Boulder Neighborhood Guide

It is widely recognized that Boulder is a great place to live, but the neighborhoods in Boulder are a bit hard to characterize. Like many towns, Boulder was developed over time in a piece-meal fashion. The result is that many of the neighborhoods are only a few hundred homes in size. It is common to have two adjacent neighborhoods developed at different times and have completely different price ranges. While this report is not comprehensive, it will give the reader valuable information from which to start understanding the real estate market in Boulder. I have arbitrarily split up Boulder into 11 different segments. There is a section below for each segment.  I will highlight the major neighborhoods and attributes in each area. 

Click on one of the area names to jump directly to that section

South Boulder

Statistics

Median Price – $770,000

Number of Sales – 191

% of Sales Condos – 13%              % of Sales Homes – 87%

Key Neighborhoods

  • Table Mesa
  • Martin Acres
  • Shanahan Ridge
  • Devils Thumb
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Schools

  • Elementary Schools: Mesa, Bear Creek, Creekside
  • Middle Schools: Southern Hills, Summit
  • High Schools: Fairview
Overview: South Boulder or SoBo is a little different than many of the central and North Boulder neighborhoods. This area was built out during Boulder’s high growth period of the 1960’s and 1970’s. South Boulder includes two very large neighborhoods, Table Mesa and Martin Acres. These homes were not custom homes and as you drive around you will see ranch style homes along with many multi-level homes. People like to live here because of the proximity to hiking trails, good schools and a bit of a better value than you can find in North Boulder. There are many homes that have been remodeled and you will find some beautiful homes and quiet streets in South Boulder.

Parks and Recreation

  • Harlow Platts Park
  • South Boulder Recreation Center
  • Various trailheads accessing Boulder Mountain Parks hiking trails

Here are the current active listings in South Boulder.  To see all of the listings click on the navigation below the listings. The listing status will automatically change in real time.

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East Boulder

Statistics

Median Price – $568,000

Number of Sales – 269

% of Sales Condos –  65%             % of Sales Homes – 35%

Key Neighborhoods

  • Keewaydin
  • Park East
  • Frasier Meadows
  • Arapahoe Ridge
  • Country Club Park
  • Greenbelt Meadows
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Schools

  • Elementary -Eisenhower, Douglass, High Peaks

  • Middle – Manhattan

  • High School – Fairview

Overview: East Boulder is a residential area with a good mix of moderately priced homes, condominiums and some larger homes. There are both rentals (mostly as you get closer to the University) and owner occupied homes in this area. As you move east towards Baseline Reservoir you move beyond city limits and the homes and neighborhoods become more rural in nature. Some residents who work in Denver appreciate the easy access to Denver via Hwy. 36.

Parks and Recreation

  • East Boulder Recreation Center
  • East Boulder open space and trail
  • Flatirons Golf Course
  • Centennial Trail

Here are the current active listings in East Boulder.  To see all of the listings click on the navigation below the listings. The listing status will automatically change in real time.

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Chautauqua

Statistics

Median Price – $1,100,000

Number of Sales – 99

% of Sales Condos –  23%             % of Sales Homes – 77%

Key Neighborhoods

  • University Hill
  • Chautauqua
  • Rose Hill
  • Many smaller older subdivisions
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Schools

  • Elementary – University Hill, Flatirons
  • Middle – Manhattan
  • High School – Boulder High, New Vista

Overview: The area located from Broadway to the mountains and between downtown Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology can be broadly characterized as University Hill (North of Baseline) and Chautauqua (South of Baseline). The homes in this area tend to be older (1930’s – 1960’s). Some of the area is characterized by CU student rentals and others are very high end. The rule of thumb is that the closer you get to the mountains the fewer students you will find and the nicer the homes you will find. Proximity to the mountains and hiking trails is a big draw.

Parks and Recreation

  • Chautauqua Park
  • Boulder Mountain Parks
  • Flagstaff Mountain
  • Beech Park
  • Various resources at University of Colorado

Shopping

  • Basemar Shopping Center
  • The Hill

Here are the current active listings in East Boulder.  To see all of the listings click on the navigation below the listings. The listing status will automatically change in real time.

