Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Boulder, CO
🏆 Austin leads 13 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Boulder
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Homes cost $458k less ($461,500 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $304/mo less ($1,549 vs $1,853)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.4%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 47°F
Households earn $6,313 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Boulder, CO
Pros
31% less violent crime than Austin
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$6,313
$86,556 vs $80,243/yr
Austin
Median Home Value
$458k less
$461,500 vs $919,700
Austin
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 88.0°F
Boulder
Violent Crime
31% lower
322.3 vs 466.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Boulder, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $919,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $80,243 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% | 28.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 96.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 85.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 106,598 |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 28.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 47.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% ✓ More | 11.7% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Boulder's 107.2 (US average = 100).
Austin is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 13 of 23 categories. Austin wins 13 and Boulder wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Austin to Boulder or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $919,700 median home), income ($86,556 vs $80,243), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Boulder, CO are about 793 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.