Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford leads 13 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598
Stamford
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413 ✓ 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
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Rent averages $276/mo less ($1,853 vs $2,129)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Median income trails Stamford by $20,475/yr
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 85" of snow per year
Stamford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $335k less ($584,700 vs $919,700)
51% less violent crime than Boulder
Households earn $20,475 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Longer commutes — 27.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 84.8°F
Stamford
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Stamford
Median Income
$20,475
$100,718 vs $80,243/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
51% lower
157.5 vs 322.3 per 100k
Stamford
Median Home Value
$335k less
$584,700 vs $919,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $584,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 50.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 34.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 135,413 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 19.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Stamford is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 13 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 10 and Stamford 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $584,700 median home), income ($80,243 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Stamford, CT are about 1,657 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.