Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 San Antonio leads 12 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
San Antonio
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
46% less violent crime than San Antonio
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $20,650 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than San Antonio
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $722k less ($198,000 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $664/mo less ($1,189 vs $1,853)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $20,650/yr
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$20,650
$80,243 vs $59,593/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
46% lower
322.3 vs 594.1 per 100k
Boulder
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
San Antonio
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$722k less
$198,000 vs $919,700
San Antonio
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $198,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,189 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 34.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Antonio leads 12 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 11 and San Antonio wins 12. 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 San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $198,000 median home), income ($80,243 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and San Antonio, TX are about 823 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.