What BestPlaces Users Say about Boulder
The city of Boulder, Colorado is known for its scenic mountain views, vibrant arts scene, and active outdoor lifestyle. It has consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States, attracting a diverse range of residents. However, with any city, there are pros and cons to living there. By summarizing user reviews from various sources, we can gain a better understanding of the experiences of those who have lived in Boulder, Colorado. Here are four excerpts from user reviews that provide insight into living in this particular place.
1) From "Sarah G." on Best Places: "Boulder is a beautiful city with so much to offer. The mountain views are breathtaking and there are endless opportunities for outdoor activities. However, the cost of living is high and traffic can be frustrating at times."
2) From "David M." on BestPlaces: "I've lived in Boulder for 5 years and it's been a great experience. The people here are friendly and welcoming, and there's always something to do. The only downside is the lack of affordable housing options."
3) From "Samantha H." on Yelp: "I've been living in Boulder for almost 10 years and I love it. The community is very environmentally conscious and there are plenty of local businesses to support. The only downside is that it can get crowded during peak tourist seasons."
4) From "John D." on TripAdvisor: "Boulder is a great place for families. The schools are top-notch and there are plenty of family-friendly activities. However, the cost of living can be a challenge and the winters can be brutal."
based on 55 ReviewsGet to know Boulder with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Boulder
Pretty, Good City Planning, Ego-Centric - 8/16/2008
Boulder is mono-chromatic. I always say, for a liberal town, it's pretty conservative. I am from the east coast and once enjoyed a forward sent to me that was a link to a website "stuff white people like" and I found it pretty funny- so I relayed a couple of the blogs to a few friends here that SERIOUSLY didn't get it. They said in a confused, clueless, dry tone, "I guess I just never knew black people or was friends with non-white people". Wow.
Wow.
There is a general forced be-at-one-with-yourself-even-if-you-are-fuming-underneath tone. Yoga is competitive! Christ, I climb, bike, run, bla bla bla and because of this extracurricular resume people suggested that I would fall in love with Boulder. 6 years later and I am afraid I just see people who do these things as a programmed necessity, not enjoyment. They are pretty self indulged and scheduled. Friendships form if you have the same yoga class- that right there is the friendship, not if you have the same sense
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Boulder: still good, but probably not what it used - 5/14/2008
I have been in Boulder (or nearby county) for almost 10 years and I must agree with those who see it as a highly educated, liberal, progressive, clean, healthy city (the list goes on...). BUT, it is way expensive relative to the available jobs (especially if you want anything other than a condo) and the students can be annoying. Many of them seem to treat it as their own little party palace with little regard for those who call it home (I guess this applies to any college town). My wife and I (jokingly) say under our breath every spring (to the lingering students): "We can't wait until you're gone!" It's not really that bad, but the summer is MUCH better in their absence. Of course, much of the economy depends on the university, so go figure.
The people are generally nice, if a little self-centered and detached. And there is a kind of attitude of elitism that grates a little. I am tremendously liberal and live as green and sustainable a life as possible, but
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Weather - 5/10/2008
From late Spring through the beginning of Winter, the weather is very
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Recreation - 4/24/2008
Great city for biking, hiking, walking, etc. and rarely more that 2 weeks without
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Boulder - diverse, charming and costly - 4/21/2008
Boulder is one of the most misunderstood cities in the country. There are many who seem to have an opinion of it even if they've never seen it or lived here. Hippie, granola, yuppie, communist, socialist - these are just some of the more common characterizations I've heard.
It's a fabulous place if you are financially fortunate to live in any of the historic districts. If you are less well-off you can still get reasonable housing farther out - like maybe 10 minutes away. ...Great university, functional public transportation system, inspiring mountains, great restaurants, homeless vagrants, great parks and recreational centers, absurd housing inflation, politically active and intelligent residents, constantly threatened with commercial encroachment, historically preserved - this is the real Boulder. A city that is forever wrestling with the forces that make it vibrant but also threaten to destroy it.
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Boulder - diverse, charming and costly - 4/21/2008
Boulder is one of the most misunderstood cities in the country. There are many who seem to have an opinion of it even if they've never seen it or lived here. Hippie, granola, yuppie, communist, socialist - these are just some of the more common characterizations I've heard.
It's a fabulous place if you are financially fortunate to live in any of the historic districts. If you are less well-off you can still get reasonable housing farther out - like maybe 10 minutes away. ...Great university, functional public transportation system, inspiring mountains, great restaurants, homeless vagrants, great parks and recreational centers, absurd housing inflation, politically active and intelligent residents, constantly threatened with commercial encroachment, historically preserved - this is the real Boulder. A city that is forever wrestling with the forces that make it vibrant but also threaten to destroy it.
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Boulder - Pros/Cons - 4/6/2008
Pros:
1. Very low crime rate
2. Excellent school system
3. Beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains
4. Home to University of Colorado
5. A good place to live and raise a family
Cons:
1. Extremely high cost of living and housing
2. Unaffordable place to live
3. Bad traffic compared to other cities its size
4. UC is a big party
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Public Transport - 3/13/2008
The bus and light rail system in the Boulder/Denver area is exceptional, service is efficent,economical, and easy to
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Boulder - 3/12/2008
Boulder has many obvious pluses but also a number of negatives.
Pros: 1. Boulder is one of the prettiest cities in the U.S 2.very informed
and educated community 3. excellent school system 4. very low crime rate
5. great outdoor options in your backyard. 6. # of good rests and shops
Cons: 1. A number of people embrace the Gordon Gecco from the film Wall Street mentality that greed is good. 2. Many of the people are all about themselves in Boulder and also want you to share their values and beliefs. 3. Many people in Boulder simply aren't as tolerant as they would like you to believe they are 4. awful traffic 5. zero diversity, Boulder is for the most part lily white 5. the town has many old hippies many whom have given up
what they believe in long ago 6. if you don't make good money don't consider moving to Boulder it is VERY expensive. 7. CU also attracts a HIGH # of kids from Malibu, Bev Hills and other higher rent places, these kids often bring
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Boulder's a Great Place! - 12/6/2007
It seems that one's take on Boulder is relative. Granted, I don't live in Boulder (I've only visited for graduate school), however having grown up in a big city (New York), and spending my post college years in Los Angeles, Boulder seems small, quiet, and super friendly.
I was blown away by how nice the people were. Everyone seems to be friendly for the sake of being friendly. While there are some cars on the road, it's nothing compared to the sort of traffic I've encountered in NY and LA!
Lots of people have negative feelings towards Boulder, but it seems to be a case of more conservative people hating on a town that attracts a lot of like-minded people. This doesn't make it 'bad' or 'elitist' or 'pretentious.' It just makes it a bit different than the rest of Colorado. I doubt that anybody would claim that the mountain towns are 'elitist' or 'pretentious' just because they're more liberal than the rest of Colorado.
True, there are
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