Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Denver, CO
🏆 Carrollton leads 18 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
Denver
Colorado
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
86% less violent crime than Denver
Homes cost $213k less ($327,300 vs $540,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.7%)
Households earn $9,527 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Denver, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Carrollton
Median Income
$9,527
$95,380 vs $85,853/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
86% lower
137.1 vs 993.0 per 100k
Carrollton
Median Home Value
$213k less
$327,300 vs $540,400
Carrollton
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.7% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Denver, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $540,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $85,853 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% | 20.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 247⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 46.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" | 15.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 710,800 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Denver's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Carrollton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 18 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 18 and Denver 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 Carrollton to Denver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $540,400 median home), income ($95,380 vs $85,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Denver, CO are about 645 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.