Rents are 9% below what Boulder's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,370 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Boulder, CO is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 76.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Boulder, CO has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Boulder, CO has shifted from $1,952 to $2,370, up 21.4% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $74,902 to $87,493 across the same window, up 16.8% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Boulder, CO adding about 1,503 residents over the five-year window, up 1.4% on net. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Boulder, CO look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about Boulder
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Can you afford rent in Boulder on your salary?
At $2,370/mo, how Boulder rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Boulder rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Boulder. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Boulder
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Boulder is $2,370/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,566/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,202/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,818/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,892/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($87,493/yr), Boulder ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 4.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Boulder an affordable city for renters?
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Which Boulder neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Boulder rent compare to other cities in Colorado?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Boulder?
What percentage of Boulder residents rent vs. own?
How does Boulder rent compare to the national average?
At $2,370/mo, rent takes ~33% of Boulder's median household income ($87,493/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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