Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma 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
Yuma
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
96,314
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 $20,931 more per year on average
24% less violent crime than Yuma
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 107°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Yuma
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $733k less ($186,500 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $825/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,853)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $20,931/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$20,931
$80,243 vs $59,312/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
24% lower
322.3 vs 423.6 per 100k
Boulder
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Home Value
$733k less
$186,500 vs $919,700
Yuma
Summer Heat
18.7°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 32.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 9 and Yuma 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $186,500 median home), income ($80,243 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Yuma, AZ are about 731 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.