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Superior, CO

Superior, CO

Overlook of a portion of the Rock Creek subdivision in Superior, Colorado · Photo: Pleiades Two, CC BY-SA 3.0

A town of about 13,305 people in Boulder County, part of the Boulder area. Resident comments and photos are about Superior; job numbers cover the wider area.

The Boulder area:Tech hub · Tech jobs 3.3x the U.S. shareHealthcare and research hub · Healthcare and science jobs 1.6x the U.S. share
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What kind of place it is

Outdoorsy, Artsy, Lively

Scored the same way as the quiz, against 382 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when Superior scores 70 or higher out of 100.

Outdoorsy
99 / 100
Outdoorsy: more trails, campgrounds and paddling spots than most
Artsy
96 / 100
62 museums, galleries and theaters nearby; arts jobs 1.3x the U.S. share
Lively
95 / 100
Lively: about 104 bars, music venues and restaurants per 100,000 people

Less so: growing, cozy.

Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

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Around Superior

Where it is, what's close by, and trails.
Where it is
Superior
Superior in Colorado
Colorado in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of Superior's center.

10
grocery stores
92
restaurants
26
coffee shops
135
parks
118
playgrounds
2
libraries
2
movie theaters
5
live theaters
3
museums
2
bookstores
23
gyms
21
bars
6
pharmacies
5
hospitals

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of Superior.

Bike lanes and bike paths
248 miles
more than almost all U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
193 miles
more than almost all U.S. towns

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

Costs of moving here

Rent, the move itself, and getting set up.

What rent costs

Of about 1,744 rented homes in Superior, 22% rent for under $2,000 a month and 77% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 0%
$1,000 to $1,499: 9%
$1,500 to $1,999: 13%
$2,000 to $2,499: 40%
$2,500 to $2,999: 16%
$3,000 or more: 23%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in Superior rents for $2,000 to $2,499 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about $4,000 to $4,998 for first month plus a deposit, or up to $6,000 to $7,497 where landlords also ask for last month.

Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For $2,000 to $2,499, that's a yearly income of about $72,000 to $89,964.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Moving to Colorado: before and after

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Colorado DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: Colorado voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Schools and childcare

Schools

2 public school districts in this county, with about 60,379 students in all. The county also has 5 public charter schools and 30 private schools. Which public school serves a home depends on its address.

Williamsburg Academy of ColoradoBear Creek Elementary SchoolBoulder High SchoolManhattan Middle School of the Arts and AcademicsCasey Middle SchoolCentaurus High SchoolCentennial Middle SchoolColumbine Elementary SchoolCrest View Elementary SchoolDouglass Elementary SchoolEisenhower Elementary SchoolFairview High SchoolFlatirons Elementary SchoolFoothill Elementary SchoolGold Hill Elementary SchoolHeatherwood Elementary SchoolJamestown Elementary SchoolLafayette Elementary SchoolAngevine Middle SchoolLouisville Elementary SchoolLouisville Middle SchoolCreekside Elementary School at Martin ParkMesa Elementary SchoolNederland Elementary SchoolNederland Middle-Senior High SchoolNevin Platt Middle SchoolSouthern Hills Middle SchoolUniversity Hill Elementary SchoolWhittier Elementary SchoolNew Vista High SchoolCommunity Montessori SchoolHigh Peaks Elementary SchoolRyan Elementary SchoolCoal Creek Elementary SchoolAlicia Sanchez International SchoolSummit Middle Charter SchoolSuperior Elementary SchoolMonarch K-8 SchoolBoulder Community School/Integrated StudiesMonarch High SchoolEldorado K-8 SchoolPeak To Peak Charter SchoolFireside Elementary SchoolPioneer Bilingual Elementary SchoolBoulder UniversalMapleton Early Childhood CenterMeadowlark SchoolBurlington Elementary SchoolErie Elementary SchoolIndian Peaks Elementary SchoolSunset Middle SchoolNiwot Elementary SchoolNiwot High SchoolTwin Peaks Charter AcademyEagle Crest Elementary SchoolSilver Creek High SchoolAltona Middle SchoolFlagstaff Charter AcademyBlue Mountain ElementarySt. Vrain Community Montessori SchoolRed Hawk ElementarySacred Heart of Jesus School (private)St Louis Catholic School (private)Mountain Shadows Montessori School (private)Bixby School (private)Alexander Dawson School (private)September School (private)Jarrow Montessori School (private)Boulder Valley Waldorf School (private)Tara Performing Arts High School (private)Desiderata School (private)Watershed School (private)Hillside School (private)Treehouse Learning (private)Adventure Montessori Learning Center (private)Boulder Country Day School (private)Joshua School-Boulder (private)Boulder Sudbury School (private)Louisville Montessori School (private)Shining Mountain Waldorf School (private)Temple Grandin School (private)Jay & Rose Phillips Early Childhood Center (private)Countryside Montessori School (private)JEFFERSON COUNTYGRAND COUNTYWELD COUNTYBROOMFIELD COUNTYBOULDER COUNTYGILPIN COUNTYSuperior
Public Public charter Private County line District that covers the center of Superior: Boulder Valley School District RE-2
District and county lines: U.S. Census Bureau. Tap a dot for details. A home's assigned school depends on its address; check with the district before you buy or rent.

