Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Hesperia, CA
🏆 Denver leads 12 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Hesperia
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,878
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Households earn $18,155 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($337,600 vs $540,400)
48% less violent crime than Denver
Rent averages $229/mo less ($1,436 vs $1,665)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Cons
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Denver by $18,155/yr
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 42.4 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Income
$18,155
$85,853 vs $67,698/yr
Denver
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 9.8% unemployment
Hesperia
Violent Crime
48% lower
519.6 vs 993.0 per 100k
Hesperia
Median Home Value
$203k less
$337,600 vs $540,400
Hesperia
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Hesperia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $337,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,436⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $67,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 42.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 78.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Hesperia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" | 11.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 99,878 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 63.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 29.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Hesperia's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Denver is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 12 of 23 categories. Denver wins 12 and Hesperia wins 11. 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 Denver to Hesperia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $337,600 median home), income ($85,853 vs $67,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Hesperia, CA are about 778 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.