Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 23 categories
Bellevue
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36
Population
150,606 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$148,227
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,139,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3339.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Homes cost $502k less ($637,400 vs $1,139,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.4%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellevue
Cons
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellevue
Median Income
$1,324
$149,551 vs $148,227/yr
Highlands Ranch
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Highlands Ranch
Median Home Value
$502k less
$637,400 vs $1,139,500
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.0% unemployment
Highlands Ranch
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,139,500⚠ High | $637,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $2,353⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $148,227 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ Higher | 26.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 | 36 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 65.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Highlands Ranch is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 23 categories. Bellevue wins 9 and Highlands Ranch wins 14. 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 Bellevue to Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $637,400 median home), income ($149,551 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 1,021 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.