Top 8 Affordable Subsidized Housing in Boulder, CO

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Seniors Blue Book

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Nov 12, 2026

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Boulder is a wonderful place to grow older. It has mountain views, walkable neighborhoods, strong health care, and a community that cares about its seniors. It is also one of the most expensive housing markets in Colorado. For older adults on a fixed income, and for the families helping them plan, a rent increase can turn a comfortable retirement into a constant worry.

That is where affordable and subsidized housing comes in. These communities keep rent within reach for people with limited incomes, and many add services that make daily life easier. The challenge is knowing where to look, who qualifies, and how the waitlists work. This guide walks through eight Boulder options, most of them run by Boulder Housing Partners, so you can compare them side by side and take the next step with confidence.

 

What Is Affordable Subsidized Senior Housing?

Affordable subsidized housing is rental housing with rents set below market rate, usually with help from federal, state, or local funding. Instead of paying whatever the market demands, residents pay a rent that is tied to their income or held to a capped level. In Boulder, the local public housing authority, Boulder Housing Partners (BHP), owns and manages many of these communities.

BHP groups its senior apartments into programs, and the program determines how rent is calculated:

  • Deeply Affordable communities: rent is generally around 30 percent of the resident’s income.
  • Affordable communities: rent is set as a share of income within a range, or at a level that stays below market rates.
  • Housing Choice Vouchers: rental assistance that helps eligible households pay rent in participating housing.

Who It Is For

These communities are designed for older adults, typically age 55 or older or age 62 or older depending on the property, who live independently and meet income limits. Some properties also welcome people with disabilities. Income limits are based on a percentage of Area Median Income and change from year to year, so always confirm the current numbers with BHP before you apply.

Important to know: these are independent living apartments. They are not assisted living or memory care. Residents live on their own, with on-site resident service coordinators at several properties to help connect them with local resources.

 

The 8 Affordable Subsidized Housing Options in Boulder

1. Canyon Pointe (Boulder Housing Partners)

Phone: 303-449-0062

Canyon Pointe is a senior community in central Boulder with 82 apartments for adults age 62 and older. It is part of BHP’s Deeply Affordable program, which means residents pay approximately 30 percent of their income toward rent. That predictable structure is a big relief for people whose income is limited or fixed.

The community is close to downtown Boulder and has a resident service coordinator who can help with connections to local resources. Applicants join a waitlist, and the waitlist opens only for short windows when apartments are expected to become available. BHP has opened Canyon Pointe waitlists several times, including in May 2025, so it is worth checking for the next opening.

 

2. High Mar (Boulder Housing Partners)

Phone: 303-449-0062

High Mar was built on the site of the former High Mar Swim Club in southeast Boulder, and its apartment homes are designed for independent living by adults age 55 and older. It sits in the Boulder Affordable Rentals program, where monthly rent is less expensive than market rent in Boulder.

Unlike most of BHP’s senior communities, High Mar does not use the same waitlist process, so it is a good place to ask about current availability. A resident service coordinator is also assigned to the property.

 

3. Northport (Boulder Housing Partners)

Phone: 303-449-0062

Northport has 50 apartments at 1133 Portland Place and has long served older adults and people with disabilities. It is one of BHP’s communities where applicants must live or work in Boulder County to qualify.

Age thresholds are listed differently across BHP pages, with some showing 62 and older or people with disabilities and others showing 55 and older, so confirm the requirement for your situation when you call. Waitlists have opened periodically, including a July 2023 window, and resident service coordination is available on site.

 

4. Madison (Boulder Housing Partners)

Phone: 303-449-0062

Madison is a 34-apartment community at 1130 35th Street. It is a little different from the others on this list because it serves seniors age 62 and older, people with disabilities, and families, so it can be a fit for a household with a mix of needs.

Applicants must live or work in Boulder County. BHP has opened Madison waitlists in short windows, and the 2 and 3 bedroom list was last open in July 2023, so ask the leasing team which bedroom sizes are currently accepting applications. Resident service coordination is available.

