UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.

#8. Boulder

Although Boulder, CO has gotten a lot of press recently for being a great place for entrepreneurs (in fact, it scored the No. 1 spot on our 50 Best Cities for Entrepreneurs list this year), it’s still widely known as a liberal community – and for good reason.

Boulder is home to the University of Colorado’s main campus, where a variety of political events have taken place in recent years and months, including rallies for President Obama and Sen. Bernie Sanders. When students discuss their experiences at the school online, many refer to their peers as “left-wing” and say “open-mindedness” is encouraged on campus; and given that the school has more than 30,000 students, it’s not hard to see why Boulder has developed such a liberal reputation.


See Where Boulder Ranked Among the 100 Best Places to Live 2016


On a national level, 70 percent of Boulder County voters chose President Obama in 2012, and the county’s district is represented by Congressman Jared Polis, a Democrat. Congressman Polis voted in support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, and in 2008 he helped launch the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, which has 91 members “who are strongly committed to ensuring that human rights for LGBT people in the U.S. and around the world are fully protected.”

Locally, Democratic Mayor Suzanne Jones has made environmental sustainability a priority during her time in office. In late August 2016, she announced that Boulder would commit to being fully powered by clean, renewable energy by 2030. Mayor Jones is also the executive director of Eco-Cycle, a community nonprofit that is devoted to promoting and implementing recycling, composting and other zero-waste efforts across Boulder County.


Top Employers in Boulder


In addition to being a perfect place for those aligning with the liberal agenda, Boulder is a favorite destination for outdoor adventurers. The community comprises must-see places like the Flatirons, Eldorado Canyon, Chautauqua Park and Flagstaff Mountain, making it ideal for hikers, bikers and climbers. Prefer something not-so-strenuous? Pearl Street Mall is packed with great restaurants and shops, and locals say it’s excellent for people-watching.

Residents here are likely to …

  • Eat at California Pizza Kitchen.

  • Shop at Hobby Lobby.

  • Drive a Subaru.

  • Read National Geographic.

  • Watch Fox News.

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