Boulder County a top place in Colorado to raise a family

The holidays are here and as we spend precious time with our families, we are happy to learn that Colorado is unmatched as a desirable place to raise a family with family friendly locales statewide. Three counties lead all others as outstanding for child rearing, according to Niche.com. The website named Boulder County the No. 2 best county in Colorado for families, led by Douglas County at No. 1, and followed by Arapahoe County at No. 3.

Each year Niche.com produces their Best Places to Live rankings, which is an assessment of an area’s overall livability. Key factors considered include the quality of local schools, crime rates, housing trends, employment statistics and access to amenities. Data sources analyzed include the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Census, the FBI, and responses from residents surveyed.

Based on the report, it’s clear that no matter which city in Boulder County your address is, the area offers key ingredients – beautiful vistas, abundant outdoor recreation, and excellent public schools – all of which make for a phenomenal place to raise your family.

The Niche.com top seven Boulder County cities to raise a family:

#1 Superior
Superior offers excellent schools in a community located close to Denver, Boulder, and large shopping areas offering lots of cultural activities. The area continues to grow, but has maintained its calm, hometown feel.

• Overall Niche Grade: A+
• Public Schools: A
• Population: 13,077

#2 Louisville
Louisville offers diverse retail, outdoor activities, community activities, and access to employment centers. Situated southeast of Boulder, Louisville is a trendy place to call home among families and professionals alike.

• Overall Niche Grade: A+
• Public Schools: A
• Population: 20,860

#3 Boulder
Nestled beneath the Flatirons foothills and surrounded by a publicly owned greenbelt of open space of over 27 square miles, Boulder has a nationwide reputation for natural beauty, ample beautiful hikes outside your backdoor, a thriving economy, excellent schools, and top restaurants of every variety – from vegetarian to Moroccan.

• Overall Niche Grade: A+
• Public Schools: A
• Population: 106,392

#4 Gunbarrel
Gunbarrel is a suburban neighborhood of Boulder that lies roughly 5 miles northeast of the city separated from the metro area by acres of open space. Dotted with wonderful neighborhoods perfect for raising a family, Gunbarrel is safe and offers mountain vistas, outdoor walking and biking paths, popular breweries, nearby grocery shopping and restaurants, and excellent schools.

• Overall Niche Grade: A+
• Public Schools: A
• Population: 10,202

#5 Lafayette
Located at the intersection of three major thoroughfares, Lafayette is diverse and growing. Home to more than 20 miles of trails and 1,466 acres of open space for hiking and biking, the family-oriented community offers nearby shopping, excellent schools and festivals year-round including the Quaker Oatmeal Festival, Peach Fest, Lafayette Brew Fest, Fall Fest, and Home for the Holidays.

• Overall Niche Grade: A+
• Public Schools: A
• Population: 28,742

#6 Niwot
Niwot is an idyllic community characterized by wide open spaces, a quaint downtown shaded by Cottonwood trees and stunning mountain views. Community residents enjoy the rural ambiance and a strategic location near booming economic centers in Boulder, Louisville, Longmont and Denver. Downtown Niwot is filled with restaurants, breweries and coffee and gift shops.

• Overall Niche Grade: A-
• Public Schools: B
• Population: 3,870

#7 Longmont
Named for scenic and prominent Longs Peak, Longmont offers a bounty of family-friendly and outdoor activities including lakes, trails, a farmer’s market, good schools and a bustling Main Street, all punctuated by views of the town’s towering “fourteener.”

• Overall Niche Grade: A-
• Public Schools: B
• Population: 94,445

Great places to raise a family span across Colorado
In a report on best cities in Colorado to raise a family, HomeSnacks analyzed cities with more than 11,000 residents and named the top places to raise a family based on crime, education, family friendly activities and the percentage of households that currently have children.

Here’s the HomeSnacks listing of the 10 best cities statewide to raise a family In Colorado for 2021:

1) Louisville
2) Castle Rock
3) Littleton
4) Thornton
5) Pueblo
6) Parker
7) Greeley
8) Lafayette
9) Erie
10) Frederick

See the complete rankings for Boulder County at niche.com/places-to-live/search/best-places-to-live/c/boulder-county-co
See the complete rankings statewide at homesnacks.com/best-cities-for-families-in-colorado

By Tom Kalinski. Tom is the broker/owner of RE/MAX of Boulder, the local residential real estate company he established in 1977. He was inducted into Boulder County’s Business Hall of Fame in 2016 and has a 40-year background in commercial and residential real estate. For questions, e-mail Tom at [email protected], call 303.441.5620, or visit boulderco.com.