Boulder is a small town of 1,214 in Montana, with a median household income of $54,609
and a 6.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Boulder stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Boulder is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Boulder city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 90.8
Boulder's overall cost of living index is 90.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Boulder costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Boulder, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$192,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$720
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
69.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$54,609
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Boulder's violent crime rate is 155.5 per 100,000 residents
— 59% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
155.5 /100k
Property Crime
646.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Boulder is served primarily by Boulder Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Boulder, MT
National Avg
School District
Boulder Elem
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Boulder sees average highs of 35.0°F in January
and 82.5°F in July,
with 10.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 37.2 inches of snow per year.
Boulder's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Boulder roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $192,600 and median rent is $720/month.
Boulder's violent crime rate is 155.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 646.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Boulder are operated by Boulder Elem.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1. 25.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Boulder, MT has a population of 1,214, a median household income of $54,609, and an unemployment rate of 6.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Boulder averages 35.0°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 10.8 inches
with about 37.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Boulder, Montana is 1,214 with a median age of 41.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Boulder: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $192,600, median household income $54,609, crime index 37 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Boulder side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
