In 2017, National Geographic named Boulder the “The Happiest City in the United States”. This title is easy to understand considering the town’s booming job market, incomparable mountain views, and joyful community.
Nestled along the front range of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is a paradise for anyone who loves the outdoors and healthy living. Aside from natural beauty, living in Boulder offers all kinds of lifestyles ranging from an urban atmosphere in downtown, to a semi-rural experience in North Boulder and the eastern side of town.
Below, we’ve listed seven reasons why people are ranking Boulder among the happiest cities in the United States.
Reasons to move to Boulder
- Natural beauty and outdoor recreation
- A haven for local coffee and artisans
- Growing tech industry
- Community and mental health
- Diversity of real estate
- Weather for all occasions
- Ideal location
Natural beauty and outdoor recreation
Boulder is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts.
A series of massive, sandstone slabs known as the Flatirons frame Boulder’s western skyline and extend more than 1,000 feet above the city. These are a hiker’s playground and offer a breathtaking backdrop for picnics.
During the summer, locals gather on the banks of Boulder Creek to kayak, tube, and swim. Eben G. Fine park is a favorite destination for diving into the river and drying off at a BBQ afterwards.
When it begins to snow, Chautauqua Park or Scott Carpenter Park become perfect destinations for sledding and building snowmen.
Boulder also serves as a launchpad for other outdoor activities. At Boulder Reservoir, people enjoy wakeboarding and waterskiing while rock climbers ascend world-class routes in Boulder Canyon. In Breckenridge and Vail, snowboarders and skiers descend first-rate slopes.
A haven for local coffee and artisans
On Pearl Street alone, coffee lovers will find six cafes founded in Boulder.
Coffee connoisseurs frequent Boxcar Coffee Roasters, or OZO Coffee where they roast their own beans. For a charming atmosphere, The Laughing Goat and Trident Booksellers transform into venues for musicians and poets in the evenings.
Coffee isn’t the only specialty in town. Boulder is home to a community of talented artisans. Dancing Grains Woodworks is just one example, handcrafting bespoke cabinetry and furniture from locally sourced materials.
Hundreds of other artists and craftsmen come together at markets like Firefly Handmade and the Boulder County Farmers Market to showcase their work.
Growing tech industry
For an enchanting mountain town Boulder has quite a robust tech industry.
Google, Twitter, Apple, and Lockheed Martin have all set up corporate offices in town, but small tech-startups are where Boulder really shines.
Rising companies like Inscripta, Sovrn, and Automox chose Boulder for a few reasons. First, it’s easier for startups to find funding, and there’s an eager talent pool coming from University of Colorado Boulder. Second, the high quality of life is alluring to tech industry workers. Pristine views of the Flatirons and a thriving sense of community provide these employees a sense of connection that makes them feel at home while building their career.
Community and mental health
Boulder’s designation as the “happiest city” may seem obvious given the abundant career opportunities and outdoor recreation, but that’s only part of the equation. It’s normal for Boulder residents to prioritize community and mental health.
Organizations like the Boulder Shambhala Center and Bohemia Boulder directly address mental health with regular meditation and art therapy sessions. Other events, like the A-lodge’s Live Music Fridays and open mic nights at Outback Saloon, are less formal but make it easy to meet people.
There are also endless opportunities to find community through recreation and leisure. At one of Boulder’s many rock climbing gyms or The Rayback food truck park, someone will most likely invite you to join a yoga class or a game of cornhole.
Diversity of real estate
Covering just 25 square miles, Boulder manages to boast a multitude of housing options. If you’re considering relocating to Boulder, you can choose a housing style that fits your needs while enjoying all the city offers.
For those with the cost of living in mind, the townhomes and apartments near Pearl Street Mall, might be the perfect fit. If a suburban atmosphere suits you better, traditional single-family homes are available in neighborhoods like Table Mesa and Lower Chautauqua. Luxury homes with more square footage and unbeatable mountain views line the streets of Mapleton Hill and Newlands.
No matter which neighborhood you choose to live in, you’ll never be far from the Rockies or downtown Boulder.
Weather for all occasions
Newcomers will often hear that Boulder has roughly 300 days of sunshine a year.
Boulder’s climate is considered semi-arid, and therefore low in humidity. Even when there are clouds, they usually pass quickly and the sunlight reappears. This lack of humidity also means that even in the summer months, when the average temperature is 86 degrees, it cools off to around 60 degrees in the evening.
Precipitation tends to be highest in March and April and usually manifests as snow. If you’re like most people who live in Boulder, this is not a fact to be lamented. Instead, locals simply celebrate with snowboards, skis, and sleds.
Ideal location
Considering all of Boulder’s qualities, residents rarely need to leave. However, Boulder does offer great access to a number of incredible locations.
Denver is only a 35-minute drive and other cities in the metro area are even closer. Colorado Springs is about an hour and a half, and the drive will be filled with dramatic views of the Rockies.
As for outdoor destinations, Rocky Mount National Park and Indian Peaks Wilderness are both one hour from Boulder, and the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater is only 45 minutes south.
Day trips to charming mountain towns are also easy from Boulder. The drive to Golden is 30 minutes, while the drive to Estes Park is about 50 minutes.
