Metro area profile · Colorado
Boulder, CO metro area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Boulder metro area, each scored against other metro areas.
- Population, 2025
- 328,560
- −0.7% since 2020
- Households
- 137,008
- Median household income
- $103,994
- +25.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $756,300
- Jobs located here
- 190,563
- Highest market score
- 77
- Laundromats, #25 of 364 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Boulder metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Boulder metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 328,560 people live in the Boulder metro area, in 137,008 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the Boulder metro area declined 0.7%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in the Boulder metro area is $103,994 a year, 29% above the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 25.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the Boulder metro area spend the most on child care and other personal services (an index of 163, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on vehicle insurance (93).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Boulder metro area are for laundromats (77), convenience stores (76) and pest control companies (73). The Boulder metro area ranks #25 of 364 scored metro areas for laundromats.
The Boulder metro area is made up of one county, Boulder County. For its number of households, the Boulder metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios (3.5 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for laundromats (56% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Boulder metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Boulder metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laundromats | 77 | #25 of 364 | 10 | 0.7 | $29.7M | 237 | 5 |
| Convenience stores | 76 | #31 of 387 | 72 | 5.3 | $12.7M | 161 | 13 |
| Pest control | 73 | #28 of 345 | 11 | 0.8 | $19.3M | 188 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 73 | #40 of 387 | 203 | 14.8 | $4.5M | 133 | 65 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 72 | #37 of 387 | 75 | 5.5 | $6.1M | 129 | 95 |
| Car washes and detailing | 72 | #38 of 387 | 42 | 3.1 | $3.5M | 139 | 13 |
| Home repair trades | 69 | #46 of 387 | 154 | 11.2 | $3M | 123 | 200 |
| Tire shops | 69 | #68 of 386 | 35 | 2.6 | $4.2M | 168 | 18 |
| Roofing and gutters | 68 | #53 of 381 | 44 | 3.2 | $10.5M | 124 | 20 |
| Auto repair and car care | 68 | #65 of 387 | 402 | 29.3 | $366K | 136 | 188 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 68 | #67 of 381 | 26 | 1.9 | $5.7M | 184 | 31 |
| Grocery stores | 68 | #69 of 387 | 57 | 4.2 | $16M | 173 | 52 |
| Auto repair shops | 64 | #86 of 387 | 247 | 18.0 | $596K | 134 | 137 |
| Gas stations | 64 | #105 of 387 | 97 | 7.1 | $3.7M | 153 | 59 |
| Child care and preschools | 62 | #98 of 387 | 99 | 7.2 | $1.3M | 131 | 86 |
| Funeral homes | 62 | #109 of 377 | 16 | 1.2 | $1.1M | 161 | 5 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 62 | #120 of 387 | 185 | 13.5 | $3.5M | 114 | 277 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 61 | #55 of 197 | 7 | 0.5 | $29.5M | 120 | 10 |
| Home inspectors | 61 | #62 of 243 | 8 | 0.6 | Index only | 134 | 9 |
| Electricians | 59 | #118 of 383 | 35 | 2.6 | $13.2M | 110 | 85 |
| Nail salons | 54 | #153 of 387 | 69 | 5.0 | $2.4M | 141 | 44 |
| Barbershops | 54 | #159 of 387 | 55 | 4.0 | $3M | 157 | 14 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 53 | #138 of 290 | 9 | 0.7 | $16.4M | 119 | 12 |
| Pizza | 53 | #166 of 387 | 126 | 9.2 | $5.1M | 101 | 277 |
| Hair salons | 50 | #178 of 387 | 331 | 24.2 | $491K | 114 | 154 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 50 | #178 of 387 | 130 | 9.5 | $1.6M | 97 | 268 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 48 | #214 of 386 | 61 | 4.5 | $2.7M | 105 | 47 |
| Gyms | 47 | #222 of 387 | 158 | 11.5 | $1.3M | 102 | 87 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 45 | #215 of 385 | 83 | 6.1 | $2.6M | 87 | 169 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 45 | #243 of 387 | 141 | 10.3 | $4.6M | 111 | 140 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 43 | #244 of 387 | 261 | 19.0 | $1.1M | 89 | 105 |
| Pet businesses | 43 | #250 of 387 | 196 | 14.3 | $834K | 95 | 140 |
| House cleaning | 42 | #253 of 375 | 36 | 2.6 | $5.9M | 92 | 99 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 42 | #264 of 387 | 106 | 7.7 | $2M | 98 | 101 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 40 | #294 of 387 | 743 | 54.2 | $219K | 103 | 280 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 39 | #275 of 387 | 128 | 9.3 | $1.6M | 91 | 276 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 38 | #282 of 387 | 380 | 27.7 | $780K | 89 | 139 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 35 | #294 of 387 | 1,867 | 136.3 | $346K | 93 | 763 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 34 | #326 of 387 | 380 | 27.7 | $553K | 84 | 188 |
| Pet stores | 33 | #315 of 382 | 44 | 3.2 | $3.7M | 82 | 24 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 32 | #326 of 387 | 1,051 | 76.7 | $615K | 93 | 359 |
