Boulder County, Colorado: commercial real estate data.
Boulder County, Colorado had an estimated 330,262 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 330,770, across 726 square miles. County output reached $39.31 bn in 2024, 12,990 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 666 7(a) approvals worth $358.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Boulder County
How many people live in Boulder County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024328,961
- Households137,008
- Average household size2.40
- Median household income$103,994
- Median age37.7
- Median gross rent$1,966 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$756,300
- Home value to household income7.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income22.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher64.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree30.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over220,629
- Population under 1857,715
- Share under 1817.5 percent
- Population 65 and over53,942
- Share 65 and over16.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64217,304
- Civilian labor force186,484
- Unemployment rate4.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over68.8 percent
- Rank by population among Colorado counties9th of 64
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included223rd of 3,222
Boulder County is the 9th largest of 64 Colorado counties by population. A median home costs 7.3 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 17.5 percent against 16.4 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Boulder County
Is Boulder County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024330,262
- Census 2020 base population330,770
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.15 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,843
- Births, 20242,424
- Deaths, 20242,114
- Natural change, 2024310
- Net domestic migration, 2024-1,034
- Net international migration, 20242,545
- Total net migration, 20241,511
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-7,945
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1892nd of 3,144
The county has lost 0.15 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Boulder County
Where are people moving to Boulder County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving13,514
- People arriving, from those returns19,749
- Tax returns filed by households leaving15,539
- Net household movement-2,025
- Adjusted gross income arriving$1.56 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-254.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$115,300
- Average income of a leaving household$116,664
- Largest single originDenver County (1,083 households)
- Largest single destinationWeld County (1,562 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver County | 1,083 | 1,422 | $117.4 m |
| Weld County | 899 | 1,589 | $74.0 m |
| Jefferson County | 839 | 1,170 | $76.5 m |
| Adams County | 751 | 1,135 | $51.0 m |
| Larimer County | 739 | 985 | $57.7 m |
| Broomfield County | 635 | 954 | $65.7 m |
| Arapahoe County | 333 | 473 | $21.3 m |
| Los Angeles County | 242 | 345 | $28.7 m |
Households arriving report $1,364 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Denver County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Boulder County
What is the Boulder County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$39.31 bn
- County GDP, 2023$37.69 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.3 percent
- GDP change over five years29.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Colorado areas BEA publishes6th of 64
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes152nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$119,500
Output grew 4.3 percent in the latest year and 29.4 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Boulder County
Employment by industry in Boulder County
- Covered employment, annual average193,920
- Establishments reporting18,751
- Average annual pay$96,397
- Average weekly wage$1,854
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment34,458
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$159,722
- Health care and social assistance, employment23,159
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$69,077
- Manufacturing, employment20,858
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$100,696
- Accommodation and food services, employment16,694
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$31,715
- Retail trade, employment16,620
- Information, employment8,421
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 34,458 | 5,750 | $159,722 |
| Health care and social assistance | 23,159 | 1,880 | $69,077 |
| Manufacturing | 20,858 | 619 | $100,696 |
| Accommodation and food services | 16,694 | 898 | $31,715 |
| Retail trade | 16,620 | 1,119 | $44,017 |
| Information | 8,421 | 694 | $219,681 |
| Wholesale trade | 7,642 | 1,076 | $148,861 |
| Other services, except public administration | 5,885 | 1,454 | $59,146 |
Professional, scientific and technical services is the largest private sector at 34,458 jobs, 17.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Boulder County
How many businesses are in Boulder County?
- Establishments, all industries12,990
- Employment at those establishments159,619
- Annual payroll$13.22 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents39.5
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Boulder County
Building permits in Boulder County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,680
- Declared construction value permitted$535.4 m
- Single family units authorized441
- Multifamily units authorized1,239
- Multifamily share of units73.8 percent
- Average declared value per unit$318,686
- Units authorized per 1,000 households12.3
Multifamily is 73.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Boulder County
SBA loans in Boulder County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded666
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$358.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$537,915
- Median 7(a) approval$250,000
- 10th percentile approval$30,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,376,500
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)7,480
- Jobs per approval11.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active98
- Distinct industries receiving approvals201
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer9.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms60
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter565
- Franchise loans104
- Franchise share of approvals15.6 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (29)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (92)
- 504 approvals recorded247
- 504 gross approval dollars$197.2 m
- Average 504 approval$798,239
- Median 504 approval$517,000
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval8.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.0
- Most active CDCB:Side Capital (208)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$555.4 m
The average approval of $537,915 sits well above the median of $250,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 9.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Boulder County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Boulder County
Do SBA loans in Boulder County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded123
- Paid in full113
- Charged off10
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans8.1 percent
- Status: Paid in full113
- Status: Exempt from disclosure416
- Status: Charged off10
- Status: Cancelled82
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed45
Of the 123 loans that have reached a final outcome, 8.1 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Boulder County
SBA lending by place in Boulder County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending20
- Boulder, approvals267
- Longmont, approvals137
- Lafayette, approvals90
- Louisville, approvals73
- Erie, approvals32
- Superior, approvals23
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder | 267 | $148,428,800 |
| Longmont | 137 | $69,744,700 |
| Lafayette | 90 | $44,458,900 |
| Louisville | 73 | $46,083,200 |
| Erie | 32 | $13,911,000 |
| Superior | 23 | $8,658,400 |
| Niwot | 16 | $14,340,100 |
| Lyons | 5 | $1,091,000 |
| 12 other borrower cities | 23 | $11,535,100 |
Boulder accounts for 267 approvals against 137 in Longmont. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Boulder County
How large is Boulder County?
