Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Denver, CO
🏆 Denver leads 15 of 23 categories
Compton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Denver
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Rent averages $201/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,665)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Homes cost $51k less ($489,400 vs $540,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Denver by $16,125/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Denver, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
22% less violent crime than Compton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.7%)
Households earn $16,125 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Cons
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
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Home Value
$51k less
$489,400 vs $540,400
Denver
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Income
$16,125
$85,853 vs $69,728/yr
Denver
Violent Crime
22% lower
993.0 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Denver
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.9% unemployment
Denver
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Denver, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $540,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $85,853 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 20.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 247⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 261⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 46.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 15.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 710,800 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 12.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Denver's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Denver is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 15 of 23 categories. Compton wins 8 and Denver wins 15. 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 Compton to Denver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $540,400 median home), income ($69,728 vs $85,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Denver, CO are about 841 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.