Frangeniwot, 2013
Niwot’s story
153 years in pictures
Census counts: 2,666 in 1990, 4,306 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 4 maps from 1904 on.
- 1873Niwot is settled
NiwotCO
This town of 3,447 people was settled in 1873.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
3,447
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$1.12M
+4.1% in a year
Household income
$146K
median
Median age
54.6
years
Jobs based here
2,000
Balanced
TownGrade
A−
#35 of 158 in CO
Is Niwot a good place to live?
Plenty to like here, at a price. Where it does best is health (A+). Add incomes to its strengths: the median household earns $146K. The drawback is cost of living: the typical home is worth about $1.1 million, 10.8 years of the Boulder metro’s $104K median household income. Overall, that makes an A−, better than just over four fifths of U.S. towns. It ranks 35th of 158 in Colorado. 39% of the land in Niwot is conserved, above both Colorado’s towns (6.8%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). This Colorado town has 1 place on the National Register.
Figures: health, CDC PLACES · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · home values, Zillow · USGS PAD-US · National Register of Historic Places.
What makes Niwot stand out
Where Niwot beats most towns.
OutdoorsA+
39.3% conserved land
15 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve
Biggest place to walk: Whistle Stop Park.
26 measures vs. Colorado
11 better14 too close to call1 worse
| Widest gap | Niwot | CO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 3.4% | 9.2% |
HealthA+
Healthier than 99% of U.S. towns
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Niwot Elementary School | PK–5 | 411 |
| Boulder Valley Waldorf School | PK–8 | 134 |
| Rocky Mountain Christian Academy | PK–8 | 114 |
SchoolsA−
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
How Niwot grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Colorado), ordered by how far Niwot is from typical.
HealthAmong the healthiest U.S. towns; Longmont United Hospital 6.2 miles awayA+Open →Jobs & incomeAmong the best of the towns comparedAOpen →SchoolsBased on how pupils do in exams and testsA−Open →Cost of livingHomes are among the least affordable for local incomesC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.1 of 20; 1.9% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 48% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsNear the top of the towns comparedA+Open →HistoryGraded on historic places and the town’s ageDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Housing market44 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 54.6; 67% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
Moving to Niwot: who provides what
Niwot is unincorporated, so Boulder County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerPoudre Valley REA12.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterLeft Hand WD water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesBoulder CountyBoulder County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Colorado you can register online until 8 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 8 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereBoulder County Clerk and Recorder, Elections DivisionBoulder County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP codes80503, 8054480503 97% · 80544 3%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Niwot.
Niwot keeps more of its land conserved than most of Colorado and has less tooth loss than most of Colorado, but it has homes that cost more against local pay than most of Colorado.
HousingCost of living grade C−
Niwot earns a C− for cost of living
At 10.8 years of the Boulder metro’s $104K median household income, the typical home (about $1.12M) costs more against local pay than in 92% of Colorado towns; that ratio is one input to that grade. Values rose 4.1% in the past year while the Colorado typical home fell 1.3%.
On the market in Niwot: a median 44 days to sell. Home values are up 4.1% over the year to September 2026. The midpoint rent here is $1,414 a month.
$1.12MZillow home value
| Niwot | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,414 a month | $1,812 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 77% | 71% | 73% |
Typical home value
Niwot$1.12M
Colorado$529K
Market temperature
44
days on market
98.2%
sale-to-list price
+4.1%
value change, 1 year
6
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsA−
On state tests, Niwot’s schools beat 82% of Colorado districts
Its A− for schools comes with a C− for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $1.12M.
Of its 4 schools, two are listed below, each with the reason. The largest public high school is Niwot High School, with 1,509 students. Public schools: the St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J.
82%of CO districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niwot Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 411 | A |
| Niwot High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,509 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CO on state tests and graduation
OutdoorsA+
Open space protected for good: nearly a third of Niwot
Its 1,001 conserved acres are a larger share of the town than in 97% of Colorado towns.
