Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Lakewood leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Lakewood
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $282k less ($212,500 vs $494,100)
45% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $504/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,665)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $19,792/yr
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.4%)
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $19,792 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Violent Crime
45% lower
434.9 vs 787.2 per 100k
Columbus
Median Home Value
$282k less
$212,500 vs $494,100
Lakewood
Median Income
$19,792
$82,786 vs $62,994/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 11 and Lakewood wins 12. 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 Columbus to Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $494,100 median home), income ($62,994 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Lakewood, CO are about 1,171 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.