Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chandler, AZ
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 13 of 23 categories
Chandler
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,374
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chandler, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $214k less ($423,900 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $678/mo less ($1,675 vs $2,353)
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 45°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $48,853/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $48,853 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Chandler
Key Differences at a Glance
Chandler
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 101.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Chandler
Median Home Value
$214k less
$423,900 vs $637,400
Chandler
Summer Heat
18.6°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 87.3°F
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$48,853
$148,227 vs $99,374/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chandler, AZ | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $423,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,675⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,374 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 36 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.2% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.7" ✓ Drier | 18.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 275,618 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chandler's cost of living index is 101.4 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Chandler is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 13 of 23 categories. Chandler wins 10 and Highlands Ranch wins 13. 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 Chandler to Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,900 vs $637,400 median home), income ($99,374 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chandler, AZ and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 577 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.