The Boulder City Housing Advisory Board convened on July 25, 2025, to address pressing issues surrounding affordable housing in the city. The meeting focused on the challenges faced by middle-income households in accessing affordable housing, particularly in light of rising home prices.

The discussion began with an overview of the "30% rule," which states that households should ideally spend no more than one-third of their income on housing. The board emphasized the importance of permanently affordable housing, specifically deed-restricted units that ensure long-term affordability. The area median income (AMI) for Boulder, as determined by HUD, was noted to be approximately $135,000 for a household of three in 2025.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to analyzing a graph that illustrated the disparity between median home prices and AMI from 2010 to 2024. The data revealed a troubling trend: while the median sales prices for single-family homes and attached homes have surged, the AMI has not kept pace. This gap highlights the increasing difficulty for middle-income families to afford homes in Boulder.

The board discussed the purchasing power of households earning the AMI. To afford a median-priced single-family home costing $1.3 million, a household would need to earn over $300,000 annually, which is more than double the AMI. For attached homes or condos, the required income to afford a median-priced unit aligns more closely with the AMI, but many factors influence housing choices, including household size and the age of the property.

The meeting concluded with a consensus on the need for strategic solutions to bridge the affordability gap and support middle-income families in Boulder. The board plans to explore further initiatives to enhance access to affordable housing in the coming months.