Closest public schools to the center of Superior

Elementary
Superior Elementary School0.5 mi
Public
grades K to 5 · 429 students · 19.5 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 77% (state: reading 45%, math 32%)
Eldorado K-8 School0.7 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 8 · 559 students · 16.9 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 59% (state: reading 45%, math 32%)
Monarch K-8 School1.6 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 8 · 738 students · 16.8 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 52% (state: reading 45%, math 32%)
Middle
Eldorado K-8 School0.7 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 8 · 559 students · 16.9 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 59% (state: reading 45%, math 32%)
Monarch K-8 School1.6 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 8 · 738 students · 16.8 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 52% (state: reading 45%, math 32%)
Louisville Middle School3.9 mi
Public
grades 6 to 8 · 610 students · 19.1 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 50% (state: reading 45%, math 32%)
High school
Monarch High School1.7 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 1,447 students · 21.6 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 66% (state: reading 45%, math 32%)
Centaurus High School4.5 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 1,561 students · 20.3 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 52% (state: reading 45%, math 32%)
Fairview High School5.4 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 1,847 students · 22.3 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 72% (state: reading 45%, math 32%)
Private
Louisville Montessori School3.0 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to K · 2 students · 1 per teacher
St Louis Catholic School3.5 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to 8 · 127 students · 10.5 per teacher
Adventure Montessori Learning Center4.6 mi
Private
grades K to 6 · 30 students · 7.5 per teacher

Straight-line miles from the center of Superior, nearest first. Being closest doesn't mean a school serves a given home. "Passed the state test" is the share of students who scored proficient or better on Colorado's own reading and math tests in the 2021-22 school year, the latest year the U.S. Department of Education has published for every school. Each state sets its own test and passing bar, so compare schools within the same state, not across states. Test results track family income closely and leave out a lot (teachers, programs, how a school fits your child). For newer results, see the state's school report card.

Public school districts in the county

St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1j · Longmont
31,894 students · 16.5 students per teacher · 54 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 · Boulder
28,485 students · 16.9 students per teacher · 56 schools · grades Pre-K to 12

School choice and pre-K in Colorado

Going to school in another district
State law says districts must accept students from other districts when they have room, under set rules. Ask the district you'd like about space and deadlines.
Picking a different school in your district
State law says families can ask for a different school in the same district, and the district must allow it when there's room.
Free state pre-K
70% of 4-year-olds and 24% of 3-year-olds in Colorado attend state-funded pre-K (U.S.: 37% and 9%). Spots, hours and who qualifies vary by district.

School choice: state law as summarized by the Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison: Open Enrollment Policies (2022). Pre-K: share of children in state-funded pre-K, National Institute for Early Education Research, State of Preschool 2025 Yearbook (2024-25 school year).

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools: NCES Private School Survey, 2021-22. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For programs and newer results, see each district's site and the state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

Colorado keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Typical full-time prices in this county (2022)
AgeDaycare centerHome daycare
Infant (under 2)$404/week
about $21,000 a year
$269/week
about $14,000 a year
Toddler (2)$389/week
about $20,200 a year
Preschool (3 to 4)$348/week
about $18,100 a year
$254/week
about $13,200 a year
School-age$174/week
about $9,000 a year

For an infant at a center: $404/week here, $361 across CO, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 15% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.

U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022. Middle (median) price for full-time care. State and U.S. figures average the county prices, weighted by population (Census 2024).
Search licensed childcare in Colorado →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

2 colleges in the county around Superior. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

University of Colorado Boulder · Boulder
Public, 4-year · 41,432 students · $15,556 in-state, $41,943 out-of-state
Naropa University · Boulder
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 1,117 students · $34,600 a year

Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.

IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$706,763
What a typical home sells for across the Boulder area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026
Cost of living
About 5% above the U.S. average
Everyday prices (rent, groceries, services) run about $105 here for what costs $100 nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index 105.2 (U.S. = 100), 2024
Drive to the nearest big job hub
About 22 min at rush hour
To downtown Boulder, CO, 8 miles. About 18 min with no traffic.
Source: Google traffic estimate for a weekday morning around 8am
Average commute
23 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Data centers nearby
2 within 15 miles
The nearest is about 8.2 miles from the town center (JPMorgan Chase). The largest is about 188,000 sq ft.
Source: PNNL IM3 Data Center Atlas, from OpenStreetMap (ODbL), loaded July 2026
Homeowners insurance
About $4,963 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in CO. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively High
Hail is a real cost here: roof claims are common and some insurers charge a separate, higher deductible for wind and hail. Covered parking helps protect a car.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
5 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
17.3 per 100,000 people a year
57 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. CO average: 31 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
People without housing (local count)
About 32.5 per 10,000 residents
HUD's one-night count in January 2025 found 10,774 people without housing in the Metropolitan Denver area (7 counties): 8,625 in shelters and 2,149 outside, down from 14,281 in 2024. CO: 28 per 10,000. U.S.: 21.9. One-night counts miss people, and how areas count differs.
Source: HUD Point-in-Time Count, January 2025 (HUD, 2025 report to Congress); Census population estimates 2024
Unemployment
4%
The share of people looking for work who can't find it, averaged over the year. U.S.: about 4%.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025
Median household income
$102,772
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.54% of home value a year
About $540 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Flat 4.40%
CO's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

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