 

5. Walnut Place (Boulder Housing Partners)

Phone: 303-449-0062

Walnut Place is the largest of BHP’s established senior buildings, with 95 apartments for adults age 55 and older near downtown Boulder. It is part of the Deeply Affordable program, with rent at approximately 30 percent of income, and applicants should live or work in Boulder County.

A resident service coordinator is assigned to the property, which helps residents connect with health, food, and community resources. Waitlists for studio and one bedroom apartments have opened in the past, so call to learn about the next opening.

 

6. Golden West Senior Living

Phone: 303-449-0062

Golden West has been part of Boulder since 1965 and is now managed by Boulder Housing Partners. The campus has about 253 independent living apartments in two towers for adults age 62 and older, and it is often described as providing close to 40 percent of the low-income senior housing in Boulder.

BHP has renovated the North Tower and opened the Iris Bistro in June 2025, giving residents a full-service meal kitchen and dining space on campus. For seniors who want a larger, social setting with activities and meals close by, Golden West is a strong option. Rent increases are restricted under the property’s covenants.

 

7. Boulder Housing Partners

Phone: 720-564-4610

Boulder Housing Partners is the public housing authority for the City of Boulder and the organization behind most of the communities in this guide. If you are not sure which property fits, this is the best place to begin. The team can explain the programs, income limits, open waitlists, and other options.

BHP also administers Housing Choice Vouchers. Seniors age 62 and older and people with disabilities who live or work in Boulder County may be eligible to enter the voucher lottery when it opens. BHP also accepts requests for reasonable accommodations due to a disability at all of its communities.

 

8. Hilltop Senior Living (Boulder Housing Partners)

Phone: 303-449-0062

Hilltop is BHP’s newest senior community, built specifically for adults age 62 and older in South Boulder. It includes 60 permanently affordable apartments and was developed alongside the preservation and repurposing of the historic Mount Calvary sanctuary building.

Fifteen apartments are reserved for seniors exiting homelessness, with supportive services on site. All residents have access to social gatherings, crafts, fitness and wellness programming, and health focused community partnerships. BHP lists rent at approximately 50 to 80 percent of income at Hilltop, with an income limit at 60 percent of Area Median Income.

 

Why This Matters Locally

Boulder’s housing costs are among the highest in Colorado, and seniors living on Social Security or a modest pension feel it the most. Many longtime residents raised families here, worked here, and want to stay near friends, doctors, and the community they know. Affordable senior communities make that possible.

Supply is tight. Waitlists open for only a few days at a time, and BHP’s own announcements show how quickly lists close. Golden West alone accounts for a large share of the city’s low-income senior housing, which tells you how limited the overall inventory is. Families who start learning the options early, before a crisis, are in a much better position than those who start after a lease ends or a health event.

Location is another advantage. BHP’s communities are spread across Boulder, from near downtown to South Boulder, which keeps residents close to transit, grocery stores, medical care, and the senior activities this city is known for.

 

How to Get Started

  1. Decide which age and location fit. Some communities start at 55 and others at 62. Make a short list based on the age, neighborhood, and apartment size that fit your situation.
  2. Gather income and household information. You will need to show household income and size. Pay stubs, Social Security award letters, and bank statements are common documents.
  3. Call to confirm current limits and openings. Call 303-449-0062 for community leasing questions or 720-564-4610 for Boulder Housing Partners directly. Income limits and waitlist status change, so ask what is open today.
  4. Get ready for a waitlist window. Most waitlists open online for a few days only. Check boulderhousing.org regularly, and be ready to apply right away when one opens.
  5. Apply to more than one community. Because demand is high, applying to every community you qualify for improves your chances.
  6. Ask about vouchers. If you are age 62 or older or have a disability and live or work in Boulder County, ask BHP when the next Housing Choice Voucher lottery opens.
  7. Request accommodations if needed. BHP accepts reasonable accommodation requests at all of its communities, including for accessible apartments.
  8. Keep a backup plan. Waitlists can be long. Ask about other options while you wait, including related housing types listed below.

A quick note: information in this guide is based on public details from Boulder Housing Partners and other sources and can change. Call each community to verify current availability, income limits, and requirements before you apply.

 

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