Boulder and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Boulder | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 328,961 | 5,028,754 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $103,994 | $88,301 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $62,436 | $45,239 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 453/sq mi | 345/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $756,300 | $440,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,966 | $1,702 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 62.0% | 66.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 4.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.1% | -3.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 64.2% | 35.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 11.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,321 | 34,635 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.1 | 6.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 34.5% | -17.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 68°F | 107°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 12°F | 46°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 33.9" | 7.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 20 mi | 17 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 28.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.7 | 37.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Boulder
Elevated or high exposure: hail, wildfire, tornado.
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Boulder, CO Metro Area · Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology