Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Boca Raton leads 17 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Lakewood
Colorado
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
78% less violent crime than Lakewood
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 45°F
Households earn $12,784 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.4%)
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Rent averages $505/mo less ($1,665 vs $2,170)
Homes cost $103k less ($494,100 vs $597,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.4%)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boca Raton by $12,784/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
Boca Raton
Median Income
$12,784
$95,570 vs $82,786/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
78% lower
171.0 vs 787.2 per 100k
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 85.9°F
Lakewood
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Home Value
$103k less
$494,100 vs $597,100
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $494,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $82,786 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 16.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 156,149 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 58.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 17.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 17 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 17 and Lakewood wins 6. 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 Boca Raton to Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $494,100 median home), income ($95,570 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Lakewood, CO are about 1,707 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.