This has led to increased traffic congestion as the distance grows between where jobs are located and where workers are able to find affordable housing. There is no question that Boulder County's economy is very healthy.
Unemployment is low, and many good new jobs have been created in recent years.
The average wage paid by local employers is increasing as well, due both to a tight labor market and to the fact that technology-oriented industries tend to pay higher wages. Overall, incomes are growing faster for those at the upper end of the wage scale than for those at the lower end. This is reflected in the fact that median family income is rising more slowly than per capita income . A growing divide may be developing between those with higher and lower incomes, with fewer families in the middle. Skyrocketing Housing Costs One of the most far-reaching impacts of growth on our quality of life is the dramatic increase in housing costs.