Boulder, CO vs Ann Arbor, MI — Compare Cost of Living, Housing, Crime & More

Population

Boulder

106,274

Ann Arbor

121,179

Median Income

Boulder

$85,364

Ann Arbor

$81,089

Home Value

Boulder

$982,600

Ann Arbor

$435,100

Rent

Boulder

$1,924

Ann Arbor

$1,552

Crime Rate

Boulder

3.22

Ann Arbor

3.03

Cost of Living

Boulder

191.3

Ann Arbor

150.7

Avg Temp

Boulder

N/A

Ann Arbor

N/A

Unemployment

Boulder

6.1%

Ann Arbor

3.6%

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How Similar Are Boulder & Ann Arbor?

Ann Arbor is Boulder's #17 most similar city

3/10

3 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Boulder

106,274

Ann Arbor

121,179

Different · 12% difference

Ann Arbor has a 12% larger population than Boulder.

Violent Crime

Boulder

3.22

Ann Arbor

3.03

Match · 6% difference

🚨

Both cities have similar violent crime — just a 6% difference.

Property Crime

🔒

Boulder

27.33

Ann Arbor

17.16

Different · 37% difference

Boulder has a 37% higher property crime than Ann Arbor.

Political Leaning

Boulder

20.8%

Ann Arbor

26.6%

Different · 22% difference

🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic, but Ann Arbor has a stronger Democratic lean (22% difference).

Unemployment

💼

Boulder

6.1%

Ann Arbor

3.6%

Different · 41% difference

Boulder has a 41% higher unemployment than Ann Arbor.

Median Income

Boulder

$85,364

Ann Arbor

$81,089

Match · 5% difference

💰

Both cities have similar median income — just a 5% difference.

Home Values

🏠

Boulder

$982,600

Ann Arbor

$435,100

Different · 56% difference

Boulder's home values is significantly higher than Ann Arbor's — 56% difference.

Education

Boulder

44.0%

Ann Arbor

43.1%

Match · 2% difference

🎓

Both cities have similar education — just a 2% difference.

Demographics

🌍

Boulder

81.8%

Ann Arbor

68.8%

Different · 16% difference

Boulder has a 16% higher demographics than Ann Arbor.

Cost of Living

Boulder

191.3

Ann Arbor

150.7

Different · 21% difference

💵

Boulder has a 21% higher cost of living than Ann Arbor.

3 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Boulder and Ann Arbor differ in most key areas.

At a Glance

Boulder

vsof 8

Ann Arbor

Boulder leads in 4 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability

Ann Arbor

Housing Market

Boulder

Jobs & Economy

Boulder

Crime & Safety

Ann Arbor

Weather & Climate

Tied

Schools & Education

Boulder

Healthcare

Boulder

Transportation & Commute

Tied

Cost of Living & Affordability — Ann Arbor leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Ann Arbor scores 208.3 on the housing index (100 = national avg) vs 310.2 in Boulder. Ann Arbor has a fair market rent (1br) of $1,387 vs $1,795 in Boulder (29% lower). Ann Arbor has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,656 vs $2,124 in Boulder (28% lower).

Overall Cost Index

Boulder191.3

Ann Arbor150.7

★

Housing Index

Boulder310.2

Ann Arbor208.3

★

Food Index

Boulder115.2

Ann Arbor112.0

★

Transportation Index

Boulder130.5

Ann Arbor124.0

★

Healthcare Index

Boulder112.2

Ann Arbor109.6

★

Utilities Index

Boulder151.2

Ann Arbor128.8

★

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Boulder$84,186

Ann Arbor$66,322

★

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Boulder$198,985

Ann Arbor$156,762

★

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Boulder$1,795

Ann Arbor$1,387

★

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Boulder$2,124

Ann Arbor$1,656

★

Housing Market — Boulder leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Boulder has a median home value of $982,600 vs $435,100 in Ann Arbor (126% higher). Boulder has a median property tax of $5,023 vs $7,232 in Ann Arbor (31% lower). Ann Arbor has a median rent of $1,552 vs $1,924 in Boulder (24% lower).

Median Home Value

Boulder$982,600

★

Ann Arbor$435,100

Median Rent

Boulder$1,924

Ann Arbor$1,552

★

Median Property Tax

Boulder$5,023

★

Ann Arbor$7,232

Owner-Occupied

Boulder47.9%

★

Ann Arbor45.6%

Vacancy Rate

Boulder6.3%

★

Ann Arbor7.1%

Single-Family Homes

Boulder47.0%

Ann Arbor53.2%

★

Jobs & Economy — Boulder leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Ann Arbor has a unemployment rate of 3.6% compared to 6.1% in Boulder. Boulder has a work from home of 31.6% compared to 26.2% in Ann Arbor. Boulder has a government sector of 41.0% compared to 37.2% in Ann Arbor.

