POPULATION: 97,385
MEDIAN AGE: 28
MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY: $47,967
MEDIAN HOME VALUE: $477,700
VOTES: 1,701 (7.7%)
Yeah, yeah, we've had it with Boulder too. America's perennial fittest, happiest, healthiest, brainiest, VO2-maxiest, most educated, least stressed-out, without-a-doubt-better-than-your-burg town. The annoying truth: if you're an outdoor-sports fanatic, it's still a damn nice place to live—climbing and trail running out the back door, easy access to the Front Range, cosmopolitan trappings, collegiate verve, and a tribe of endurance freaks that could field its own Olympic squad. Sure, the real estate prices are on par with Monaco's, and the People's Republic is considered a cliché by other Coloradans (prairie dogs are a protected species there, after all). But with a populace that recognizes the city's outdoor ascendancy and is still dedicated to making it better—in June, Boulder opened Valmont Bike Park, 40 acres of jumps, drops, and racing tracks—it's hard not to give the town its due.
Staying Power: In 1967, locals passed a new sales tax in order to bankroll an open-space program, the first in the nation to be municipally funded. Today, the net result is more than 43,000 acres of green areas that help keep sprawl at a minimum. In addition, Boulder's educated populace (it has the most bachelor's and post-graduate degrees per capita in the nation) lures tech firms and startups that add high-paying jobs to the local economy, making the prices for those turn-of-the-century Victorians not as onerous as they may seem.
Playgrounds: Eldorado Canyon, just south of town, is a classic go-to for climbers, and cyclists can find empty pavement in all of the half-dozen canyons to the west. Skiers need to head farther afield, but nearly all of the classic I-70 resorts, like Copper Mountain and Vail, are within a two-hour drive.
The Voters Speak: "Twenty-seven square miles surrounded by reality, where hippies drive BMWs." "Live music scene includes local bands String Cheese Incident, Elephant Revival, and Leftover Salmon." "Filled with health Nazis, but as a jumping-off point for the Rockies, it's feakin' awesome."
Comments
Outside: Please stop sending people here. It's getting crowded and housing prices are already too high. Everyone: Denver is nice. Or try Durango, CO. It's up and coming!
Flag ThisITALIAN version: Valle di Cadore, in the Dolomites, 30km from Cortina. 30k from Lavaredo Peaks. Base of YOGAXRUNNERS HUT . My base point. Should check it out www.yogarunners.com
Flag ThisLets go to a place where one is essentially just like everyone else. Over played is Boulder. Go find somewhere new to be original, not follow the "Norm".
Flag ThisJason's wrong, Boulder is way nicer than Durango. Don't go to Durango, you'll hate it.
Flag ThisStay in Boulder, we don't want you yuppy snobs from Boulder in Southwest Colorado!!
Flag ThisStay in Boulder, we don't want you yuppy snobs from Boulder in Southwest Colorado!!
Flag This*Every* magazine says Boulder is the place to live - a sure sign it's about to be overcrowded and over-priced, if not already. Besides other than wait tables or go to college what do you do in Boulder?
Flag ThisDear mr. outdoorlover......"about to be overcrowded and over-priced?" it has been overcrowded and over-priced for 20 years...not to mention the fact that the politics are wackier than Berkley Ca. If you have a gigantic trust fund, like wearing your hair in dreadlocks yet you drive a range rover..then Boulder is the place for you..
Flag ThisDear mr. outdoorlover......"about to be overcrowded and over-priced?" it has been overcrowded and over-priced for 20 years...not to mention the fact that the politics are wackier than Berkley Ca. If you have a gigantic trust fund, like wearing your hair in dreadlocks yet you drive a range rover..then Boulder is the place for you..
Flag ThisJust wanted to put my 2 cents in. I was born in Boulder and still live here. I paid for my own education, my own car, and now the mortgage on my house. I got a degree in Computer Science engineering and now develop software for a living. I don't have dreadlocks and I drive a Nissan Pathfinder simply because it was rated the most dependable SUV (yes I drive an SUV because I need to haul bikes, camping gear, dogs, etc ...). Growing up in Boulder there were some trust fund babies but there are also plenty of middle income families. Yes, it's expensive (mainly because a 2% growth cap on population keeps housing demand high) although it's not as expensive as many other places in the country and it has easy access to outdoor activities. I rarely see people with dreadlocks, and have never seen one of them driving a range rover. Boulder is very liberal so if you're extremely conservative you might not like it here (although half my friends and family are conservative). Other than that, are there any legitimate reasons to hate Boulder so much?
Flag ThisSNOWPLOW SAYS PLOW IT DOWN PLOW IT DOWN
Flag Thisnothing to dislike about boulder. Someone list some reasons besides dreadlocks and ranger rovers (those r 2 great things)
Flag ThisWhy settle for second best in the USA anyway ?!? Oz has Jindabyne, Katoomba, Byron Bay.. NZ has Queenstown. };-p
Flag ThisBoulder really? Too much traffic and too many people, not to mention very rude customer service, snobby to say the least. If you love CA you will love Boulder. Also if you enjoy the outdoors with thousands of other people hiking right on your ass or ahead of you consider Boulder your never alone that's for sure. Yes I do live here! I plan on escaping this Subaru infested yuppie land ASAP!
Flag ThisI love Boulder, but I can't afford it. Apparently, neither can anyone who lives there. How can you buy a $500,000 house on less than $50,000 a year? Do they all rent, or live in the subarus?
Flag ThisI, too, grew up on Boulder. My cousins hated it in the 70s when they called the pre-yuppies the 'oh-woah' Boulder crowd. Then there was the old "Boulder is Better" bumper stickers. The town has been full of itself for quite some time. It is something one can learn to ignore just like the trustafarians in front of the book stores on Pearl St. who drink coffee, smoke, and write about their experiences. You just have to have a sense of humor. I moved to Golden...better prices, less arrogance, closer to skiing...
Flag ThisI agree with HAHA4. Boulder's open spaces are so crowded I don't go up there anymore unless I absolutely have to. There are so many other towns along the front range that are less crowded, less expensive, closer to skiing and have better access to downtown Denver for some culture or job opportunities. I will not mention them as I'd rather let everyone continue to overcrowd Boulder and leave my little peaceful space alone.
Flag ThisBoulder is a joke. Nearly everyone else who was born and raised in this state smirks when someone from out of state ask about boulder. It is full of pretentious snobs, who are mostly from California or Texas. Case in point, I had to go through there for work yesterday and while driving, I was cut off by none other than a Land Cruiser with a California license plate and a cu puffs sticker. It also took all of about 4 minutes of being on 28th street before I saw some white guy dreads.
Flag ThisBoulder is great place to live and work and play. All these stereotypes rankle. The most common car is probably Subaru Outback or Prius. There are bike trails everywhere and they are well used. There are hiking trails throughout the Open Space and they are well used. When the country is characterized by obesity, Boulder is one of the few exceptions because it has a lifestyle that encourages fitness and activity. I am proud to have lived in Boulder for 21 years. I was overweight when I moved here, but not now. Say what you want, I really like this place. I travel worldwide for my business but it's always nice to come back to Boulder.
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