Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Arvada leads 17 of 21 categories
Arvada
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Lakewood
Colorado
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
64% less violent crime than Lakewood
Households earn $23,228 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Homes cost $59k less ($494,100 vs $553,000)
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Arvada by $23,228/yr
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
Arvada
Median Income
$23,228
$106,014 vs $82,786/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
64% lower
285.6 vs 787.2 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 105.5 on the COL index
Lakewood
Median Home Value
$59k less
$494,100 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $494,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $82,786 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 16.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 156,149 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 58.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 17.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Arvada leads 17 of 21 categories. Arvada wins 17 and Lakewood wins 4. 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 Arvada to Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $494,100 median home), income ($106,014 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Lakewood, CO are about 9 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.