In Niwot, the density of trails is 3.7 miles per square mile. One park or preserve covers 1 acres locally.
#11for trails in CO
39.3%
conserved · 1,001 of 2,546 acres
15 mi
of trails · 3.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Whistle Stop Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthA+
Compared with most of Colorado and the rest of the country, fewer of Niwot’s adults have obesity
Its widest gap with Colorado is tooth loss: 3.4% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 9.2% statewide.
Among 159 Colorado towns, just 6 have a lower share of adults who get no exercise outside work than Niwot. In Niwot, 24% of adults have high blood pressure. Against the Colorado average, Niwot comes out ahead on 11 CDC measures out of 26, and behind on 1.
99%healthier than U.S. townsA+Health Grade
| Niwot | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 26% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 30% | 36% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 16% | 25% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 16% | 17% |
26 measures vs. Colorado
11 better14 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Niwot | CO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 3.4% | 9.2% |
| Fewer uninsured adults | 5.2% | 11.1% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.3% | 7.8% |
Longmont United Hospital
6.2 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
92nd
percentile among CO towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
65″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter18–46°
Spring34–64°
Summer54–87°
Fall35–66°
Oct 5
typical first frost
May 7
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Most of Niwot’s workers leave town for work
Niwot has about as many jobs (2,000) as working residents, but only 138 people both live and work here. The average commute takes 18.4 minutes, against 25.2 across Colorado.
Jobs in Niwot grew by 190 from 2013 to 2023, reaching 2,000. In Niwot, the average trip to work is 18 minutes. For residents here, the share who live below the poverty line is 2.2%. The top destinations are Boulder (26%), Denver (11%) and Longmont (9%).
8%work in town
| Niwot | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $146,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 2.2% | 8.5% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Niwot8%
Boulder26%
Denver11%
Longmont9%
Broomfield3%
9 mi
median commute distance
2,000
jobs based in Niwot
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 41% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−
The biggest natural risk in Niwot is inland flooding, at a moderate overall level
Expected damage from storms and floods is lower here than in 52% of U.S. communities. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Niwot once, in 2013. One claim on flood insurance has been paid out here since 1982.
48risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHail
1
paid flood claims since 1982
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Nearby attractions
All 75 attractions →Red Rocks Amphitheatre and 64 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Niwot. Close and well known come first.
Big draw30 mi TheatreRed Rocks Amphitheatre
Big draw25 mi Stadium & arenaEmpower Field at Mile High
25 mi Stadium & arenaBall Arena
21 mi National ParkRocky Mountain National Park4.2M visitors a year
25 mi Stadium & arenaCoors Field
8 mi Stadium & arenaFolsom FieldSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Red Rocks Amphitheatre: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Empower Field at Mile High: Thelastcanadian, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ball Arena: KM Newnham, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Rocky Mountain National Park: Charles M. Sauer -- Charlessauer, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Coors Field: Matt Kozlowski, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Folsom Field: Thelastcanadian, CC BY-SA 4.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Niwot
17pages on Niwot
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
4 within 15 miles of the center of Niwot
Institute of Taoist Education and AcupunctureUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Louisville7.5 miNaropa UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Boulder8 mi$36,620 tuitionUniversity of Colorado BoulderUniversity or college · Public · Boulder8.4 mi$15,666 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Niwot residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Colorado.
About Niwot
Census-designated place in Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Niwot is an unincorporated town, a post office, and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Front Range Urban Corridor. The Niwot post office has the ZIP Codes 80503 and 80544 (for post office boxes). At the United States Census 2020, the population of the Niwot CDP was 4,306.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 4.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 5,095 ft
- ZIP code
- 80544
- Area code
- 303
Niwot’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Niwot.
BoulderNiwot
How the neighbors grade
Niwot reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Niwot with a neighbor →
Questions about Niwot
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Niwot, CO a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Niwot grades A− overall, better than 82% of U.S. towns and #35 of 158 in Colorado. It grades A+ for health and A− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Niwot, CO expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.