Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Compton, CA
🏆 Boulder leads 15 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598 ✓ Larger
Compton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
75% less violent crime than Compton
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Households earn $10,515 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
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
Snowy winters — about 85" of snow per year
Compton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $430k less ($489,400 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $389/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,853)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Cons
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Boulder by $10,515/yr
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Boulder
Median Income
$10,515
$80,243 vs $69,728/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
75% lower
322.3 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Boulder
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
Boulder
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 77.2°F
Compton
Median Home Value
$430k less
$489,400 vs $919,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Compton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $69,728 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 3.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 335⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 63.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Compton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 11.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 ✓ Larger | 94,822 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 57.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Compton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Boulder is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boulder leads 15 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 15 and Compton wins 8. 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 Compton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $489,400 median home), income ($80,243 vs $69,728), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Compton, CA are about 831 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.