While some communities have been annexing land and building new homes at a steady rate, others have adopted more restrictive growth policies limiting the supply of new housing units. In addition, much of the new construction in Boulder County consists of larger, more expensive homes. Eastern Boulder County no longer provides as much of the stock of affordable housing for Boulder County's workforce as it once did. That inventory is increasingly found in surrounding communities in Larimer, Weld, Adams, and Jefferson Counties. This phenomenon has the potential to fundamentally alter the character of our communities.
Many effects are already noticeable.
Others noted that their grown children cannot afford to live in their own hometown. Businesses, too, recognize that it is difficult to attract and retain employees if they can't afford to live within a reasonable distance from their jobs. The lack of diversity in housing prices in Boulder County communities has environmental consequences as well. Please note that these figures do not include any savings for retirement or education, or the cash needed to make a down payment for a home purchase. This is an average of actual expenses incurred by households throughout the country for goods and services such as food, clothing, automobiles, and utilities.