Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,076
Lakewood
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
34% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $280/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,665)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 45°F
Homes cost $28k less ($466,300 vs $494,100)
Cons
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lakewood by $18,307/yr
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Lakewood
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $18,307 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Violent Crime
34% lower
518.1 vs 787.2 per 100k
Arden-Arcade
Median Home Value
$28k less
$466,300 vs $494,100
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 85.9°F
Lakewood
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Income
$18,307
$82,786 vs $64,479/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 156,149 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade 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 Arden-Arcade to Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $494,100 median home), income ($64,479 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Lakewood, CO are about 874 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.