Boulder, CO vs San Jose, CA
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.
Boulder
67.4
#1424 nationally
San Jose
63
#1807 nationally
San Jose leads in median household income ($142,891 vs $86,098). Boulder leads in average commute (21.4 min vs 28.4 min). Boulder leads in walk score (62 vs 51).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Boulder, CO | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.4 (#1424) | 63 (#1807) |
| Population | 103,166 | 983,489 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $957,377 | $1,391,204 |
| Median Household Income | $86,098 | $142,891 |
| Average Commute | 21.4 min | 28.4 min |
| Walk Score | 62 | 51 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-Low | Moderate |
| School Rating | 8.4 | 7.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 165 | 198 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+55.8 | D+40.0 |
D+
67.4 Score
Boulder, CO
Nature meets innovation at the Flatirons
Median Home
$957,377
Population
103,166
Crime
Moderate-Low
Schools
A
West
View Boulder, CO →
D
63 Score
San Jose, CA
Capital of Silicon Valley
Median Home
$1,391,204
Population
983,489
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Pacific
View San Jose, CA →