Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Clovis, CA
🏆 Clovis leads 15 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598
Clovis
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
120,607 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 98°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Median income trails Clovis by $18,311/yr
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Clovis, CA
Pros
Homes cost $499k less ($420,700 vs $919,700)
24% less violent crime than Boulder
Rent averages $371/mo less ($1,482 vs $1,853)
Households earn $18,311 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.2 vs 107.8 (100 = US avg)
Boulder
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Clovis
Median Income
$18,311
$98,554 vs $80,243/yr
Clovis
Violent Crime
24% lower
244.6 vs 322.3 per 100k
Clovis
Median Home Value
$499k less
$420,700 vs $919,700
Clovis
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Clovis, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $420,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,482⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $98,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Clovis Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 14.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 120,607 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 28.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Clovis's 107.8 (US average = 100).
Boulder is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clovis leads 15 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 8 and Clovis wins 15. 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 Boulder to Clovis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $420,700 median home), income ($80,243 vs $98,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Clovis, CA are about 811 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.