Boulder : Colorado

What Boulder is like for active adults

Boulder, Colorado represents an ideal combination type community for many people in retirement– it is a college town with the 32,000 students in the University of Colorado here providing a vital presence. It has the Rocky Mountains for recreation. A strong economic base also comes from its strong high-tech industry. And there are many cultural things to do when the sun, which shines here 300 days a year, goes down. The area has a relatively mild climate compared to the mountains nearby.

Boulder, a city of almost 100,000, tends to be one of the more expensive places you can retire, reflecting its desirability and the strong local economy. The city has won so many awards that the City’s official website has an entire page devoted to them – most focusing on best “Green”, “Bicycling”, “Running”, “Healthiest”, “Best Place to Live”. Both Modern Maturity and Money Magazine have listed Boulder as a top place to retire to. It has many parks and a plethora of cultural opportunities.

Real estate developers have taken note of this popularity and have responded with many 55+ developments. They range in price and in amenities.

Boulder real estate is quite expensive compared to U.S. averages and some other cities in Colorado. According to the National Association of Realtors the median selling price of a single family home in Boulder was $358,000 in late 2009, almost the same as the year earlier period.

Boulder is located in Boulder County. The city of Denver is less than 50 miles away. For more information on retirement in Colorado

Edit | History

What is special about this retirement community

• University town • 54 urban parks • The Rocky Mountains • Mapleton Historic District • 13 ski resorts within 100 miles • 54 golf courses within 30 miles

Edit | History

What is not special about this retirement community

This is a very green, liberal community (which might not appeal to those on the other side of the spectrum). Housing is very expensive (but stable).

Edit | History

What kinds of people like retiring here

Boulder attracts a community of who would like to live in a college town and who enjoy being close to one of the world’s great outdoor environments. It will never fail to amaze you to see how many fit grey haired athletes in this town, that are running, riding their bikes or walking the many trials.

Edit | History

Local economy is driven by

Tourism and the University of Colorado drive the economy.

Edit | History

Climate and Physical Environment

Boulder is located in a basin in north central Colorado at 5344 feet above sea level. The Rocky Mountains rise immediately to the west, as done the Continental Divide. Boulder Creek flows through town. Boulder has an unusual weather combination – it boasts of 300 days of sunshine per year, and 102 inches of precipitation (83 inches of snow).

Edit | History

Cultural environment

The Macky Auditorium Concert Hall on the campus of the University of Colorado provides ballet and a concert hall. There is a Nomad Theatre as well as ensemble and dinner theatres. The University has an excellent Museum of Natural History. There are a variety of cultural events throughout the year – the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and the Bach Festival are two of the more famous.

Edit | History

Medical facilities

Boulder Community Hospital

Edit | History

Transportation

Denver International Airport is 43 miles away.

Edit | History

Was this review helpful?

Yes

Please share your opinions on this community in the Forum
Register to become a Site Guide to Edit these sections or Add a Community If you have suggestions on how Topretirements.com could improve these reviews, contact us.
Suggest a community we want to know about your top retirement spots

Please note that all contributions to Topretirements may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you don't want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then don't submit it here. By submitting content and/or photographs here you agree to give Topretirements.com the rights to use them in any manner without cost or attribution.You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Project:Copyrights for details). DO NOT SUBMIT COPYRIGHTED WORK WITHOUT PERMISSION!

Forward to a Friend | print

Facts about BOULDER

State: CO
Environment: Suburban,College Town,Mountains,
City Population: 100,001+
Median age of Population: 25-44
Avg Jan Temperature: 21-40
Median HH Income: 41,001-60,000
Average Home Price (MLS): $300,001-$500,000
Annual Property Tax on a $200,000 house: 2000-4000
Total Crime Index: 81-90 (low)
Cost of Living Index: 121+ (very high)
Culture Index: 111-120 (high)
State Sales Tax: Yes
State Income Tax: Yes
Name of the Guide: jb

Can you add to or correct these Facts? Or do you have a photo of this community we could use? If so, please click on Edit these facts

Vote on the Ratings for Boulder

Total Ratings

1. Overall Retirement Ratings Discuss

Currently 0.00>/5
1
2
3
4
5