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Mapleton Hill

Statistics

Median Price – $1,235,000

Number of Sales – 59

% of Sales Condos –  51%             % of Sales Homes – 49%

Key Neighborhoods

  • Mapleton Hill
  • Knollwood
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Schools

  • Elementary – Whittier

  • Middle – Casey

  • High School – Boulder High

Overview: The Mapleton Hill neighborhood is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Boulder.  This is a historic neighborhood and many of the homes are over 100 years old.  The prices are quite high on a square footage basis and many of the houses are quite large.  This is where the original mining mavens lived when Boulder was settled.  Besides the victorian architecture, two of the major attractions to living in this area are the walkability to the downtown shopping and dining district (Pearl Street Mall) and easy access to Mt. Sanitas hiking trail.  

Parks and Recreation

  • Mt. Sanitas
  • Boulder Creek Path
  • Stroll the Pearl Street Mall
  • Red Rocks Park
  • Flagstaff Mountain North Side

Shopping

  • The Pearl Street Mall
  • West Pearl Shops
  • East Pearl Shops

Here are the current active listings in East Boulder.  To see all of the listings click on the navigation below the listings. The listing status will automatically change in real time.

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Newlands

Statistics

Median Price – $1,450,000

Number of Sales – 44

% of Sales Condos –  3%             % of Sales Homes – 97%

Key Neighborhoods

  • Newlands
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Schools

  • Elementary – Flatirons

  • Middle – Casey

  • High School – Boulder High

Overview: This is one of the more popular neighborhoods in Boulder. The neighborhood has been transformed from one filled with small bungalows to one with large, new homes over the past twenty years. The neighborhood has a great location and the homes have lots of character. The area is made up of mostly single family homes.  The hub of the neighborhood is North Boulder Park but residents also love the proximity to the shopping and restaurants at Balsam and Broadway including Ideal Market.  Mt. Sanitas to the west is a popular trail and a great workout.

Parks and Recreation

  • North Boulder Park
  • Mount Sanitas
  • North Boulder Recreation Center

Shopping

  • Ideal Market
  • North Boulder Shops
  • Pearl Street Mall

Here are the current active listings in East Boulder.  To see all of the listings click on the navigation below the listings. The listing status will automatically change in real time.

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Whittier

Statistics

Median Price – $785,000

Number of Sales – 77

% of Sales Condos – 66%           % of Sales Homes – 34%

Key Neighborhoods

  • Whittier
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Schools

  • Elementary – Whittier

  • Middle – Casey

  • High School – Boulder High

Overview: The Whittier neighborhood is a quaint and charming neighborhood east of Broadway but within an easy walk to the Pearl Street Mall. The houses are historic and many are Victorian in style. The houses are on average not as large as the Mapleton Hill neighborhood but are of the same era. There are some gems and amazing view lots in this area with homes that compare favorably to any in Boulder. The small victorian homes in this area were the laborer’s homes when Boulder was a mining supply town. 

Parks and Recreation

  • Many small pocket parks

Shopping

  • Downtown Boulder
  • Pearl Street Mall

Here are the current active listings in East Boulder.  To see all of the listings click on the navigation below the listings. The listing status will automatically change in real time.

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Wonderland Hill – Dakota Ridge

Statistics

Median Price – $999,650

Number of Sales – 82

% of Sales Condos –  45%            % of Sales Homes – 55%

Key Neighborhoods

  • Wonderland Hill
  • Northbriar Estates
  • Dakota Ridge
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Schools

  • Elementary – Crestview
  • Middle – Centennial
  • High School – Boulder High

Overview: This area is located in the far Northwest Corner of Boulder. Wonderland Hill was developed in the 1970’s and 1980’s and Dakota Ridge/ Northbriar Estates was developed in the 2000’s. This entire area is flanked to the west by open space and a wonderful trail that extends to Boulder Valley Ranch and Boulder Reservoir. There is a wonderful little village of restaurants along Broadway that includes the popular Amante Coffee Shop which is a starting point for many bike rides.

Parks and Recreation

  • Access to trail system in western Boulder
  • Foothills Community Park
  • Wonderland Lake

Shopping

  • NOBO – Many restaurants, coffee shops, bike stores, etc.

