Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Boulder leads 13 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Independence
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218 ✓ 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
44% less violent crime than Independence
Households earn $22,828 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Independence
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $769k less ($150,800 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $833/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,853)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $22,828/yr
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$22,828
$80,243 vs $57,415/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
44% lower
322.3 vs 571.2 per 100k
Boulder
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Independence
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$769k less
$150,800 vs $919,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $57,415 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 8.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 13.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 122,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 60.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boulder leads 13 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 13 and Independence wins 10. 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 Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $150,800 median home), income ($80,243 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Independence, MO are about 584 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.