Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Austin leads 17 of 22 categories
Austin
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Lakewood
Colorado
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
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.
Austin, TX
Pros
41% less violent crime than Lakewood
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 45°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Rent averages $116/mo less ($1,549 vs $1,665)
Homes cost $33k less ($461,500 vs $494,100)
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 97°F
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
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Austin
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$3,770
$86,556 vs $82,786/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
41% lower
466.9 vs 787.2 per 100k
Austin
Median Home Value
$33k less
$461,500 vs $494,100
Austin
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $82,786 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 16.9% |
| 🔒 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 | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Austin is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Austin leads 17 of 22 categories. Austin wins 17 and Lakewood wins 5. 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 Austin to Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $494,100 median home), income ($86,556 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Lakewood, CO are about 771 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.