Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Fishers, IN
🏆 Fishers leads 15 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598 ✓ Larger
Fishers
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$126,548 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
99,041
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Median income trails Fishers by $46,305/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Fishers
Fishers, IN
Pros
Homes cost $581k less ($339,000 vs $919,700)
77% less violent crime than Boulder
Households earn $46,305 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (2.5%)
Rent averages $375/mo less ($1,478 vs $1,853)
Violent crime is well below the national average (72.9 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 84.4°F
Fishers
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Fishers
Median Income
$46,305
$126,548 vs $80,243/yr
Fishers
Violent Crime
77% lower
72.9 vs 322.3 per 100k
Fishers
Median Home Value
$581k less
$339,000 vs $919,700
Fishers
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
2.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Fishers, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $339,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,478⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $126,548 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 2.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 18.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 | 19 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 65.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% | 98.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Hamilton Southeastern Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 26.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 ✓ Larger | 99,041 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 77.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 27.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Fishers's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Fishers is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fishers leads 15 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 8 and Fishers 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 Fishers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $339,000 median home), income ($80,243 vs $126,548), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Fishers, IN are about 1,019 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.