Here are the current active listings in East Boulder.  To see all of the listings click on the navigation below the listings. The listing status will automatically change in real time.

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North Boulder East

Statistics

Median Price – $895,000

Number of Sales – 167

% of Sales Condos – 22%              % of Sales Homes – 78%

Key Neighborhoods

  • Columbine
  • Green Meadows
  • Kalmia Meadows
  • Winding Trail Village
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Schools

  • Elementary – Columbine
  • Middle – Centennial / Casey
  • High School – Boulder High

Overview: This area is characterized by many smaller neighborhoods with a wide variety of housing styles and ages. Generally these homes were built in the 1950’s – 1970’s and were originally ranch style homes with fairly large lots. There have been many homes in this area that are being added to and remodeled. Many “pop tops”.  It’s a doable walk or an easy bike ride to downtown from anywhere in this section of town.  

Parks and Recreation

  • North Boulder Recreation Center
  • Community Gardens
  • North Boulder Little League Fields

Shopping

  • Easy access to 28th Street shopping corridor

Here are the current active listings in East Boulder.  To see all of the listings click on the navigation below the listings. The listing status will automatically change in real time.

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North East Neighborhoods

Statistics

Median Price – $485,000

Number of Sales – 187

% of Sales Condos –  67%             % of Sales Homes – 33%

Key Neighborhoods

  • Fourmile Creek
  • Orange Orchard
  • Palo Park
  • Kings Ridge
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Schools

  • Elementary – Columbine
  • Middle – Centennial 
  • High School – Boulder High

Overview: The North east section of Boulder has many more condominium and town home complexes as well as many apartment buildings than other sections of town. Not quite as convenient to downtown but the prices are more reasonable.  To get anywhere in Boulder from here by bike is easy and is mostly via bike path.  

Parks and Recreation

  • Valmont Community Park
  • Cottonwood Trail

Shopping

  • Short bike ride to 28th Street shopping corridor

Here are the current active listings in East Boulder.  To see all of the listings click on the navigation below the listings. The listing status will automatically change in real time.

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Retail Industrial Core

Statistics

Median Price – $810,791

Number of Sales – 80

% of Sales Condos –  100%             % of Sales Homes – 0%

Key Neighborhoods

  • Various condo associations: The Peloton, The Steelyards
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Schools

  • Elementary – Eisenhower
  • Middle – Manhattan
  • High School – Boulder High

Overview: This area is mostly retail and industrial, but there are a few housing developments on the edges. You will find mostly attached dwellings.  There are many new construction options in the Boulder Junction area near Pearl and 30th Street. The residential units in this area do have easy access to the central shopping area including 29th Street Mall.

Parks and Recreation

  • Valmont Community Park
  • Boulder Creek Path

Shopping

  • 28th Street Shopping District

Here are the current active listings in East Boulder.  To see all of the listings click on the navigation below the listings. The listing status will automatically change in real time.

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Gunbarrel

Statistics

Median Price – $575,000

Number of Sales – 204

% of Sales Condos – 45%               % of Sales Homes – 55%

Key Neighborhoods

  • Gunbarrel Green
  • South Meadow
  • Heatherwood
  • Country Club Estates
  • Red Fox Hills
  • Orchard Creek
  • The Willows
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Schools

  • Elementary – Heatherwood
  • Middle – Platt or Centennial
  • High School – Boulder High or Fairview High

Overview: Gunbarrel was annexed to Boulder in the 1970’s. Overall it has a more rural feel and is about five miles to town. The Boulder Country Club is in Gunbarrel and there are lots of great trails and open space to enjoy. More of a suburban feel than many other parts of Boulder.  The prices are definitely lower than in Boulder proper.  The shopping area in Gunbarrel is currently going through an upgrade with more dining options. It’s an easy 15 minute drive to downtown Boulder during commute times.

Parks and Recreation

  • Heatherwood open space
  • White Rock Trail
  • Sawhill Ponds
  • Walden Ponds
  • Twin Lakes Open Space

Shopping

  • Gunbarrel Shopping Center

Here are the current active listings in East Boulder.  To see all of the listings click on the navigation below the listings. The listing status will automatically change in real time.

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