- Land area726 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Colorado counties52nd of 64
- Width, east to west33 mi
- Height, north to south24.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land453
- Establishments per square mile17.89
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Boulder County
Flood risk in Boulder County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Boulder County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 080023
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 5
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book11
- Of those, participating in the NFIP10
- NFIP participation rate90.9 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 5
- Communities carrying a CRS class4
- Radon levels in Boulder County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Boulder County (community 080023), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 5, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Boulder County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 5, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 90.9 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Boulder County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Boulder County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024328,961
- Households137,008
- Average household size2.40
- Median household income$103,994
- Median age37.7
Common questions
Boulder County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Boulder County, Colorado?
The Census Bureau estimates 330,262 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 328,961, in 137,008 households, ranking 9th of 64 Colorado counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Boulder County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.15 percent since the 2020 census base of 330,770, to 330,262 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 2,424 births against 2,114 deaths, with net migration of 1,511. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Boulder County?
$103,994. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $756,300, which is 7.3 times income, and median gross rent is $1,966 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Boulder County?
12,990 establishments, employing 159,619 people with an annual payroll of $13.22 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Boulder County?
Professional, scientific and technical services is the largest private sector at 34,458 jobs, 17.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 193,920 jobs at an average annual pay of $96,397, or $1,854 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Boulder County?
666 7(a) approvals totaling $358.3 m since FY2020, across 98 lenders, with a median approval of $250,000, plus 247 504 approvals worth $197.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Boulder County get paid back?
Of the 123 loans that have reached a final outcome, 113 were paid in full and 10 charged off, a charge-off rate of 8.1 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Boulder County?
1,680 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $535.4 m. Multifamily was 73.8 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Boulder County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Boulder County come from?
The largest single origin is Denver County, with 1,083 households. Arriving households report an average income of $115,300 against $116,664 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Boulder County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Boulder County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Boulder County
Cities and places in Boulder.
34 Census places lie wholly or partly in Boulder County. 33 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked. The rest are named here and not linked, because the American Community Survey and the SBA record between them do not carry enough about them to write an honest page. A place existing is itself worth knowing, so nothing in the county is left out.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | city | 106,433 | 267 | Wholly in this county |
| Longmont | city | 99,406 | 137 | 81.4 percent here, 18.6 percent Weld County |
| Erie | town | 33,808 | 32 | 27.7 percent here, 72.3 percent Weld County |
| Lafayette | city | 30,602 | 90 | Wholly in this county |
| Louisville | city | 20,786 | 73 | Wholly in this county |
| Superior | town | 13,305 | 23 | 95.0 percent here, 5.0 percent Jefferson County |
| Gunbarrel | CDP | 10,051 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Niwot | CDP | 3,447 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| Coal Creek | CDP | 2,346 | None recorded | 22.5 percent here, 63.2 percent Jefferson County, 14.3 percent Gilpin County |
| Lyons | town | 1,838 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Nederland | town | 1,655 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Allenspark | CDP | 825 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Lazy Acres | CDP | 778 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Paragon Estates | CDP | 667 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Altona | CDP | 587 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pine Brook Hill | CDP | 543 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sugarloaf | CDP | 474 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Eldora | CDP | 465 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| St. Ann Highlands | CDP | 453 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Tall Timber | CDP | 382 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sunshine | CDP | 330 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Jamestown | town | 324 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Eldorado Springs | CDP | 320 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Crisman | CDP | 268 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bark Ranch | CDP | 199 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Seven Hills | CDP | 183 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mountain Meadows | CDP | 180 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gold Hill | CDP | 178 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ward | town | 103 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Glendale | CDP | 69 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bonanza Mountain Estates | CDP | 56 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hidden Lake | CDP | 29 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Valmont | CDP | 27 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Leyner | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 16 of the county's 666 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Boulder County, the largest being Frederick (4), Golden (3), Berthoud (2). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby