Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Boulder, CO
🏆 Beaverton leads 13 of 23 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
97,554
Boulder
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
Homes cost $425k less ($494,700 vs $919,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.9%)
Rent averages $190/mo less ($1,663 vs $1,853)
Households earn $8,656 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Boulder, CO
Pros
12% less violent crime than Beaverton
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Beaverton
Median Income
$8,656
$88,899 vs $80,243/yr
Beaverton
Median Home Value
$425k less
$494,700 vs $919,700
Beaverton
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.4% unemployment
Boulder
Violent Crime
12% lower
322.3 vs 364.8 per 100k
Boulder
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Boulder, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $919,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 ✓ Higher | $80,243 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% | 28.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% | 96.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 85.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 106,598 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 ✓ Older | 28.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% ✓ Higher | 47.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 11.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Boulder's 107.2 (US average = 100).
Beaverton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Beaverton leads 13 of 23 categories. Beaverton 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 Beaverton to Boulder or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $919,700 median home), income ($88,899 vs $80,243), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Boulder, CO are about 965 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.