8 Best Places to Live in Boulder, CO

If Colorado is on the top of your list–and Boulder specifically – then you’ve come to the right place! This guide helps jumpstart your home search to find the perfect neighborhood in one of America’s most desirable cities. Residents love Boulder for its stunning mountain views, eclectic downtown vibe, world-class universities, breathtaking outdoor adventures, and energetic local culture.

To help you make the best decision on where to live in Boulder that fits your needs and lifestyle perfectly, this neighborhood guide highlights some of the city’s favorite neighborhoods and their perks. From hip, eclectic neighborhoods packed with cool cafes and restaurants to family-friendly suburban enclaves close to outdoor recreation, we have a mix of places to check out.

Why Boulder, CO?

Boulder has so much going for it; it’s hard to know where to start. Perhaps its location is the first standout advantage of life in Boulder. Think of it as a “halfway” town–based in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder’s close to the famous parks and resorts while also being about 25 miles northwest of Denver and all its entertainment amenities.

Stunning natural landscapes surrounded Boulder, like the iconic Flatirons rock formations, the tilted sandstone slabs that create the jagged mountain look. These same landscapes are a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Locals aren’t limited to one adventure, with numerous hiking trails, top rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding, whitewater kayaking, and mountain biking venues within a day trip from Boulder. Chautauqua Park, Boulder Creek Path, and Eldorado Canyon State Park are popular destinations for outdoor adventures.

Besides the access to their favorite activities, another common reason people come to Boulder is the University of Colorado–Boulder, a renowned Tier-1 public research university. The college has partnerships with national labs like NOAA and NIST. The university’s presence makes Boulder a college town but also stabilizes its job market.

The innovative atmosphere contributes to Boulder’s strong entrepreneurial spirit, with many startups and tech companies in the area. Top local companies include Array BioPharma, Lockheed Martin, and IBM. Boulder delivers a robust work environment paired with all the fun things to do outside of work.

And for families, Boulder residents have rigorous schools to educate their little ones. The Boulder Valley School District has 13 high schools with programs for AP, IB, and gifted education.

Boulder Real Estate

Living in Boulder isn’t cheap because of its diverse lifestyle perks. People want to live here, and that demand pushes up prices for everything, including real estate. In Sperling’s Best Places Index, housing costs were a jaw-dropping 223% above the national average.

What does that mean in dollars and cents? Well, in June 2023, Boulder had 572 homes for sale at a median list price of $1.5 million. The prices ranged from $35,000 to $15 million. That low-priced listing was a three-quarter acre lot outside the city limits in the prairie area. Meanwhile, the $15 million listing was 8,700 sq ft on five acres near Fourmile Canyon.

So what would a median price of $1.5 million get you? It could be a prime vacant lot around 0.7 acres in size, a 1,532 sq ft condo with two bedrooms, or a five-bedroom single-family in a country club subdivision.

Boulder’s housing prices were up almost 25% year-over-year in June 2023. Prices spiked upwards near the end of 2021 and haven’t really come down since, but markets can and do change. A local real estate agent can clue you into what’s current.

Boulder’s Best Neighborhoods

Many Western neighborhoods are being built with sustainability and resilience in mind. Expect perks like high walkability, access to open spaces, and quality schools.

So where can you find these in Boulder? The city has many great communities to live in, but here are a few to rev up your home search.

Downtown Boulder

Imagine a lifestyle where you can have a one-car household or ditch it completely. To make this happen in Boulder, try the downtown area, the city’s heart and soul. Clustered along Pearl Street is a bustling and vibrant neighborhood known for its lively atmosphere, pedestrian-friendly streets, and the iconic Pearl Street Mall.

Living downtown provides easy access to cultural events, entertainment, and a vibrant urban lifestyle, complete with weekend farmer’s markets. The historic buildings house trendy shops, excellent restaurants, art galleries, and nightclubs.

Pearl Street is the heart of the downtown areas, and you’ll hear residents break it into East Pearl and West Pearl. Real estate trends towards apartments, condos, and cottages.

Downtown had 16 homes for sale at a median list price of $1.4 million.

Chautauqua

Situated at the base of the Flatirons, Chautauqua is as well-known for its stunning sandstone formations as it is the historic Chautauqua Park. This is a wholly residential area, with few commercial ventures inside its borders. But don’t worry, when you want some Starbucks or a last-minute dinner run, the shops in East Boulder aren’t too far away. And the Chautauqua Auditorium is the venue for summertime concerts and the Colorado Music Festival.

