Boulder, Colorado, is gaining a reputation for itself as a comparatively smaller, quieter, even less harried city in contrast to big brother Denver -- a city which, depsite its scenic beauty, is showing the signs of urban progress, including a pressing air pollution problem (due to some degree to its geography). Boulder sits at the base of the Rockies. Approximately 87,000 residents call the city their home. Once predominantly a college town (the University of Colorado at Boulder is here), Boulder has diversified and grown into a vibrant community. Because the pristine scenery and air quality is what draws many residents here, they strongly identify with nature -- and not just on the University of Colorado campus. Although the occasional sight of a pair of Birkenstocks might tempt you to call Boulder a "granola" town, that lighthearted humor ignores that fact that the emphasis on nature is an appealing alternative for many relocating families who have grown tired of smog and concrete jungles. The city's laid-back appeal continues to draw people here from every locale and from all walks of life. Boulder is becoming one of the nation's fastest-growing cities, reaping the economic benefits of that back-to-nature aura.

Boulder enjoys its own ski area, a winter playground called Eldora Mountain Resort. So although Colorado boasts ski trails and resorts everywhere you look, Boulder residents don't have to venture far to take advantage of what is undeniably the state's most popular sport. The city also maintains an extensive network of parks and trails for hikers, bikers, and walkers. Boulder's mindfulness of nature has ensured the careful balance of the environment with continued corporate growth. Entrepreneurs have flocked here and have launched many small businesses around town. Several major corporations -- including IBM and Ball Aerospace -- are based here, as well. The city's high technology sector is growing, and in response, a number of federal research laboratories have been established here, including the National Institute for Standards and Technology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Of course, the presence of the University of Colorado ("CU") contributes to Boulder's high-tech growth and the availablity of skilled workers. And Boulder's primary and secondary school systems have been recognized for their high standards and performances.

Author Norman D. Ford named Boulder number one on his list of the 50 "Healthiest Places to Live and Retire in the United States." (Colorado Springs ranked number 7, and Durango ranked number 11). In the results of his study, which weighed such factors as freedom from stress and climate, natural beauty, and health-enhancing lifestyle, Ford called Boulder "the ultimate health and fitness town ... thoroughly civilized, cultured, caring, and bicycle-friendly." Ford added that one of the most critical factors that determines the healthfulness of any city is the "extent to which it provides facilities and support for living a low-risk lifestyle." Its abundance of recreational opportunities, provided by its beautiful topography, is precisely what makes Boulder rank high in those criteria.

In addition to the above-mentioned accolade, Boulder has received others -- including the distinction of being the number-one city for new research and development corporations, according to Industrial Development magazine. Boulder also has been called the "best sports town in the nation" by Outdoor Magazine. Indeed, many world-class athletes call Boulder home and train on its trails and in its sports facilities.

According to the Colorado Climate Center of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at Colorado State University, the average number of sun-kissed days in Boulder averages 157 days per year. The city is blessed with an average of 184 partly sunny days and a mere 84 cloudy days per year. If it's snow you're looking for ... hurry. Your best bet is to head to Boulder in October, or if it's too late for a getaway, chances are good you'll get snow in Boulder if you visit in either March or April. By no means are these months the only months that snowfall is likely to occur in Boulder; they're just the snowiest, with a combined average snowfall of 14.3 inches.

Based on data provided by Boulder Real Estate Services (BRE), LTD, home prices for single-family residences comprise a vast range of budgets -- and even jump off the scale for those who don't necessarily have a budget. Single-family homes rarely dip below $117,000, according to BRE, and the highest known price for a single-family home in Boulder is $5,750,000. So Boulder can accomodate just about any budget. And the city has plenty of condominiums and townhomes, as well. Condos here range anywhere from $59,900 all the way up to $229,750. Vacant land is also available for buyers wanting to build homes. That's perhaps one of the best benefits of living in Boulder: The economy is healthy and diverse, and corporate growth continues at a steady pace. Yet, the city has been able to maintain plenty of open space and vacant land, ensuring that the environment isn't the price the city pays for progress. And it seems that protecting that environment is an insurance policy that will continue to draw relocating families here for many years.

Published: October 22, 1998

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