Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 14 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598
Orange
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728 ✓ 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
Rent averages $295/mo less ($1,853 vs $2,148)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $29,092/yr
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.7%)
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Orange, CA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Boulder
Households earn $29,092 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
Homes cost $72k less ($848,200 vs $919,700)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Boulder
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Boulder
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Median Income
$29,092
$109,335 vs $80,243/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
30% lower
226.1 vs 322.3 per 100k
Orange
Median Home Value
$72k less
$848,200 vs $919,700
Orange
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Boulder is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 14 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 9 and Orange wins 14. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $848,200 median home), income ($80,243 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Orange, CA are about 818 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.