Boulder, Colorado
Window work in Boulder
Boulder's median year built is 1977, the same median as Lakewood, with a much larger prewar count. The city also has the wettest, snowiest normals station in this set, and a separate landmark review when the opening is historic.
Housing age in the census
| Built | Units | Share | Margin of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 or later | 646 | 1.4% | plus or minus 200 |
| 2010 to 2019 | 3,836 | 8.1% | plus or minus 435 |
| 2000 to 2009 | 3,968 | 8.4% | plus or minus 514 |
| 1990 to 1999 | 5,561 | 11.7% | plus or minus 564 |
| 1980 to 1989 | 7,141 | 15.0% | plus or minus 694 |
| 1970 to 1979 | 9,739 | 20.5% | plus or minus 607 |
| 1960 to 1969 | 7,904 | 16.7% | plus or minus 554 |
| 1950 to 1959 | 4,453 | 9.4% | plus or minus 571 |
| 1940 to 1949 | 641 | 1.4% | plus or minus 176 |
| 1939 or earlier | 3,576 | 7.5% | plus or minus 549 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, table B25034 and table B25035, Boulder city, Colorado. The Census Bureau does not record window frame material.
The city has 47,465 housing units. The 1970s are 9,739 (20.5%), the 1960s are 7,904 (16.7%), and the 1980s are 7,141 (15.0%). The 1950s are 4,453 (9.4%). Houses from 1939 or earlier are 3,576 units, 7.5%, which is 3,576 openings where a landmark rule may apply if the property is designated. Most Boulder units are not in that prewar bin.
Climate at the Boulder station
NOAA station BOULDER, CO US (USC00050848) is in the city at 1,671.5 meters, about 5,484 feet. The 1991 to 2020 annual average temperature is 51.6 F. The normal daily maximum is 65.4 F and the normal daily minimum is 37.9 F. Annual precipitation is 20.68 inches and annual snowfall is 88.3 inches. The normal daily temperature range is 27.5 F. That snowfall normal is the sill and weep-hole problem: meltwater has a long season to find a flat sill.
Hail and wind in the NOAA storm file
The place name Boulder is on 30 hail reports from 2015 through 2024. The largest is 2.00 inches at Boulder Airport on 18 June 2018. Boulder County has 125 hail reports in those years. The county maximum is 3.00 inches at Superior on 18 June 2018. Superior is in Boulder County and is not the city of Boulder.
Thunderstorm wind reports naming Boulder number 2. The larger is a measured gust of 56 knots, about 64 mph, on 3 August 2018. Boulder County has only 9 thunderstorm wind reports in this file, the largest 61 knots at Niwot. The wind record that matters is the high wind zones. Below 6,000 feet, the Boulder and Jefferson zone has 27 events and a measured gust of 94 knots, about 108 mph, on 30 December 2021. Between 6,000 and 9,000 feet, the Larimer and Boulder zone has 41 events and a measured gust of 96 knots, about 110 mph, on 25 December 2016. The second zone is the foothills above the downtown grid. It is not a claim that a downtown pane was hit at 110 mph.
Permits in Boulder
The city's residential alterations guide is the submittal path when the exterior work is limited to replacing existing doors and windows, or to putting doors and windows in new openings. On the residential building permit guide, a Level 1 alteration is removal and replacement with materials that serve the same purpose. A Level 2 alteration includes adding or eliminating a door or window. Drawings are asked to show the U-factor, safety glazing, and which windows meet emergency escape and rescue sizes.
If the property is in a historic district or is an individual landmark, window replacement also needs a Landmark Alteration Certificate and the city's window and door replacement worksheet. The Landmarks Design Review Committee reviews that replacement. The certificate process is described on the landmark alteration page. This page is a reading of those guides, not a landmark approval and not a building permit.
Sources
- Census B25034, Boulder city
- Census B25035, Boulder city
- NOAA normals, BOULDER CO US USC00050848
- NOAA U.S. Climate Normals
- NOAA Storm Events Database
- NOAA storm events bulk files
- Boulder residential alterations guide
- Boulder residential building permit guide
- Boulder window worksheet
- Boulder landmark alteration certificate
Services covered for Boulder
- Window replacement cost ranges for the Denver metro
- Window installation for new openings and basement egress
- Window repair for fogged glass, hail cracks, and hardware
- Window cleaning for glass, screens, tracks, and hard water
Questions
What is the median year built in Boulder?
The 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimate gives Boulder city a median year built of 1977, margin of error 2 years, and 47,465 housing units. The 1970s are 20.5% of units. Houses from 1939 or earlier are 3,576 units, 7.5%.
How much snow does the Boulder NOAA station record?
The 1991 to 2020 normals for BOULDER, CO US, USC00050848, at about 5,484 feet, show 88.3 inches of snow and 20.68 inches of precipitation. The annual average temperature is 51.6 F.
What is the difference between a Boulder building permit and a landmark review?
Replacing existing windows is a residential alteration. Level 1 is a same-purpose replacement. Level 2 includes adding or removing a window. A historic district or an individual landmark also needs a Landmark Alteration Certificate and the window worksheet before the building permit proceeds.
What hail size has NOAA logged in the city of Boulder?
From 2015 through 2024, 30 hail reports use the place name Boulder. The largest is 2.00 inches at Boulder Airport on 18 June 2018. Boulder County's largest report in that file is 3.00 inches at Superior, which is not the city of Boulder.
Nearby cities
Directory
Directory lines that name Boulder
The 22 August 2026 snapshot does not tag Boulder as a filter city, and neither of these entries lists a Boulder street address. The service-area lines below are quoted from that file. A listing is not an endorsement.
- Ameritech Windows. Service area in the file: Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and the Front Range. Address in the file: 1748 E 66th Ave, Denver.
- Colorado Classic Exteriors. Service area in the file: Denver and Boulder metro, from Arvada. Address in the file: 7985 Vance Dr, Arvada.
Boulder replacement costs
Vinyl, fiberglass, and wood installed ranges for the Denver metro, with insert and full-frame explained.