Metro area index
Home appreciation in the Boulder, CO metro area
FHFA HPI® data shows the Boulder, CO metro area's all-transactions index changed -2.3% over the year to Q2 2026, versus +0.2% for Colorado and +3.0% for the U.S. That ranks 402nd of 410 metro areas and divisions FHFA tracks.
- 1-year change
- -2.3%
- 5-year change
- +22.5%
- Since Q1 1995
- +372%
- Metro rank (1 year)
- 402nd
U.S. +3.0%
U.S. +41.3%
U.S. +292%
of 410
Boulder, CO vs Colorado and the U.S.
FHFA HPI® all-transactions index, rebased so Q1 1995 = 100, through Q2 2026
- Boulder, CO: 471.6
- Colorado: 467.1
- United States: 391.6
Appreciation by time window
| Window | Metro | CO | U.S. | Gap vs CO | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | -2.3% | +0.2% | +3.0% | −2.5 pts | −5.3 pts |
| 3 years | +1.2% | +3.4% | +12.9% | −2.2 pts | −11.7 pts |
| 5 years | +22.5% | +25.0% | +41.3% | −2.5 pts | −18.8 pts |
| 10 years | +69.8% | +85.2% | +93.3% | −15.3 pts | −23.5 pts |
| Since Q1 1995 | +372% | +367% | +292% | +4.6 pts | +80.1 pts |
3-digit ZIP regions in the Boulder, CO area
Regions with at least 10% of their 2010 population inside the metro, largest overlap first. A 3-digit ZIP region can extend beyond the metro boundary.
| 3-digit ZIP region | State | 1 year | 5 years | Since Q1 1995 | Population in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 803 · Boulder, CO area | CO | -1.8% | +21.9% | +400% | 100% |
| 805 · Fort Collins, CO area | CO | -0.3% | +26.4% | +338% | 23% |
Boom, bust, and recovery in Boulder, CO area
Boulder, CO area's index peaked in Q1 2009, fell 5.1% to its low in Q2 2011, and regained its peak in Q2 2013, about 4.2 years after the top. Today it sits +133% versus that 2000s peak. How every state and ZIP region fared
| Area | 2000s peak | Low point | Peak to low | Back to peak | Today vs peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | Q1 2009 | Q2 2011 | -5.1% | Q2 2013 (4.2 yrs) | +133% |
| CO | Q1 2008 | Q2 2011 | -10.1% | Q1 2014 (6 yrs) | +136% |
| U.S. | Q1 2007 | Q2 2012 | -19.0% | Q4 2016 (9.8 yrs) | +89.3% |
Appreciation after inflation
Adjusting for consumer price inflation, Boulder, CO area's index has changed +113% in real terms since Q1 1995. Home prices vs inflation
| Window | Inflation (CPI-U) | Metro after inflation | CO after inflation | U.S. after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.9% | -5.9% | -3.5% | -0.8% |
| 3 years | +9.8% | -7.9% | -5.8% | +2.8% |
| 5 years | +24.0% | -1.2% | +0.8% | +13.9% |
| 10 years | +39.1% | +22.1% | +33.1% | +39.0% |
| Since Q1 1995 | +121% | +113% | +111% | +76.8% |
If you bought in the Boulder, CO area in…
An example $300,000 purchase grown at the metro index rate to Q2 2026.
| Bought in | Index change | $300,000 then, at the metro rate |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 1995 | +358% | $1,374,509 |
| Q2 2000 | +215% | $945,613 |
| Q2 2005 | +147% | $741,262 |
| Q2 2010 | +141% | $723,929 |
| Q2 2015 | +92.8% | $578,486 |
| Q2 2020 | +37.3% | $411,937 |
| Q2 2021 | +22.5% | $367,531 |
| Q2 2023 | +1.2% | $303,527 |
| Q2 2025 | -2.3% | $293,223 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much have home prices risen in the Boulder, CO area?
- FHFA HPI® data for the Boulder, CO metro area shows changes of -2.3% over one year, +22.5% over five years, and +69.8% over ten years to Q2 2026, and +372% since Q1 1995.
- Is the Boulder, CO area beating the national average?
- Over the past year the metro's index moved −5.3 pts versus the U.S.; over five years the gap is −18.8 pts.
- What area does this metro index cover?
- FHFA computes metro indexes using the counties in each OMB-defined metropolitan statistical area. The index covers the whole area, so individual neighborhoods and homes can differ from it.