Commercial Real Estate Market in Boulder, CO
Updated monthly: sale, lease, property records, location trend, and more… · Last update: August 31
561 active listings and 2,161 off-market properties in Boulder, CO. Commercial property asks $210/SF to buy and $17.92/SF/Yr to lease.
Market Trends
Boulder, CO spans 159.8 square miles in Boulder County, Colorado. Figures below refresh monthly; last updated 31 August 2026.
Office
Office vacancy in Boulder, CO runs 20.8% across the West region in 2025, up from 11% in 2019.
Vacancy Rate % in West region
Retail
Retail vacancy in Boulder, CO runs 5.2% in 2025, down from 6.9% in 2020. Down from a 2021 peak of 7.8%.
Vacancy Rate %
Industrial
Industrial vacancy in Boulder, CO runs 7.9% across the West region in 2025, up from 3.7% in 2019. Nearly 3.2x the 2022 low of 2.5%.
Vacancy Rate % in West region
Multifamily
Multifamily space in Boulder, CO asks $463/SF to buy. Vacancy runs 8.6% across the West region in 2025, up from 7% in 2022.
Average Sale Price $/SF
Listings
Vacancy Rate % in West region
Zoning & Land Use
Land Use Mix share of zoned land by category
- Residential 44.6%
- Civic 32.6%
- Industrial 12.8%
- Commercial 5.4%
- Agricultural 3.3%
- Mixed use 0.5%
Largest Zones share of zoned land by district
Public
Residential Low 1
Residential Low 2
Industrial Manufacturing
Industrial General
Residential Low 1 (RL-1)
In the RR-1, RR-2, RE, RL-1, RL-2, RM-2, P, and A Zoning Districts: (A) Applicability: In the RR-1, RR-2, RE, RL-1, RL-2, RM-2, P, and A zoning districts, the following standards apply to a detached dwelling unit with two kitchens that may be approved as a conditional use or pursuant to a use review: (i) Second Kitchen Shall Not Create an Additional Dwelling…
Market overview
Demographics & Economy
Boulder, CO has 131,690 residents in 57,765 households. Density runs 824 people per square mile. Median household income here is $92,897 and median gross rent $1,950 a month.
131,690
Population
57,765
Households
2.3
Avg Household Size
33
Median Age
76%
College-Educated
98%
High-School Grad
159.8 sq mi
ZIP Area
824
Density / Sq Mi
$92,897
Median Household Income
$41,050
Median Earnings
$1,950
Median Rent
$1,000,337
Median Home Value
Tools
Lease vs Buy Breakeven
At $17.92/SF/Yr lease vs $210/SF buy → buying wins if held > 1.9 years.
At a 8.5% gross asking yield the payback reads short relative to leasing. Assumes 30% down at 6.5% fixed, 2% a year in taxes and upkeep, 3% appreciation, 5% opportunity cost, 2% closing plus 5% selling costs, and a 3% annual rent escalator.
Nearby Markets
| Market | Average Sale Price, $/SF | Average Lease Price, $/SF/Yr |
|---|---|---|
| Niwot | — | — |
| Louisville | — | $20.28 |
| Superior | — | — |
| Lafayette | — | $46.00 |
Commercial property in Boulder, CO asks $210/SF.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average price per square foot for commercial property in Boulder?
Commercial property in Boulder, CO asks an average of $210 per square foot. The 8 most recent recorded sales traded at a median of $466/SF. Multifamily carries the highest asking price at $463/SF.
How much does it cost to lease commercial space in Boulder?
Asking lease rates in Boulder, CO average $17.92 per square foot per year.
Is it cheaper to lease or buy commercial space in Boulder?
Buying beats leasing in Boulder, CO if the property is held longer than 1.9 years, comparing $17.92/SF/Yr asking rent with $210/SF asking price. The model assumes 30% down at 6.5% fixed, 2% of value per year in taxes and upkeep, 3% appreciation, 5% opportunity cost on the cash and a 3% annual rent escalator.
Where does Realmo's Boulder market data come from?
Realmo compiles Boulder, CO figures from 8 recent recorded sales, 248 active sale listings, 313 active lease listings, 2,161 tracked off-market properties, the current Boulder zoning release. Sale and lease figures refresh monthly; vacancy annually. Last updated 31 August 2026.
Methodology & data sources
- Asking prices and averages
- Computed from 248 active for-sale and 313 active for-lease listings in Boulder, CO. These are ASKING figures from live listings, not closed-transaction prices, and a segment carried by a handful of listings reads as indicative rather than an average.
- Vacancy rates
- Published per-sector market series, taken at the metro level where one exists and otherwise at the Census-region level — a chart reading "in <region> region" is a regional number, not this city's.
- Zoning and land use
- The current municipal zoning release: 18,083 zoned acres across 44 districts. Shares are of zoned land, so parcels the release leaves unclassified are excluded from the mix.
- Refresh
- The monthly aggregates close at the end of the previous month, so 31 August 2026 — not today — is the honest last update.
- Known limitations
- office vacancy is reported at West region level, industrial vacancy is reported at West region level and multifamily vacancy is reported at West region level.
- Coverage
- Metrics below the 10-observation threshold fall back one geographic level. The geography used is named on each figure.
Compiled by the Realmo Data team · reviewed 31 August 2026 · report a data issue
