Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Denver, CO
🏆 Albuquerque leads 15 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551
Denver
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $294k less ($246,000 vs $540,400)
Rent averages $651/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,665)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $24,350/yr
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.7%)
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $24,350 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than Albuquerque
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$294k less
$246,000 vs $540,400
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 90.2°F
Denver
Median Income
$24,350
$85,853 vs $61,503/yr
Denver
Violent Crime
16% lower
993.0 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Denver
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Denver, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $540,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $85,853 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 20.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 247⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 261⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 46.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 15.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 | 710,800 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Denver's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 15 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 15 and Denver wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Denver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $540,400 median home), income ($61,503 vs $85,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Denver, CO are about 336 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.