with $100k coming in, swapping out of Portland
changea dispatch from
boulder
CO
40.01°N
105.27°W
Boulder is the Flatirons rising right behind town, the Pearl Street Mall pedestrian shopping, and a population that runs more, climbs more, and bikes more than basically any other American city. CU keeps it young, the foothills keep it active, and the food scene leans organic-virtuous. The access to the Rockies is unmatched and the sunshine is relentless, and locals invest in the city like it's a lifestyle, not just an address.
the verdict
cheaper each month than Portland
You'd feel the difference in Boulder. Not life-changing money, but real breathing room next to Portland.
a quick ledger.
$2,216/mo
3% cheaper than Portland(vs $2,285/mo)
4.4%
$258/mo less in state tax than Portland
vs 7.5% in Portland
$5,751/mo
$328 more than Portland
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$783k
44% more expensive than Portland
vs $543k in Portland
327k
vs 566k in Portland
field notes, weather & such.
178
pleasant days a year, in boulder.
Portland barely cracks 145 pleasant ones. A real winter, not a brutal one: 42 days under 20°, vs 19 in Portland.
Lighter on events: Portland packs 5.2× more into a month.
79/100
11% higher than Portland
vs 71/100 in Portland
Closest outdoor draw: Rocky Mountain National Park, 23.2 mi.
84/100
14% lower than Portland
vs 98/100 in Portland
169
8350% more than Portland
vs 2 nonstops in Portland
neighbors of boulder on the map of tradeoffs:
compare boulder with:
