Oh you poor thing! You're moving to Boulder, Colorado! I feel so bad for you! How are you ever going to survive in this beautiful, scenic city that has been consistently ranked by a variety of sources as one of the best places in the world to live ever? Dry your tears, and let's find you an apartment, you lucky jerk.
Boulder is located on the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, a little over an hour drive to the entrance of the national park, and about 30 minutes northwest of Denver
Oh you poor thing! You're moving to Boulder, Colorado! I feel so bad for you! How are you ever going to survive in this beautiful, scenic city that has been consistently ranked by a variety of sources as one of the best places in the world to live ever? Dry your tears, and let's find you an apartment, you lucky jerk.
Boulder is located on the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, a little over an hour drive to the entrance of the national park, and about 30 minutes northwest of Denver. The hulking, snow-topped silhouettes of the Flatiron formations can be seen throughout town. The air is crisp and clean, and the art and music scene thriving.
So, what are you going to do in Boulder? Well, if you're an outdoorsy type, you'll have plenty of year-round activities available to you. Boulder's dry climate means the sun is out pretty much all the time. Snowfall and cold temperatures during the winter make Boulder a winter sports paradise, and things really heat up during the summer months, making the city great for hiking, biking and swimming.
If you're more of an indoor type, don't worry! Foodies will love the city's beloved farmer's market in the downtown area, and the plethora of haute cuisine offered throughout town. Boulder also has a variety of cultural events and institutions, including several film festivals and music venues.
Having trouble with Craigslist Boulder? Can't find that special apartment for rent on Apartment Finder or Zillow? Apartment List is here to help!
Boulder's municipal government has systematically bought up land around the city to create a green belt. These open spaces protect the city from the miles of sprawl that can be found in Boulder's neighbor, Denver. Great, right? Well, yeah, in theory, but in practice, things are a bit trickier.
If possible, start your search at the beginning of the summer to beat the housing rush, and don't be shy about negotiating with landlords to get a lease on your terms.
Downtown Boulder is home to the Pearl Street Market, an open-air shopping center with four blocks of independently-owned boutiques, restaurants and bars. Apartments near Pearl Street Market are newly renovated or developed condos and complexes. Expect to pay between $1600-1800 for a two bedroom in this area. Newer, luxury developments can cost up to $2000 for a two bedroom.
The Hill, another hot spot, has rents for two bedrooms that generally run between $1300-1600.
The southern area of Boulder is more recently developed than the northern regions. This means lots of ranch-style homes and newer shopping centers. Finding rental homes in this area can be challenging. However, the far southern reaches of the Table Mesa area frequently have a number of affordable single-family rentals, generally ranging from $1200-1400 for a two bedroom. Table Mesa also has the added benefit of being the closest part of Boulder to Denver, making commuting in and out of the city slightly easier. North Boulder also has less suburban-feeling neighborhoods, including the Westminster section of town.
As many Boulder residents commute to work in nearby Denver, rush hour is a big event along the I-36 and I-25 corridor. But, Boulder hasn't gotten the reputation of being an incredibly livable city by resting on its proverbial laurels! Recent developments in HOV lanes have helped ease congestion considerably, cutting commuting time during rush hour to between 35-45 minutes.
Additionally, Boulder has a local community bus service that ferries passengers around town, and also connects with the RTD, which operates express buses into downtown Denver for both the daily commuter and the Boulder resident heading out for a night on the town.
But why bus or drive when Boulder is such a walkable and bike-friendly city! There are over 300 miles of bike paths, bike lanes and off-road routes that make commuting around the city by bike safe and easy.
Now that you know the ins-and-outs of beautiful Boulder, you're ready to find an apartment. Happy hunting!
The representation of ethnic minorities in Boulder is lower than the national average. The eight main ethnic groups that make up the population of Boulder are White (77.1%), Hispanic Or Latino (11.8%), Asian (4.9%), Two Or More (4%), Black Or African American (1.3%), Other (0.6%), American Indian Or Alaska Native (0.2%), and Native Hawaiian Or Other Pacific Islander (0.1%).
The representation of ethnic minorities in Boulder is lower than the national average. The eight main ethnic groups that make up the population of Boulder are White (77.1%), Hispanic Or Latino (11.8%), Asian (4.9%), Two Or More (4%), Black Or African American (1.3%), Other (0.6%), American Indian Or Alaska Native (0.2%), and Native Hawaiian Or Other Pacific Islander (0.1%).
Apartment List has released the results for Boulder from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters nationwide, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of the country’s 111 million renters.
These Boulder neighborhoods are insanely popular right now! Renters are hunting down properties in these places.
Boulder, Colorado offers a perfect blend of urban excitement and outdoor exploration. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, the city provides adventure seekers with activities like skiing, hiking, and snowshoeing. Residents and visitors alike can enjoy exploring the farmers' markets, attending music festivals, or biking along tranquil mountain trails.
