752.5%$595,900
Eldorado Springs320$133,0089.1%$809,200
Crisman268$172,5746.7%$846,600
Bark Ranch199$115,5210.0%$772,100
Seven Hills183N/A0.0%N/A
Mountain Meadows180N/A0.0%$1,038,800
Gold Hill178N/A29.2%$611,900
Ward103$56,87522.3%$322,200
Glendale69$199,0630.0%$823,500
Bonanza Mountain Estates56N/A7.1%N/A
Hidden Lake29N/A0.0%N/A
Valmont27$75,35711.1%$692,300

Population Overview

Boulder County is located in Colorado with a total population of 328,961. It is the 9th most populous county out of 64 in Colorado. The county encompasses 29 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Boulder County is 37.7 years. This is about the same as the state median of 37.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Boulder County is $103,994. This is 9% higher than the state median of $95,470. It is also 29% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.2%. This is 18% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.4%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 4% higher than the state rate of 4.6%. The median home value is $756,300. Housing costs are 40% higher than the state median of $539,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.3x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 62.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 66.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Boulder County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 74.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 14.7%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.8%.

Education

64.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Boulder County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 40% higher than the state rate of 45.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.8%. Notably, 30.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Boulder County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Colorado and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Boulder County, Colorado?

Boulder County has a population of 328,961, making it the 9th most populous county in Colorado.

What is the median income in Boulder County?

The median household income in Boulder County is $103,994 with a poverty rate of 11.2%.

How many cities are in Boulder County, Colorado?

Boulder County contains 29 Census-designated places.