Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 15 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598
Simi Valley
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153 ✓ 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 $549/mo less ($1,853 vs $2,402)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $31,901/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 4.4%)
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
60% less violent crime than Boulder
Households earn $31,901 more per year on average
Homes cost $216k less ($704,200 vs $919,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Longer commutes — 28.4 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Boulder
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 107.2 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Simi Valley
Median Income
$31,901
$112,144 vs $80,243/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
60% lower
129.1 vs 322.3 per 100k
Simi Valley
Median Home Value
$216k less
$704,200 vs $919,700
Simi Valley
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $704,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 14.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 36.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 126,153 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Boulder is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 15 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 8 and Simi Valley 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $704,200 median home), income ($80,243 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Simi Valley, CA are about 842 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.