City Comparison
Boulder vs Lakewood
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Lakewood scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Boulder
Lakewood
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Lakewood is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
20% lower than in Boulder.
Housing costs are a major driver: Boulder's average rent is
33% higher than Lakewood's.
| Metric | Boulder | Lakewood | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,395 | $1,795 | +33% |
| Groceries | $450 | $410 | +10% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $115 | +4% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $230 | +9% |
| Monthly Total | $3,395 | $2,730 | +24% |
| Cost Index | 128 | 106 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Boulder offers 8% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Lakewood delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Boulder is estimated at
$68,000 vs $60,000 in Lakewood.
| Metric | Boulder | Lakewood |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $78,000 | $72,000 |
| Salary Needed | $68,000 | $60,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 60,938 idx | 67,925 idx |
| Household Income | $87,493 | $89,792 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Boulder sees 1.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Boulder | Lakewood |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.50°F | 51.50°F |
| Summer High | 84.20°F | 84.90°F |
| Winter Low | 19.20°F | 19.30°F |
| Rainfall | 16.60 in | 18.40 in |
| Snowfall | 31.20 in | 29.40 in |
| Sunny Days | 282 | 277 |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 52.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Boulder has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Lakewood.
Boulder scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Boulder leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Boulder | Lakewood |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 22 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 62.0/100 | 54.0/100 |
| Walkability | 68.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | 48.00 |
| Car Dependency | Low | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Lakewood is the larger city
— approximately 0.7x the population of Boulder.
From a growth perspective, Lakewood is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Lakewood has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Boulder | Lakewood |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 105,689 | 156,927 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.18% |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 38.2 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 4.00% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Boulder
Advantages
Unmatched access to open space and outdoor recreation, with over 300 days of annual sunshine and miles of direct trail access.
Exceptionally high educational attainment levels, with over 75% of residents holding a bachelor's degree or advanced qualification.
Thriving innovation and tech startup ecosystem fueled by proximity to the University of Colorado Boulder and federal research labs.
Robust multi-modal transportation infrastructure featuring extensive bike paths, pedestrian corridors, and reliable regional transit.
Active, health-conscious community culture emphasizing sustainability, organic foods, and active wellness.
Drawbacks
Significantly high cost of living and housing market pressures, with average monthly rent exceeding $2,300.
Limited ethnic and racial diversity compared to broader metropolitan benchmarks in Colorado.
Competitive real estate environment making homeownership challenging for median-income earners.
Traffic congestion along major regional corridors during peak commuting hours to and from Denver.
Strict growth boundaries driving up commercial lease rates for local small businesses and startups.
Lakewood
Advantages
Median household income stands at $89,792, reflecting a strong local economy that outperforms the national average per U.S. Census data.
Exceptional geographic proximity to the Rocky Mountain foothills and Red Rocks Amphitheatre provides unmatched outdoor recreation access.
The RTD W Line light rail system offers fast, direct commuter rail transit into downtown Denver.
Home to major economic anchors like the Denver Federal Center and St. Anthony Level I Trauma Center.
Abundant green spaces featuring over 80 public parks and extensive multi-use trail networks.
Drawbacks
Typical monthly apartment rents average around $1,800, placing financial pressure on lower-income renters.
Property crime rates remain a challenge, reflecting broader metropolitan trends across the Denver area.
Car dependency is high in outer residential neighborhoods despite light rail availability along central corridors.
Traffic congestion peaks heavily along major commuter arteries like U.S. 6 and Interstate 70 during rush hours.
Housing affordability has tightened significantly due to intense regional population growth and high real estate demand.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Boulder
#467Colorado, USA
54.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,395
Avg Salary
$78,000
Cost Index
128
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
62.0/100
Walkability
68.0/100
Sunny Days
282/yr
Avg Temp
50.50°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
88
Business
80
Lakewood
#372Colorado, USA
59.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,795
Avg Salary
$72,000
Cost Index
106
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
54.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
277/yr
Avg Temp
51.50°F
Pop. Growth
0.18%
Unemployment
4.00%
Livability
80
Business
72
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Boulder and Lakewood.
Open Cost Calculator