Which Boulder Neighborhood is Right for You?

  • Patrick Westfall
  • 11/11/21

Located an easy drive from downtown Denver, Boulder recently topped US News & World Report’s list of top places to live in the country. That’s quite an honor for the city of about 106,000 residents, which is the home of the sprawling University of Colorado as well as a diverse mixture of industries and startups. Additionally, Boulder topped a list of 150 cities that also included Colorado Springs at No. 6, Denver at No. 14, and Fort Collins at No. 17.

Boulder is located in one of the most breathtaking locations in the country, in the foothills of the soaring Rocky Mountains. That makes it a recreation wonderland in winter, when there’s some of the best skiing in the country within a two-hour drive, and in the pleasant summer months.

For those looking for Boulder real estate, there are several comfortable neighborhoods in the city, including Downtown, University Hill, North Boulder, Table Mesa, and Chautauqua.

Home prices

Due to its popularity, Boulder is an expensive place to live. According to Zillow, the median home price in Boulder is currently $964,539, an increase of nearly 20% just in the last year alone. Boulder remains a seller’s market, which means more people are looking to buy than there are houses available. That tight inventory of homes is one of the factors that has driven up prices.

While there are homes for sale in Boulder, CO under the median price, there are also a lot of spectacular homes that are listed for much more than the average home price.

Hire a real estate pro

How do you really know which Boulder neighborhood is best for you? You can start to answer that question by hiring a real estate agent with years of experience in the market and knowledge of all of Boulder’s neighborhoods. Once you hire an agent, they will get to know your personal and professional needs and then match you up with the perfect neighborhood.

Here are some of the best neighborhoods in Boulder:

Downtown

Young professionals always start their home search in downtown Boulder, which is the beating heart of the city. Although inventory can be tight, downtown has Boulder condos for sale in various floor plans, square footage, and configuration of bedrooms and bathrooms. Downtown is perfect for employees at the various startups that call Boulder home and well-paid employees of other downtown businesses.

Downtown is best known for the lively and historic Pearl Street Mall, a four-block, paved-brick pedestrian walkway lined with a wide selection of shops, boutiques, restaurants, and brewpubs in colorful, historic Victorian and brick buildings. Pearl Street Mall is where locals and visitors alike go to browse, eat, or just hang out in a wonderful atmosphere. The hip business district extends beyond the pedestrian mall to West Pearl and East Pearl. The Boulder Farmers Market sets up nearby.

Credit: Boulder Colorado

University Hill

Another hip and trendy neighborhood is University Hill, or simply the Hill. And how could it not be popular, since it starts just across Broadway from the University of Colorado campus and stretches west and north for several blocks?

The Hill is popular with everyone from students to professors, to others who work on campus, families, and professionals who like being relatively close to downtown. University Hill has some wonderful single-family homes with yards as well as Boulder condos for sale. As with other popular neighborhoods in Boulder, the number of homes for sale can be tight.

People love living in the Hill because of the large number of businesses clustered near the university, including all sorts of restaurants, bars, and shops. The Hill also is home to the popular and intimate Fox Theatre, which books various musical acts popular with students.

Chautauqua

Chautauqua is one of the nicest and most affluent neighborhoods with Boulder luxury real estate. It is just south of the Hill and has a great view of downtown. Homes are pricey in Chautauqua, and for good reason. They are older and spacious, offering luxury living in a beautiful neighborhood located at the base of the Flatirons, an imposing rock formation outside of town.

The neighborhood is named for Chautauqua Park and is known for the historic Chautauqua Auditorium located in a large hall, and the Chautauqua Dining Hall, both of which date to 1898. The auditorium is home to various performances and the dining hall has a wonderful veranda with views of the Flatirons. Several hiking trails head out from Chautauqua toward the Flatirons.

Credit: City of Boulder

North Boulder

North Boulder, known by the locals as NoBo, is a large neighborhood on the northwestern side of town that is growing in popularity. It is perfect for families because it has several schools and parks, including Wonderland Lake Park. There is great access to the foothills and other open spaces to the north.

There is a mix of single-family homes for sale in NoBo, including some for under $1 million. NoBo residents who don’t want to deal with the hustle and bustle of downtown can find everything they need right in their own neighborhood, including restaurants, nightspots, and various shops. It even has its own art district and is known for the First Friday Artwalk.

Table Mesa

On the other end of town is Table Mesa, also known as South Boulder. It is considered one of the classic Boulder neighborhoods and many residents have lived here for years. Some things that make Table Mesa special are the spectacular views of the Flatirons and the large Harlow Platts Community Park.

There are some smaller, more affordable homes located in Table Mesa, making it a great neighborhood for families.

Mapleton Hill Historic District

Mapleton Hill Historic District is one of the oldest neighborhoods and has sought-after Boulder luxury real estate. It features wide, tree-lined streets with exceptional Victorian and Queen Anne homes from the 1800s and early 1900s.

Mapleton Hill is centrally located just west of downtown and its Pearl Street Mall, and northwest of the University of Colorado. It is near great schools and gives residents easy access to open areas to the west.

If you’re ready to start looking at homes for sale in Boulder, CO, let Patrick Westfall put his extensive knowledge of the market to work for you.