City Comparison
Boulder vs Littleton
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Littleton scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Boulder
Littleton
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Littleton is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
21% lower than in Boulder.
Housing costs are a major driver: Boulder's average rent is
37% higher than Littleton's.
| Metric | Boulder | Littleton | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,395 | $1,750 | +37% |
| Groceries | $450 | $420 | +7% |
| Utilities | $180 | $170 | +6% |
| Transport | $120 | $110 | +9% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $230 | +9% |
| Monthly Total | $3,395 | $2,680 | +27% |
| Cost Index | 128 | 118 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Boulder offers 5% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Littleton delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Boulder is estimated at
$68,000 vs $62,000 in Littleton.
| Metric | Boulder | Littleton |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $78,000 | $74,000 |
| Salary Needed | $68,000 | $62,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 60,938 idx | 62,712 idx |
| Household Income | $87,493 | $88,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 2.1°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Boulder sees 7.5 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Boulder | Littleton |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.50°F | 52.60°F |
| Summer High | 84.20°F | 86.00°F |
| Winter Low | 19.20°F | 19.20°F |
| Rainfall | 16.60 in | 17.40 in |
| Snowfall | 31.20 in | 23.70 in |
| Sunny Days | 282 | 282 |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 45.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Boulder has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Littleton.
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 | Littleton |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 22 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 62.0/100 | 52.0/100 |
| Walkability | 68.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | 48.00 |
| Car Dependency | Low | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Boulder is the larger city
— approximately 2.3x the population of Littleton.
From a growth perspective, Littleton is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Littleton has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Boulder | Littleton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 105,689 | 45,652 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 42.0 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 3.60% |
| 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.
Littleton
Advantages
Historic downtown Littleton offers a vibrant cultural hub with local dining, shopping, and community events per city data.
Exceptional access to outdoor recreation, including Chatfield State Park and miles of regional trails.
Strong public safety profile with violent crime rates significantly below the national average per FBI uniform crime reporting.
Convenient regional transit connectivity via the RTD Light Rail D Line directly into downtown Denver.
Top-rated public school options within Littleton Public Schools and Jefferson County school districts.
Drawbacks
Housing affordability has declined significantly due to rapid appreciation across the Denver metropolitan area per Zillow data.
Higher-than-average cost of living compared to the national baseline, particularly regarding housing and real estate taxes.
Traffic congestion along major commuter corridors such as Santa Fe Drive during peak hours.
Vulnerability to seasonal weather volatility, including heavy winter snowstorms and dry summer wildfire risks.
Limited inventory of affordable multi-family rental housing within the immediate historic district.
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
Littleton
#362Colorado, USA
59.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$74,000
Cost Index
118
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
52.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
282/yr
Avg Temp
52.60°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
3.60%
Livability
83
Business
75
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