Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Boulder leads 12 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Toledo
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
Households earn $34,838 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Toledo
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Toledo
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $821k less ($98,800 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $999/mo less ($854 vs $1,853)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $34,838/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$34,838
$80,243 vs $45,405/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
69% lower
322.3 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Boulder
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.2% unemployment
Boulder
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 84.6°F
Toledo
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$821k less
$98,800 vs $919,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 37.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boulder leads 12 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 12 and Toledo wins 11. 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $98,800 median home), income ($80,243 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Toledo, OH are about 1,135 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.