08/27/2026
One of my favorite things about Colorado real estate is just how dramatically your buying power can change by driving 20 or 30 minutes down the road.
So today, we're playing a little game of Would You Rather?
You have approximately $1 million to spend.
Would you rather have a beautifully remodeled, energy-efficient, adorable home in the heart of Boulder — or a sprawling home in Erie with room for pretty much everyone and everything you own?
Let's take a look.
OPTION #1: Boulder — $998,000
📍 2991 24th Street, Boulder
* Listed by: Dennis Vinh Colorado Key Properties
💰 $998,000
🛏 3 bedrooms
🛁 1 bathroom
📐 1,026 square feet
🚗 1-car garage
🌳 0.17-acre lot
https://www.iresis.com/cwa/link/listing?llid=48ctccx293z&lid=402066398
Yes, you read that correctly.
Just under $1 million buys you 1,026 square feet in Boulder. Yep. That's $973 PER SQUARE FOOT.
But before you clutch your pearls, there's a lot packed into those 1,026 square feet.
This Central Boulder ranch has been beautifully remodeled and is move-in ready. It's also all-electric, with seller-owned solar, new electrical and plumbing, a high-efficiency heat pump HVAC system, a heat-pump water heater and two EV charging stations.
Inside, there's a remodeled kitchen with black stainless steel appliances, an updated bathroom with a curbless walk-in shower, and three bedrooms.
Outside, both the front and backyard have been xeriscaped for easy maintenance.
And if you're thinking, "But Sally...ONE THOUSAND SQUARE FEET?" — there's a little bonus. The home comes with stamped structural plans for a 400-square-foot addition, giving the next owner a head start if they'd eventually like a little more elbow room.
The real selling point here?
You're in Boulder.
You're paying for the location, the lifestyle, the proximity to trails, restaurants, shops, CU and everything else that makes Boulder...well, Boulder.
At approximately $1M, location is definitely the star of this show.
But then....
OPTION #2: Erie — $990,000
📍 1155 Petras Street, Erie
*Listed by Kari Kolicko, Milehimodern
💰 $990,000
🛏 5 bedrooms
🛁 5 bathrooms
📐 4,657 square feet
🚗 FOUR-car oversized garage
https://www.iresis.com/cwa/link/listing?llid=46dj2xzzjgz&lid=402063392&single
Okay. Now things get interesting.
For essentially EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS LESS, we're heading east to Erie.
And suddenly our 1,026-square-foot Boulder bungalow has turned into a 4,657-square-foot house.
That's more than FOUR TIMES the living space.
This Erie Commons home has five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a finished basement and a rare oversized four-car garage, including extended bays with enough room for full-size trucks, campers, toys, storage and a workbench.
Inside, there's a large eat-in kitchen with granite countertops, cherry cabinetry, stainless appliances and double ovens.
The primary suite includes a five-piece bath and large walk-in closet — and there's even a second primary bedroom with its own walk-in closet and full bathroom.
Downstairs you'll find an entertainment area wired for surround sound, a home gym area, another bedroom/office and — because apparently 4,657 square feet wasn't enough — an infrared sauna.
And we're not done.
Out back there's a six-person saltwater hot tub, covered pergola and patio area with a stone fireplace.
The Erie Commons neighborhood also offers a community pool, parks and playgrounds, with easy access to the Coal Creek Trail and downtown Erie.
In other words, your million dollars stretches a LOT further once you leave Boulder.
So...Would You Rather?
This is exactly why I love comparing Colorado communities.
For almost the exact same price, these homes offer two completely different lifestyles.
BOULDER:
Smaller footprint. Central location. Remodeled. Energy efficient. Boulder lifestyle right outside your door.
ERIE:
More than four times the square footage. Five bedrooms. Five bathrooms. Finished basement. Four-car garage. Hot tub. Sauna. Room to spread out — and then some.
Neither one is necessarily the "better" choice.
It comes down to what matters most to you.
Would you sacrifice square footage for location?
Or would you happily drive a little farther to get a whole lot more house?
WOULD YOU RATHER?
🏡 A: 1,026 square feet in Boulder for $998K
OR
🏡 B: 4,657 square feet in Erie for $990K
I know which one I'd choose...but I want to hear yours.
And if you're wondering what your budget might buy in Boulder, Erie, Broomfield, Louisville, Lafayette, Superior or anywhere else along the Front Range, that's where I come in.
The right house isn't just about price per square foot. It's about finding the combination of home, location and lifestyle that works for you.
