Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Tyler 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 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
106,440
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
18% less violent crime than Tyler
Households earn $17,187 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Tyler
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $715k less ($205,200 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $740/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,853)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $17,187/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$17,187
$80,243 vs $63,056/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
18% lower
322.3 vs 391.2 per 100k
Tyler
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Median Home Value
$715k less
$205,200 vs $919,700
Tyler
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 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 | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tyler leads 14 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 9 and Tyler 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $205,200 median home), income ($80,243 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Tyler, TX are about 768 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.