Boulder
Ranked 6th best city in Colorado
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Great for
- Parks & Recreation
- Schools
- Clean & Green
- Safe & Sound
- Gym & Fitness
Not great for
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- Families with kids
- Professionals
- Retirees
- Singles
- LGBT+
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Reviews
Boulder
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"A college centered town with much appeal"
Although I have never lived in Boulder I have been there often to visit friends and have taken a class there. It always seems to be a peaceful place with beautiful views no matter where you look. The campus itself can take you back in time just looking at the architecture. There is a kind of a cultural appreciation here that celebrates diversity unlike many other places, which is refreshing. The streets are all lovely with the natural beauty evident as you stroll or drive along. An outdoor mall and farmer's markets make the place fun to shop at and just enjoy being outdoors. The overall feeling of Boulder is one of appreciation of the planet and those who inhabit it.
For those who choose to live in Boulder, the home prices can be high, but well worth it, and even the rents for college students off campus can be high. While on the surface Boulder seems to be a safe place there is a lot of opportunistic crime, especially near the campus. I unfortunately learned this from a local police officer who came to take my report after my car had been broken into and almost completely gutted while staying overnight with some friends.
There is so much to do in Boulder that it is a outdoor enthusiasts dream. There are great biking and jogging paths along the river, plenty of parks for throwing a frisbee or taking your dog for a walk, yoga, judo clubs, you name it. Skiing and snowboarding are close at hand and the rec centers are all well equipped. It seems as if the entire town is fitness conscious, which isn't surprising as the state of Colorado ranks as one of the healthiest in the nation.
Public transportation here is good. The buses are frequent as is the HOP, a free bus system which travels to and from popular destinations within Boulder. Many of the health conscious walk or ride their bicycles wherever they are going. This greatly cuts down on traffic and I have rarely been help up anywhere in Boulder, although I don't know that I've truly driven during peak times.
For people who are health conscious, active, and appreciate our great mother Earth, this is probably the town for you.
For those who choose to live in Boulder, the home prices can be high, but well worth it, and even the rents for college students off campus can be high. While on the surface Boulder seems to be a safe place there is a lot of opportunistic crime, especially near the campus. I unfortunately learned this from a local police officer who came to take my report after my car had been broken into and almost completely gutted while staying overnight with some friends.
There is so much to do in Boulder that it is a outdoor enthusiasts dream. There are great biking and jogging paths along the river, plenty of parks for throwing a frisbee or taking your dog for a walk, yoga, judo clubs, you name it. Skiing and snowboarding are close at hand and the rec centers are all well equipped. It seems as if the entire town is fitness conscious, which isn't surprising as the state of Colorado ranks as one of the healthiest in the nation.
Public transportation here is good. The buses are frequent as is the HOP, a free bus system which travels to and from popular destinations within Boulder. Many of the health conscious walk or ride their bicycles wherever they are going. This greatly cuts down on traffic and I have rarely been help up anywhere in Boulder, although I don't know that I've truly driven during peak times.
For people who are health conscious, active, and appreciate our great mother Earth, this is probably the town for you.
Pros
- little traffic
- Entertainment & Arts
- Outdoor Pursuits
- Restaurants
- organic food
Cons
- High Cost of Living
- Sometimes Pretentious Citizens
- traffic
Recommended for
- Tourists
- Hipsters
- Trendy & Stylish
Boulder
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"My little big town of Boulder"
Boulder is a place some love to hate and others just love, unfortunately it largely depends on your politics. Boulder is known a liberal, rich, granola drivin', bike riding, recycling town but it is so so much more than that.
The University of Colorado makes up the heart of the town but so does the Pearl Street pedestrian mall and the science and technology agencies and companies. Boulder is an outdoor kind of place, be it hiking, mountain biking, cycling, climbing, bouldering, downhill or x-country skiing and the list goes on. Boulder is also an academic environment especially known for science and technology, the annual Conference of World Affairs and notable speakers and world leaders often come to town. There are two or three small but popular music venues where some surprisingly big names who just like Boulder come to play.
People walk and bike A LOT in Boulder and car traffic HAS to yield to peds and bikes or else you would potentially commit manslaughter. No joke, there are so many bikes that if you drive in Boulder and are not in the absolute habit of obsessively checking your right rear view when you turn right you will be yelled at. A righteous cycling guy whose tight pants got in a quick wad will give you a bad bad look at best. But really it is great to see so much public transportation, people walking and strolling the streets and those you solely use bikes as their transportation (even in the snow!).
Boulder is anything but boring but it is really expensive to buy a house, of all my married close friends only two own their home. Most 'normal' folk here accepts that they must forever rent in Boulder if they want to stay close to the action.
