Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Denton leads 13 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Lakewood
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $198k less ($296,100 vs $494,100)
74% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $401/mo less ($1,264 vs $1,665)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $10,865/yr
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $10,865 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Violent Crime
74% lower
204.2 vs 787.2 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$198k less
$296,100 vs $494,100
Denton
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 85.9°F
Lakewood
Median Income
$10,865
$82,786 vs $71,921/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 156,149 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Denton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 13 of 23 categories. Denton wins 13 and Lakewood wins 10. 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 Denton to Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $494,100 median home), income ($71,921 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Lakewood, CO are about 630 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.