Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Denver, CO
🏆 Charlotte leads 14 of 22 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Denver
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($312,800 vs $540,400)
26% less violent crime than Denver
Rent averages $266/mo less ($1,399 vs $1,665)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 47°F
Cons
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Denver by $11,783/yr
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $11,783 more per year on average
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
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Violent Crime
26% lower
733.2 vs 993.0 per 100k
Charlotte
Median Home Value
$228k less
$312,800 vs $540,400
Denver
Median Income
$11,783
$85,853 vs $74,070/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Denver, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $540,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 | $85,853 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 20.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 247⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F ✓ Warmer | 46.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 15.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 710,800 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 12.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Denver's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Charlotte leads 14 of 22 categories. Charlotte wins 14 and Denver wins 8. 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 Charlotte to Denver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $540,400 median home), income ($74,070 vs $85,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Denver, CO are about 1,351 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.