Berkeley, CA vs Boulder, CO

Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.

Score Snapshot

No universal winner

Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.

Berkeley

59.6

#1947 nationally

vs

Boulder

67.4

#1424 nationally

Boulder leads in average commute (21.4 min vs 30.4 min). Berkeley leads in walk score (85 vs 62). Boulder leads in cost of living index (165 vs 222).

Metric-by-Metric Breakdown

Metric Berkeley, CA Boulder, CO
WhereAtHome Score 59.6 (#1947) 67.4 (#1424)
Population 118,962 103,166
Typical Home Value (ZHVI) $1,460,437 $957,377
Median Household Income $104,716 $86,098
Average Commute 30.4 min 21.4 min
Walk Score 85 62
Crime Level 17.5 Moderate-Low
School Rating N/A 8.4
Cost of Living Index 222 165
Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored D+53.6 D+55.8