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Boulder taps into biohacking boom

The tech-heavy wellness center brings AI workouts and cryotherapy to town.

News

Boulder is now home to Colorado&#x27;s first Upgrade Labs franchise, a wellness center packed with tech-driven health optimization tools.Why it matters: Boulder&#x27;s fitness culture makes it a natural testing ground for the booming &quot;biohacking&quot; industry centered on longevity, optimization and performance.

Boulder's best summer rooftops and patios

From rooftop cocktails to dog-friendly beer gardens, here's where to sit outside.

With June right around the corner, we&#x27;ve got the rundown of the best rooftops, patios and beer gardens in town.Why it matters: Because eating and drinking outside definitely counts as being outdoorsy.

Boulder County speller eliminated at national bee

One of two Colorado students advanced past Tuesday's opening rounds in Washington.

Boulder Valley&#x27;s representative was eliminated in the third round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Tuesday, but one Colorado speller did advance to the quarterfinals.State of play: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Derek Li" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/03/10/boulder-speller-scripps-national-spelling-bee" data-vars-content-id="8a554861-1814-4bcb-9365-92ba2e0c094e" data-vars-headline="Boulder County speller eliminated at national bee" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/03/10/boulder-speller-scripps-national-spelling-bee" target="_self">Derek Li</a> of Superior and Nikhil Ganta of Timnath were among the 167 spellers to advance to the written tests in Washington, D.C.

Bolder Boulder considers expanding race capacity

Organizers are studying safety and logistics after this year's surge in runners.

The Bolder Boulder planners are evaluating the capacity of the race after this year&#x27;s event drew its fourth highest turnout.Why it matters: Organizers are trying to balance rising interest with safety, staffing and the traditions that give the Memorial Day race its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="block party feel" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2025/05/23/bolder-boulder-bingo-race-bananas" data-vars-content-id="76892da0-00f9-4597-8c8a-c36372823081" data-vars-headline="Bolder Boulder considers expanding race capacity" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2025/05/23/bolder-boulder-bingo-race-bananas" target="_self">block party feel</a>.

Student housing rents rise slower than market rates

Average student rents grew 16.8%% from 2020 to 2025 in Boulder, while average market-rate rents jumped to 22.4%.

On average, student rents grew slower than market-rate leases in Boulder over the past five years, according to Moody&#x27;s data shared with Axios.Why it matters: Expensive student housing for students, including at University of Colorado Boulder, adds to the already-high <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cost of college" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/17/college-cost-survey" data-vars-content-id="3019543e-6986-4abf-a290-6533350c3712" data-vars-headline="Student housing rents rise slower than market rates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/17/college-cost-survey" target="_self">cost of college</a>.

Boulder complex, including Iris Fields, listed for sale

The listing had no minimum bid, and the county assessor's office valued the campus at $24.4 million in 2024.

Boulder County opened bids Monday for the 17.5‑acre North Broadway Complex — but community organizers say they&#x27;ve already lined up a buyer committed to preserving Iris Fields, the historic youth baseball site.Why it matters: Iris Fields has served North Boulder families for nearly 70 years as a vital community hub — and now its future hinges on the outcome of a housing-specific land sale.

What to know about Boulder's homeless strategy update

Boulder's new plan aims to eliminate unsheltered nights by 2028 through a rapid rehousing initiative.

Boulder&#x27;s new plan to tackle homelessness aims to eliminate unsheltered nights by 2028 through a rapid rehousing initiative.Why it matters: If successful, the effort — which would cost $11 million annually until 2029 when it would increase to $13 million —could transform Boulder&#x27;s approach to homelessness.

Boulder home movie theaters get a makeover

Install requests for home theaters nationwide jumped 562% in 2024, Yelp reports.

Real Estate

Project requests for home theater installations soared 562% in 2024, Yelp reports, as homeowners splurge on features that rival their local cinema.Why it matters: Sorry, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sundance" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/03/27/boulder-sundance-film-festival-2027" data-vars-content-id="df145ba2-609d-41e5-8b4f-eb8ef6d2e2e1" data-vars-headline="Boulder home movie theaters get a makeover" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/03/27/boulder-sundance-film-festival-2027" target="_self">Sundance</a>. The hottest film screenings might be in your — or a neighbor&#x27;s — basement.

Boulder passes on vacancy tax — for now

The city will not put a vacancy tax on this year's ballot, as the City Council punts to 2026 to address the issue.

The city of Boulder will not put a vacancy tax on this year&#x27;s ballot, as the City Council punts to 2026 to address the issue.Why it matters: The City Council hoped a vacancy tax would encourage those who own <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unoccupied second homes" data-vars-click-url="https://boulderreportinglab.org/2025/04/13/boulder-city-council-eyes-vacancy-tax-as-thousands-of-homes-sit-empty/" data-vars-content-id="c8538dc8-f443-4116-8f2f-4ffaef4046f7" data-vars-headline="Boulder passes on vacancy tax — for now" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://boulderreportinglab.org/2025/04/13/boulder-city-council-eyes-vacancy-tax-as-thousands-of-homes-sit-empty/" target="_blank">unoccupied second homes</a> to rent or sell, in an attempt to ease the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="city&#x27;s housing shortage" data-vars-click-url="https://boulderreportinglab.org/2024/09/19/10700-new-homes-needed-study-highlights-boulders-housing-shortage/" data-vars-content-id="c8538dc8-f443-4116-8f2f-4ffaef4046f7" data-vars-headline="Boulder passes on vacancy tax — for now" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://boulderreportinglab.org/2024/09/19/10700-new-homes-needed-study-highlights-boulders-housing-shortage/" target="_blank">city&#x27;s housing shortage</a>.

Boulder-area HOA fees are getting more common — and costly

According to a recent report, most Boulder-area home listings came with homeowners association fees last year.

The majority of Boulder-area homes for sale came with homeowners association fees last year, according to a recent report.Why it matters: For many homebuyers, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="HOA fees" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/02/10/homeowners-association-hoa-fees-map-states" data-vars-content-id="4952e315-6a2f-436a-83c9-7f38d0bfd00c" data-vars-headline="Boulder-area HOA fees are getting more common — and costly" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/02/10/homeowners-association-hoa-fees-map-states" target="_self">HOA fees</a> are another financial hurdle in an already-tough <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="market" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/23/home-prices-mortgage-rates-predictions-2025" data-vars-content-id="4952e315-6a2f-436a-83c9-7f38d0bfd00c" data-vars-headline="Boulder-area HOA fees are getting more common — and costly" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/23/home-prices-mortgage-rates-predictions-2025" target="_self">market</a>.

🏠 Mapped: HOA fees

HOA's are popular in Colorado

A map shows the share of homes listed for sale in 2025 that included HOA fees, by state. On average, 43.6% of listings included HOA fees. The states where HOA fees were most often included were Nevada (68%), Arizona (65%) and Florida (65%).

Share of homes listed for sale with HOA fees, 2025

🏠 What this year could bring

The housing squeeze: Affordability remains out of reach

Axios Denver

PHOTOS: Palantir's Alex Karp buys Colorado monastery for $120M

Denver

Black bear crashes Chip and Joanna Gaines' new Colorado show

🎨 Mapped: Hot home colors

Colorado's hot home paint color

Axios Visuals: 2025-08-27-paint-colors

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Real Estate 🏠

HOA's are popular in Colorado

The housing squeeze: Affordability remains out of reach

PHOTOS: Palantir's Alex Karp buys Colorado monastery for $120M

Black bear crashes Chip and Joanna Gaines' new Colorado show

Colorado's hot home paint color