Boulder Colorado Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Boulder, CO (the Boulder metro area) was $1,637 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Boulder was $1,639 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Boulder median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Boulder rental vacancy rates, Boulder rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Boulder.
Real Gross Rent in Boulder Colorado (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Colorado Median Gross Rent | $1,369 | +4.34% | +11.66% |
| Boulder, CO Median Gross Rent | $1,637 | +7.34% | +15.93% |
Boulder, CO Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,637, real median gross rent in Boulder was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,639, real average gross rent in Boulder was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Boulder: Boulder CO Median, Boulder CO Average, Colorado Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Boulder
| Date | US Median |
Colorado Median |
Boulder, CO Median |
Boulder, CO Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,369 | $1,637 | $1,639 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,312 | $1,525 | $1,572 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,279 | $1,529 | $1,621 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,226 | $1,412 | $1,412 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,179 | $1,365 | $1,445 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,077 | $1,271 | $1,331 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,023 | $1,230 | $1,284 |
| 2012 | $940 | $994 | $1,179 | $1,254 |
| 2011 | $941 | $972 | $1,138 | $1,239 |
| 2010 | $955 | $964 | $1,113 | $1,244 |
| 2009 | $960 | $970 | $1,158 | $1,250 |
| 2007 | $927 | $926 | $1,059 | $1,141 |
| 2005 | $910 | $946 | $1,181 | $1,268 |
Boulder Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Boulder Colorado was 3.16% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Boulder Colorado
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Colorado | 4.60% | -0.67% | +0.31% |
| Boulder, CO | 3.16% | -1.98% | -1.38% |
Trends in Boulder, CO Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Boulder peaked in 2006 at 7.56%. Since then it has fallen by 4.40% to 3.16%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2010 post peak low of 2.37%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.79%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Boulder CO, Colorado, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Boulder
| Date | US | Colorado | Boulder, CO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.60% | 3.16% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.27% | 5.14% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.18% | 3.40% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 4.29% | 4.54% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 4.47% | 4.10% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.85% | 3.25% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.26% | 2.78% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.69% | 2.48% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 5.63% | 4.17% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.72% | 2.37% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 8.00% | 3.74% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 8.63% | 5.29% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 9.35% | 5.86% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Boulder, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Boulder, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 22.19% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Boulder Colorado Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Colorado | 21.30% | -0.20% | -0.09% |
| Boulder, CO | 22.19% | +0.73% | +0.51% |
Trends in Boulder, CO Rent as a Fraction of Income
Boulder renters paid 22.19% of median household income towards the median monthly gross rent in 2019. This is the highest fraction of median household income going to rent since the series originated in 2005.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Boulder CO, Colorado, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Boulder Colorado
| Date | US | Colorado | Boulder, CO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 21.30% | 22.19% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 21.50% | 21.46% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 21.53% | 22.02% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 21.39% | 21.68% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.86% | 21.45% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.97% | 20.20% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.81% | 19.57% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.74% | 19.85% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.50% | 18.43% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.16% | 19.32% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.42% | 19.22% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.13% | 17.09% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.93% | 19.72% |
Renter Fraction in Boulder Colorado
You can calculate the renter fraction in Boulder in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Boulder as a fraction of total Boulder households. In 2019 38.39% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Boulder Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Colorado | 34.15% | -0.71% | -1.09% |
| Boulder, CO | 38.39% | +1.02% | +3.09% |
Trends in the Boulder, CO Renter Fraction
The Boulder household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 39.98% and is now 1.59% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Boulder CO, Colorado, US
History of Boulder Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Colorado | Boulder, CO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 34.15% | 38.39% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 34.86% | 37.37% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 34.80% | 38.58% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 35.24% | 35.30% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 36.25% | 39.98% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 36.14% | 38.83% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 35.49% | 36.71% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 35.97% | 38.69% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 35.62% | 34.36% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 34.06% | 37.75% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 32.99% | 35.92% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 31.17% | 34.09% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 32.18% | 35.03% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
