The Boulder metro is home to 328,317 people (up 2.3% over five years), with a median household income of $102,772. Typical rent of $2,196/month works out to 25.6% of the median household income — near the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Boulder's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 24.3% |
| Professional & management | 20.6% |
| Manufacturing | 10.0% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 9.9% |
| Retail trade | 9.5% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 25.6% of median income leave moderate headroom; underwrite rent growth conservatively. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Boulder market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $2,196/month suggests a household income around $88,000/year. The metro's median household income is $102,772.
By workforce share: Education & health care (24.3%), Professional & management (20.6%), Manufacturing (10.0%) (Census ACS 5-year).