The University of Colorado makes up the heart of the town but so does the Pearl Street pedestrian mall and the science and technology agencies and companies. Boulder is an outdoor kind of place, be it hiking, mountain biking, cycling, climbing, bouldering, downhill or x-country skiing and the list goes on. Boulder is also an academic environment especially known for science and technology, the annual Conference of World Affairs and notable speakers and world leaders often come to town. There are two or three small but popular music venues where some surprisingly big names who just like Boulder come to play.
People walk and bike A LOT in Boulder and car traffic HAS to yield to peds and bikes or else you would potentially commit manslaughter. No joke, there are so many bikes that if you drive in Boulder and are not in the absolute habit of obsessively checking your right rear view when you turn right you will be yelled at. A righteous cycling guy whose tight pants got in a quick wad will give you a bad bad look at best. But really it is great to see so much public transportation, people walking and strolling the streets and those you solely use bikes as their transportation (even in the snow!).
Boulder is anything but boring but it is really expensive to buy a house, of all my married close friends only two own their home. Most 'normal' folk here accepts that they must forever rent in Boulder if they want to stay close to the action.
Pros
- organic food
- Entertainment & Arts
- Outdoor Pursuits
- Restaurants
Cons
- traffic
- High Cost of Living
- Sometimes Pretentious Citizens
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Tourists
- LGBT+
- Hipsters
- Students
- Trendy & Stylish
Boulder
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"Outdoors and Eccentric"
Boulder has well-defined identity, the citizens are progressively-minded, idealistic, into the outdoors and eating local, and physically and intellectually very fit. All of this leaves visitors either loving or hating the town of 100,000, which sits nestled in the base of the Rocky Mountains. When you take in the righteousness with a grain of salt, it's easy to enjoy Boulder and everything it has to offer. Rising up behind town are the Flatirons, a trio of giant sandstone slabs, and the de facto symbol of town. Hundreds of hiking and biking trails criss-cross the mountains, which are easily accessible from nearly any part of the city—a great jumping off point is Chautauqua Park, originally built in 1989 for the movement of the same name. Displaying their love of the outdoors, the citizens of Boulder have purchased thousands of acres of open-space grassland to protect the town from the urban sprawl of Denver and its suburbs.
However, it may also serve to contain the culture found within Boulder’s city-limits. The epicenter of Boulder is downtown’s Pearl Street, an outdoor walking mall lined with shops and restaurants of all flavor. Despite being ethnically homogenous—88% white—there is some incredible international cuisine: Sherpa (Nepali), Khow Thai (Thai), Pupusas (El Salvdorian), Ras Kassas (Ethiopian), amongst many more. There are truly too many great restaurants to name. Twice weekly, Wednesdays and Saturdays, there is a local farmer’s market downtown, with a host of produce and prepared treats that runs through October. For nightlife and drinking, there are also many options. There are over a dozen breweries in town, and many bars to choose from, with the highest concentration being located on Pearl Street.
In the art world, the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art has rotating exhibits and the Boulder and Fox Theatres have national acts playing nearly every night. There is also no shortage of street performers entertaining on Pearl.
While the cost of living is quite high, due to the limited space, Boulder is a great place to live and has not lost the feeling of community that so often escapes from towns of its size. There are dozens of distinct neighborhoods with cultures of their own, but more on that in the neighborhood reviews.
However, it may also serve to contain the culture found within Boulder’s city-limits. The epicenter of Boulder is downtown’s Pearl Street, an outdoor walking mall lined with shops and restaurants of all flavor. Despite being ethnically homogenous—88% white—there is some incredible international cuisine: Sherpa (Nepali), Khow Thai (Thai), Pupusas (El Salvdorian), Ras Kassas (Ethiopian), amongst many more. There are truly too many great restaurants to name. Twice weekly, Wednesdays and Saturdays, there is a local farmer’s market downtown, with a host of produce and prepared treats that runs through October. For nightlife and drinking, there are also many options. There are over a dozen breweries in town, and many bars to choose from, with the highest concentration being located on Pearl Street.
In the art world, the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art has rotating exhibits and the Boulder and Fox Theatres have national acts playing nearly every night. There is also no shortage of street performers entertaining on Pearl.
While the cost of living is quite high, due to the limited space, Boulder is a great place to live and has not lost the feeling of community that so often escapes from towns of its size. There are dozens of distinct neighborhoods with cultures of their own, but more on that in the neighborhood reviews.
Pros
- Restaurants
- Outdoor Pursuits
- Entertainment & Arts
Cons
- High Cost of Living
- Sometimes Pretentious Citizens
- Attracts Riff-Raff
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Tourists
- LGBT+
- Hipsters
- Students
- Trendy & Stylish