| Property management | 32 | #331 of 374 | 66 | 4.8 | Index only | 77 | 153 |
| Veterinarians | 31 | #320 of 384 | 79 | 5.8 | $2.1M | 76 | 69 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 29 | #348 of 386 | 89 | 6.5 | $2.3M | 74 | 32 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 28 | #351 of 387 | 252 | 18.4 | $2.6M | 69 | 126 |
| Dry cleaners | 27 | #246 of 272 | 23 | 1.7 | $12.9M | 82 | 29 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 27 | #362 of 373 | 100 | 7.3 | Index only | 72 | 62 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 27 | #379 of 387 | 679 | 49.6 | Index only | 76 | 488 |
| Real estate | 27 | #380 of 387 | 853 | 62.3 | Index only | 76 | 768 |
| Spas and skin care | 26 | #377 of 387 | 262 | 19.1 | $620K | 71 | 63 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 25 | #362 of 387 | 256 | 18.7 | $807K | 82 | 249 |
| Physical therapy | 24 | #365 of 386 | 176 | 12.8 | $1.2M | 49 | 105 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 23 | #342 of 347 | 116 | 8.5 | $1.8M | 45 | 87 |
| Insurance agencies | 23 | #345 of 387 | 251 | 18.3 | $989K | 79 | 152 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 23 | #364 of 387 | 2,614 | 190.8 | $79K | 52 | 774 |
| Chiropractors | 23 | #373 of 386 | 185 | 13.5 | $1.1M | 47 | 102 |
Household spending in the Boulder metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $147.2M | $1,074 | 112 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $354.9M | $2,590 | 100 |
| Food away from home | $646.2M | $4,716 | 116 |
| Groceries | $914.2M | $6,672 | 106 |
| Personal care products and services | $162.4M | $1,186 | 118 |
| Child care and other personal services | $129.9M | $948 | 163 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $210.2M | $1,535 | 156 |
| Medical and dental services | $206.7M | $1,508 | 117 |
| Pets | $163.5M | $1,194 | 131 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $296.5M | $2,164 | 105 |
| Vehicle insurance | $248.3M | $1,812 | 93 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $460.3M | $3,359 | 111 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $211.8M | $1,546 | 109 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $2.8B | $20,540 | 123 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Boulder metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 328,560−0.7% since 2020
- Households
- 137,008
- Median age
- 39.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 62%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 726 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 453
- Median household income
- $103,994+25.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $148,846
- Median home value
- $756,300
- Jobs located here
- 190,563
- Daytime population
- 376,803Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Boulder metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Boulder metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Boulder metro area 1
- Boulder County, CO328,961 people
Other markets based in Colorado 12
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area3,002,721 people
- Colorado Springs, CO metro area767,824 people
- Fort Collins-Loveland, CO metro area367,368 people
- Greeley, CO metro area350,396 people
- Pueblo, CO metro area169,356 people
- Grand Junction, CO metro area158,601 people
- Rifle, CO area79,464 people
- Durango, CO area56,331 people
- Edwards, CO area55,135 people
- Cañon City, CO area49,634 people
- Montrose, CO area43,807 people
- Breckenridge, CO area38,397 people
Questions
How fast is the Boulder, CO metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Boulder metro area at 328,560 people in 2025, down 0.7% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 137,008 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 25.3%, before inflation.
How much do households in the Boulder, CO metro area spend?
Households in the Boulder metro area spend about $2.8B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $914.2M on groceries and $646.2M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Boulder metro area runs highest on child care and other personal services (an index of 163, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on vehicle insurance (93).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Boulder, CO metro area?
Of the business types scored in the Boulder metro area, laundromats (77), convenience stores (76) and pest control companies (73) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For laundromats, that ranks #25 of 364 scored metro areas.
How does the Boulder, CO metro area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Boulder metro area is $103,994, 29% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 0.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $756,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios (3.5 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for laundromats (56% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in the Boulder metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Boulder metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in the Boulder metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Boulder metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.