Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories
Anaheim
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Lakewood
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
24% less violent crime than Lakewood
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 45°F
Households earn $5,752 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Homes cost $220k less ($494,100 vs $713,600)
Rent averages $293/mo less ($1,665 vs $1,958)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Anaheim by $5,752/yr
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Income
$5,752
$88,538 vs $82,786/yr
Anaheim
Violent Crime
24% lower
596.2 vs 787.2 per 100k
Lakewood
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Home Value
$220k less
$494,100 vs $713,600
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $494,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 ✓ Higher | $82,786 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 17.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories. Anaheim wins 10 and Lakewood wins 13. 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 Anaheim to Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $494,100 median home), income ($88,538 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Lakewood, CO are about 807 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.