Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 13 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Tucson
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
Households earn $28,194 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Tucson
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Tucson
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $702k less ($218,200 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $862/mo less ($991 vs $1,853)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $28,194/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$28,194
$80,243 vs $52,049/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
45% lower
322.3 vs 588.8 per 100k
Boulder
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Median Home Value
$702k less
$218,200 vs $919,700
Tucson
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 13 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 10 and Tucson 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $218,200 median home), income ($80,243 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Tucson, AZ are about 628 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.