City Comparison
Caliente vs Boulder City
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Caliente scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Caliente
Boulder City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Caliente is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
24% lower than in Boulder City.
Housing costs are a major driver: Caliente's average rent is
36% lower than Boulder City's.
| Metric | Caliente | Boulder City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $1,495 | -36% |
| Groceries | $380 | $400 | -5% |
| Utilities | $175 | $180 | -3% |
| Transport | $140 | $120 | +17% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $250 | -12% |
| Monthly Total | $1,865 | $2,445 | -24% |
| Cost Index | 88 | 105 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Boulder City offers 7% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Caliente delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Caliente is estimated at
$42,000 vs $48,000 in Boulder City.
| Metric | Caliente | Boulder City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $52,000 | $55,647 |
| Salary Needed | $42,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 59,091 idx | 52,997 idx |
| Household Income | $51,000 | $74,757 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Boulder City runs warmer on average — a 9.8°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Boulder City comes out ahead with 12 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Caliente sees 10.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Caliente | Boulder City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 59.20°F | 69.00°F |
| Summer High | 91.40°F | 101.40°F |
| Winter Low | 31.40°F | 40.80°F |
| Rainfall | 7.70 in | 5.90 in |
| Snowfall | 10.70 in | 0.10 in |
| Sunny Days | 327 | 339 |
| Humidity | 30.00% | 25.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Caliente has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,000 minutes (67 hours) per year compared to Boulder City.
Boulder City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
| Metric | Caliente | Boulder City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 15 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 20.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 52.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 15.00 | 38.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Boulder City is the larger city
— approximately 0.1x the population of Caliente.
From a growth perspective, Caliente is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Boulder City has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Caliente | Boulder City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,100 | 14,919 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.09% |
| Median Age | 46.0 | 53.5 |
| Unemployment | 4.50% | 4.10% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Caliente
Advantages
Median home prices and overall cost of living are substantially lower than the US national average.
Exceptional public safety with very low crime rates providing a secure environment for residents.
Immediate proximity to stunning Nevada state parks including Cathedral Gorge and Kershaw-Ryan.
Abundant sunshine with approximately 327 sunny days per year supporting an active outdoor lifestyle.
Peaceful, small-town community atmosphere free from urban traffic congestion and noise.
Drawbacks
Geographic isolation requires significant driving times to access major shopping, airports, and specialized healthcare.
Limited local job market with employment heavily concentrated in government and public services.
Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F, driving up seasonal cooling and utility costs.
Limited selection of dining, retail, and entertainment options within city limits.
Small rental inventory can make finding immediate housing challenging for newcomers.
Boulder City
Advantages
Strict municipal growth ordinances protect the town's historic charm and prevent over-urbanization per the City of Boulder City.
Proximity to Lake Mead National Recreation Area provides world-class boating, hiking, and outdoor recreation right next door per Census data.
Significantly lower crime rates and higher safety scores compared to nearby Las Vegas and regional averages per federal crime reports.
A peaceful, non-gambling environment offering a quiet residential escape from the neon and noise of the Las Vegas Strip per municipal code.
Active local community engagement with robust volunteerism, local parks, and dedicated community programming per Data USA.
Drawbacks
Limited housing inventory and strict growth caps drive up property values and home purchase prices per Zillow and U.S. Census data.
An older median age profile (53.5 years) results in fewer dynamic nightlife options and family-oriented entertainment venues per Census metrics.
High car dependency with limited public transportation options for commuting outside municipal boundaries per regional transit studies.
Extreme summer high temperatures exceeding 100°F restrict outdoor daytime activities during peak summer months per Open-Meteo climate data.
Local employment options within city limits are relatively scarce, requiring many residents to commute to Henderson or Las Vegas per local economic reports.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Caliente
#181Nevada, USA
64.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$52,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
15 min
Transit Score
20.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
327/yr
Avg Temp
59.20°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
73
Business
55
Boulder City
#231Nevada, USA
62.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,495
Avg Salary
$55,647
Cost Index
105
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
339/yr
Avg Temp
69.00°F
Pop. Growth
0.09%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
78
Business
65
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