Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Pueblo, CO
🏆 Pueblo leads 13 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Pueblo
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,794
Violent Crime Index
375⚠ High
Population
111,430 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
77% less violent crime than Pueblo
Households earn $27,449 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Pueblo
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pueblo, CO
Pros
Homes cost $722k less ($197,700 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $913/mo less ($940 vs $1,853)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $27,449/yr
Violent crime (1424.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4942.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$27,449
$80,243 vs $52,794/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
77% lower
322.3 vs 1424.1 per 100k
Boulder
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Pueblo
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Pueblo
Median Home Value
$722k less
$197,700 vs $919,700
Pueblo
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.0°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Pueblo, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $197,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $940 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $52,794 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 19.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 319⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 375⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 21.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 93.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 14.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 111,430 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Pueblo's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Pueblo is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pueblo leads 13 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 10 and Pueblo wins 13. 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 Pueblo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $197,700 median home), income ($80,243 vs $52,794), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Pueblo, CO are about 126 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.