Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 15 of 22 categories
Boulder
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
Rent averages $500/mo less ($1,853 vs $2,353)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $67,984/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.4%)
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $67,984 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than Boulder
Homes cost $282k less ($637,400 vs $919,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$67,984
$148,227 vs $80,243/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
57% lower
138.1 vs 322.3 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Median Home Value
$282k less
$637,400 vs $919,700
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $637,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 26.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 65.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 64.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Highlands Ranch is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 15 of 22 categories. Boulder wins 7 and Highlands Ranch 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 Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $637,400 median home), income ($80,243 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 37 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.