Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 14 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Tampa
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
28% less violent crime than Tampa
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $13,441 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 85" of snow per year
Tampa, FL
Pros
Homes cost $587k less ($333,200 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $431/mo less ($1,422 vs $1,853)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 47°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boulder by $13,441/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$13,441
$80,243 vs $66,802/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
28% lower
322.3 vs 444.6 per 100k
Tampa
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Median Home Value
$587k less
$333,200 vs $919,700
Tampa
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 16.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 14 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 9 and Tampa 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $333,200 median home), income ($80,243 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Tampa, FL are about 1,541 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.