Median Household Income

Boulder$85,364

★

Ann Arbor$81,089

Per Capita Income

Boulder$59,450

★

Ann Arbor$54,604

Poverty Rate

Boulder21.8%

★

Ann Arbor22.9%

Unemployment Rate

Boulder6.1%

Ann Arbor3.6%

★

Labor Force

Boulder61,216

Ann Arbor65,367

★

Mean Commute

BoulderN/A

Ann ArborN/A

Work from Home

Boulder31.6%

★

Ann Arbor26.2%

Private Sector

Boulder89.4%

★

Ann Arbor81.5%

Government Sector

Boulder41.0%

★

Ann Arbor37.2%

Crime & Safety — Ann Arbor leads

Source: FBI UCR

Ann Arbor has a burglary rate (per 1k) of 1.57 compared to 3.83 in Boulder. Ann Arbor has a robbery rate (per 1k) of 0.20 compared to 0.45 in Boulder. Boulder has a property crime clearance of 15.2% compared to 8.6% in Ann Arbor.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Boulder3.22

Ann Arbor3.03

★

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Boulder27.33

Ann Arbor17.16

★

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Boulder0.00

Ann Arbor0.00

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Boulder0.45

Ann Arbor0.20

★

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Boulder2.42

Ann Arbor2.33

★

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Boulder3.83

Ann Arbor1.57

★

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Boulder21.42

Ann Arbor14.72

★

Violent Crime Clearance

Boulder58.7%

★

Ann Arbor47.8%

Property Crime Clearance

Boulder15.2%

★

Ann Arbor8.6%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

BoulderN/A

Ann ArborN/A

Avg Annual High

BoulderN/A

Ann ArborN/A

Avg Annual Low

BoulderN/A

Ann ArborN/A

Sunny Days per Year

BoulderN/A

Ann ArborN/A

Annual Rainfall

BoulderN/A

Ann ArborN/A

Annual Snowfall

BoulderN/A

Ann ArborN/A

Avg Humidity

BoulderN/A

Ann ArborN/A

Schools & Education — Boulder leads

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Boulder has a bachelor's degree or higher of 44.0% compared to 43.1% in Ann Arbor. Boulder has a high school diploma or higher of 47.6% compared to 47.0% in Ann Arbor.

Public Schools

Boulder0

Ann Arbor0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

BoulderN/A

Ann ArborN/A

Colleges & Universities

Boulder0

Ann Arbor0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Boulder44.0%

★

Ann Arbor43.1%

High School Diploma or Higher

Boulder47.6%

★

Ann Arbor47.0%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Ann Arbor has a population of 121,179, about 1.1x the size of Boulder (106,274). Ann Arbor skews younger with a median age of 27.7 vs 28.8.

Population

Boulder106,274

Ann Arbor121,179

Median Age

Boulder29

Ann Arbor28

Avg Household Size

Boulder2.2

Ann Arbor2.2

Married Population

Boulder28.1%

Ann Arbor32.1%

Foreign Born

Boulder10.2%

Ann Arbor18.7%

White

Boulder81.8%

Ann Arbor68.8%

Black

Boulder1.1%

Ann Arbor7.2%

Hispanic

Boulder11.2%

Ann Arbor5.4%

Asian

Boulder5.8%

Ann Arbor15.2%

Boulder

Ann Arbor

Healthcare — Boulder leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Boulder: 4 vs Ann Arbor: 3 for with emergency services. Boulder: 4.3 vs Ann Arbor: 4.0 for avg cms rating (out of 5).

Nearby Hospitals

Boulder5

Ann Arbor5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Boulder4.3

★

Ann Arbor4.0

With Emergency Services

Boulder4

★

Ann Arbor3

Transportation & Commute

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Boulder has a bicycle of 7.6% compared to 2.4% in Ann Arbor. Boulder has a work from home of 31.6% compared to 26.2% in Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor has a public transit of 7.3% compared to 5.9% in Boulder.

Mean Commute Time

BoulderN/A

Ann ArborN/A

Drive Alone

Boulder41.9%

Ann Arbor45.6%

★

Public Transit

Boulder5.9%

Ann Arbor7.3%

★

Bicycle

Boulder7.6%

★

Ann Arbor2.4%

Work from Home

Boulder31.6%

★

Ann Arbor26.2%

Airports

Boulder0

Ann Arbor0

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City Comparison

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