Living here, residents always have the Flatirons on their skyline, but they can go directly to the hills through the trailheads of Chautauqua Park. All told, around 40 miles of trails winding into the Rocky Mountains are at residents’ back door.

Chautauqua further divides into three neighborhoods: Flagstaff, Chautauqua, and Lower Chautauqua. If you want prime access to the outdoors and don’t mind listening to the sounds of live concerts wafting over the summer air, you might fall in love with Chautauqua. Just be aware it’s a popular place to live and had no listings in June 2023.

Gunbarrel

Part of East Boulder, Gunbarrel was developed in the 1960s in response to IBM’s need to house its employees. Today it’s a thriving community with easy commuting access to work at the large local corporations and the rest of Boulder. It’s also next to the Boulder Country Club if you want golf course community living.

Gunbarrel has other classic Boulder perks, like a bike path winding into downtown, a local brewer with 25 years in the business, and a shopping center complete with a grocer, restaurants, and service providers. And it’s very close to the Boulder Reservoir if you’re into water sports. However, it’s a 20-minute ride into downtown Boulder when you want to visit those delicious restaurants.

Mapleton Hill

Dream of a home with character? How about one of the century-old homes in the Mapleton Hill historic district. This neighborhood is known for its beautiful Victorian and craftsman-style homes lining the shaded streets.

Mapleton Hill borders downtown on the west side, making it easy to reach the entertainment district but far enough to maintain a quiet residential feel. It boasts stunning views of the Flatirons. With Mt. Sanitas as its back door, residents are close to parks and trails for those beautiful Colorado days.

The homes have clear details harking back to when Queen Anne and Victorian styles were all the rage. Expect expansive lawns and front porches to match. June 2023 had 12 homes for sale at a median of $2 million.

North Boulder

If you want a newer construction home, North Boulder is generally a better area to look at, as this is the direction the city is expanding in. The homes also head into the foothills, which leads to beautiful winding drives and scenic views. Imagine looking out your windows to see elk grazing the meadows.

The residential area has easy access to the trails of North Boulder Park and Wonderland Lake. A 1.8-mile trail circles the cerulean waters. The community also has an art district called NoBo, which hosts art walks on the First Friday of each month. The craft brewing and vineyard scene is growing.

Other neighborhoods inside NoBo include Old North Boulder, Wonderland Hills, and The Newlands. There were 76 homes for sale at a median of $2.2 million in June 2023.

South Boulder

South Boulder’s housing options run the full range of single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments. The communities here have a relaxed suburban feel while conveniently putting residents near all the essentials.

The area is known for its proximity to open spaces, including the scenic National Center for Atmospheric Research Trail, or NCAR trail, with breathtaking views of the sandstone Flatirons. And if you like concerts, the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater is about a 20-30 minutes away.

Altogether, South Boulder had 70 homes for sale in June 2023 at a median of $1.1 million.

Table Mesa

Part of South Boulder, Table Mesa, is where residents head for errands and shopping. Most stores are at the corner of Mesa Drive and Broadway and include two of the town’s craft breweries. Groceries are conveniently available in the Table Mesa Shopping Center through King Soopers and Whole Foods Market.

As a place to live, Table Mesa is a family-friendly neighborhood known for its excellent schools and outdoor recreational opportunities like the Harlow Platts Community Park. It’s surrounded by hiking trails and easy highway access heading into the High Country. Residents find it easy to be out in the mountains when they want. Other nearby parks are the picturesque NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research) campus, hiking trails, and open spaces.

Residences were typically built in the 1960s and 1970s, so you’ll see the influences of the midcentury and ranch styles trending at the time. Table Mesa had 30 homes for sale in June 2023 at a median list price of $1.2 million.

Martin Acres

In another South Boulder neighborhood, Martin Acres’s affordable housing options were initially developed to target service members returning from war, college students, and young scientists in post-World War II America.

While bike-friendly, Martin Acres is between Highway 36 and Broadway when residents want to head downtown or to the UC campus. Having a car will make it easier to commute into town. From Tantra Park, residents can access the trail network around South Campus and out to Cherryvale.

The homes trend towards a ranch or tri-level style. In recent years, owners have been renovating the properties, with many adding second levels. Martin Acres had 14 listings at a median price of $880,000 in June 2023.

Moving to Boulder

The neighborhoods here are just a tiny taste of what’s waiting for you in Boulder. You might find the highly walkable Whittier to your liking or prefer access to recreation parks at the Newlands in North Boulder. So why not check out more of Boulder, CO, with a local real estate agent?