Boulder, CO vs San Carlos, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Boulder
67.4
#1424 nationally
San Carlos
66.8
#1504 nationally
San Carlos leads in median household income ($219,413 vs $86,098). Boulder leads in walk score (62 vs 47). Boulder leads in average commute (21.4 min vs 26.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Boulder, CO | San Carlos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.4 (#1424) | 66.8 (#1504) |
| Population | 103,166 | 28,862 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $957,377 | $2,457,746 |
| Median Household Income | $86,098 | $219,413 |
| Average Commute | 21.4 min | 26.5 min |
| Walk Score | 62 | 47 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-Low | 5.8 |
| School Rating | 8.4 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 165 | N/A |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+55.8 | D+50.3 |
D+
67.4 Score
Boulder, CO
Nature meets innovation at the Flatirons
Median Home
$957,377
Population
103,166
Crime
Moderate-Low
Schools
A
West
View Boulder, CO →
D
66.8 Score
San Carlos, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$2,457,746
Population
28,862
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
47
Pacific
View San Carlos, CA →
Try a different matchup
Swap Boulder for: