Population 21,391 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Central Boulder: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Central Boulder
Household size in Central Boulder
| Period | Central Boulder | Boulder | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.05 | 2.14 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.30 | 2.38 | 2.63 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.35 | 2.31 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.34 | 2.36 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.30 | +0.22 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Households in Central Boulder are small: just 2.34 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has climbed from 2.05 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Central Boulder
| Period | Central Boulder | Boulder | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.3 | 34.1 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 32.3 | 34.1 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 32.4 | 35.3 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 31.9 | 34.9 | 39.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.4 | +0.8 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Central Boulder is young: half of its residents are under 31.9, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 32.3, even as the national median rose.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Central Boulder
| Period | Central Boulder | Boulder | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.8% | 5.9% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 2.7% | 9.8% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 5.0% | 9.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 6.7% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +0.8 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.2% of households in Central Boulder, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is little changed from 2006–10, while the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Central Boulder
Renters in Central Boulder
| Period | Central Boulder | Boulder | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.9% | 47.3% | 32.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 61.9% | 47.9% | 35.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 62.1% | 47.0% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 61.3% | 48.3% | 33.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Central Boulder rent: 61.3% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Nearly half of owners (47.6%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.4 points, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Central Boulder
| Period | Central Boulder | Boulder | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 8.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 6.5% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.9% | 7.3% | 8.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 8.0% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −0.1 pts | −3.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Central Boulder: 7.6% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of Boulder. Vacancy is down 1.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Central Boulder
| Period | Central Boulder | Boulder | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1973 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1974 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1975 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1976 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +3 | +7 | +6 |
Central Boulder is a place of older homes: half were built before 1967, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1961 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the southwest.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Central Boulder
| Period | Central Boulder | Boulder | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,135 | $1,170 | $1,051 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,287 | $1,322 | $1,165 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,653 | $1,669 | $1,450 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,335 | $2,241 | $1,963 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,200 | +$1,071 | +$912 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Central Boulder costs $2,335 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,200 a month from 2006–10, a 106% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 40.6% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the east; the highest are in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Central Boulder
Bachelor's degrees in Central Boulder
| Period | Central Boulder | Boulder | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 68.6% | 65.3% | 36.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 70.1% | 67.8% | 37.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 76.9% | 75.3% | 40.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 76.0% | 74.6% | 45.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.4 pts | +9.3 pts | +9.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Central Boulder: 76.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 7.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Central Boulder
| Period | Central Boulder | Boulder | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 97.4% | 95.8% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.9% | 95.9% | 90.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 99.2% | 97.1% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.7% | 97.0% | 92.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +1.2 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Central Boulder: 98.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has edged up 1.3 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Central Boulder
| Period | Central Boulder | Boulder | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 7.2% | 6.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 7.8% | 7.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 4.5% | 4.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 6.3% | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −0.9 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.3%, unemployment in Central Boulder is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in Boulder overall (6.3%). Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Central Boulder compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Boulder | 2.34 | 31.9 | 5.2% | 61.3% | 7.6% | 1967 | $2,335 | 76.0% | 98.7% | 5.3% |
| Colorado University | 3.27 | 21.1 | 5.4% | 92.5% | 17.0% | 1974 | $2,048 | 84.7% | 99.6% | 15.1% |
| Washington Village | 2.17 | 44.3 | 6.9% | 35.1% | 6.2% | 1962 | $2,531 | 87.3% | 98.4% | 3.2% |
| Crossroads | 2.22 | 28.2 | 15.3% | 70.5% | 8.2% | 1986 | $1,984 | 61.1% | 93.7% | 3.8% |
| Southeast Boulder | 2.02 | 31.5 | 2.6% | 58.4% | 8.0% | 1977 | $2,067 | 73.1% | 97.6% | 6.3% |
| East Boulder | 2.09 | 41.9 | 6.2% | 21.9% | 9.8% | 1988 | $2,116 | 61.8% | 96.9% | 7.9% |
| Palo Park | 1.97 | 42.7 | 7.2% | 27.9% | 3.9% | 1989 | $2,393 | 80.3% | 98.8% | 8.1% |
| North Boulder | 2.34 | 42.5 | 9.6% | 25.2% | 4.1% | 1988 | $2,202 | 68.6% | 89.0% | 4.6% |
| South Boulder | 2.41 | 38.2 | 5.6% | 39.5% | 4.9% | 1969 | $2,711 | 79.1% | 98.9% | 4.2% |
| Walnut Grove | 2.54 | 39.1 | 5.4% | 11.1% | 5.3% | 1982 | $2,591 | 54.6% | 97.5% | 3.5% |
| Brandywine | 2.84 | 39.4 | 8.2% | 13.2% | 2.7% | 1994 | $2,732 | 50.0% | 94.2% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Canyon Crest, Riverside, CA · Cascade Heights, Atlanta, GA · Southwest, Columbus, OH · Fair Haven, New Haven, CT · Greater Rosemont, Baltimore, MD · South Southwest, San Antonio, TX · Greenwood, Brooklyn, NY · Sheep Mountain, Las Vegas, NV · Rockaway Park, Queens, NY · Kailua Kona, Kailua-Kona, HI
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Central Boulder. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.