Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Yakima leads 12 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
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
Households earn $24,509 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Yakima
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 40°F
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
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $676k less ($243,300 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $839/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,853)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $24,509/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$24,509
$80,243 vs $55,734/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
41% lower
322.3 vs 544.3 per 100k
Boulder
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Home Value
$676k less
$243,300 vs $919,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 20.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yakima leads 12 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 11 and Yakima wins 12. 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $243,300 median home), income ($80,243 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Yakima, WA are about 891 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.