What it's like to live in Boulder City
Boulder City is a small city in Nevada with crime rates well below the national average and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Boulder City deals with home prices well above the national average, county unemployment above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and extreme summer heat.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- High home prices
- Above-average unemployment in the county
- Air quality concerns
- Extreme summer heat
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Boulder City compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Boulder City
Based on Boulder City's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,854
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $57,080 a year
- 48% of Boulder City renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$87,120
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $43,560
- Homes cost 5.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,427/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,427 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $435,600. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $435,600 · 48% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Clark County is 5.6%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Clark County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 52% below US
159 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 830/100k · Boulder City Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 11% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.2 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers run seriously hot, with average highs pushing 105°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 42°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 14% below US
31% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 31% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Lake Mead National Recreation Area (34 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Boulder City's strongest point is crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and county unemployment above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,427/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up, anyone who doesn't drive, and people who struggle with heat.
Other places near Boulder City
All Nevada guides →Moving to Henderson →
13 mi away · pop. 332,141
Rent $1,824/mo · Income $90,138
Compare with Boulder City →Moving to Whitney →
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Rent $1,574/mo · Income $67,155
Compare with Boulder City →Moving to Enterprise →
20 mi away · pop. 240,464
Rent $1,934/mo · Income $98,462
Compare with Boulder City →Moving to Paradise →
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Rent $1,372/mo · Income $59,190
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