Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Greeley, CO
🏆 Boulder leads 12 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Greeley
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,525
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
107,949 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
52% less violent crime than Greeley
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $14,718 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
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
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Greeley
Greeley, CO
Pros
Homes cost $573k less ($346,400 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $645/mo less ($1,208 vs $1,853)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Cons
Violent crime (670.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boulder by $14,718/yr
Property crime (3019.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$14,718
$80,243 vs $65,525/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
52% lower
322.3 vs 670.7 per 100k
Greeley
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 96.0 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Greeley
Median Home Value
$573k less
$346,400 vs $919,700
Greeley
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Greeley, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 96.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $346,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,208 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $65,525 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 26.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | GreeleySchool District No. 6 in the county of Weld and Sta |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 14.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 34.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 107,949 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 31.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 60.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Greeley's 96.0 (US average = 100).
Greeley is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boulder leads 12 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 12 and Greeley wins 11. 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 Greeley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $346,400 median home), income ($80,243 vs $65,525), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Greeley, CO are about 37 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.