The city's diverse neighborhoods, such as University Hill and Goss Grove, are known for their lively restaurant scenes and iconic venues. Popular attractions include the bustling Pearl Street and the Downtown Historic District, with nightlife hotspots like The Fox Theatre. Boulderites embrace the arts, and the city hosts renowned events like the Boulder International Film Festival and the Colorado Music Festival, attracting artists and spectators from around the globe.
If you're moving to Colorado, Apartment List makes it easy to discover a range of Boulder apartments for rent — from upscale units near the Flatirons to affordable one-bedroom apartments ideal for students. Simply take our AI-powered Renter Quiz, and we’ll deliver a personalized list of apartments in Boulder, CO that match your lifestyle and preferences. You can also filter for amenities like in-unit laundry or private outdoor access to find your ideal Boulder rental.
Here’s why Apartment List is the best way to approach your apartment search:
If you choose a rental in or near Boulder, Colorado, you’ll enjoy a unique combination of urban attractions and spectacular natural surroundings. As one of Colorado’s most prominent cities, Boulder boasts excellent schools, state-of-the-art medical facilities, and a thriving arts scene. Outdoor enthusiasts love the city’s easy access to the Rocky Mountains and nearby areas like Mount Elora. Whether you’re drawn to the great outdoors or a lively city atmosphere, Boulder has something to offer.
Boulder has a higher cost of living than many other parts of the country due to expenses like housing and transportation. The median rent in Boulder is $1,855, with the following medians for one and two-bedroom apartments:
However, Boulder compensates with a high quality of life, making it one of the most desirable places to live in Colorado for those who can afford it. Boulder’s bike-friendly layout, with 300 miles of bike paths, allows budget-conscious residents to manage without a vehicle. The city’s efficient public transportation, including the RTD and Via Mobility Services, also makes getting around easy. And nearby areas like Nederland, Arapahoe, and Louisville offer more affordable housing options for those open to a commute.
It’s best to follow the 30% rule, which suggests you spend no more than 30% of your monthly income on housing. With median rental prices in Boulder, CO just shy of $2,000 per month, you should make about $77,640 a year before deductions to live there comfortably.
Welcome to the Apartment List December 2024 Rent Report for Boulder, CO. Currently, the overall median rent in the city stands at $1,828, after falling 2.3% last month. Prices are now down 4.1% year-over-year. Read on to learn more about what’s been happening in the Boulder rental market and how it compares to trends throughout the nation as a whole.
The median rent in Boulder fell by 2.3% over the course of November, and has now decreased by a total of 4.1% over the past 12 months. Boulder’s rent growth over the past year has has fallen behind both the state (-2.7%) and national averages (-0.6%).
Eleven months into the year, rents in Boulder have fallen 3.2%. This is a slower rate of growth compared to what the city was experiencing at this point last year: from January to November 2023 rents had increased 1.6%.
Apartment List is committed to the accuracy and transparency of our rent estimates. We begin with reliable median rent statistics from the Census Bureau, then extrapolate them forward to the current month using a growth rate calculated from our listing data. In doing so, we use a same-unit analysis similar to Case-Shiller’s approach, capturing apartment transactions over time to provide an accurate picture of rent growth in cities across the country. Our approach corrects for the sample bias inherent in other private sources, producing results that are much closer to statistics published by the Census Bureau and HUD. For more details, please see the Apartment List Rent Estimate Methodology.
Apartment List publishes monthly rent reports and underlying data for hundreds of cities across the nation, as well as data aggregated for counties, metros, and states. These data are intended to be a source of reliable information that help renters and policymakers make sound decisions. Insights from our data are covered regularly by journalists across the country. To access the data yourself, please visit our Data Downloads Page.
Welcome to the Apartment List December 2024 Rent Report for Boulder, CO. Currently, the overall median rent in the city stands at $1,828, after falling 2.3% last month. Prices are now down 4.1% year-over-year. Read on to learn more about what’s been happening in the Boulder rental market and how it compares to trends throughout the nation as a whole.
Apartment List has released Boulder’s results from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of 111 million American renters nationwide.
"Boulder renters expressed general satisfaction with the city overall," according to Apartment List. "They gave most categories above average scores."
Key findings in Boulder include the following:
Renters say:
For more information on the survey methodology and findings or to speak to one of our researchers, please contact our team at rentonomics@apartmentlist.com.
Oh you poor thing! You're moving to Boulder, Colorado! I feel so bad for you! How are you ever going to survive in this beautiful, scenic city that has been consistently ranked by a variety of sources as one of the best places in the world to live ever? Dry your tears, and let's find you an apartment, you lucky jerk.
Boulder is located on the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, a little over an hour drive to the entrance of the national park, and about 30 minutes northwest of Denver
View Boulder City Guide
