Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Denver leads 12 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Huntington Beach
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Homes cost $436k less ($540,400 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $653/mo less ($1,665 vs $2,318)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $28,894/yr
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
79% less violent crime than Denver
Households earn $28,894 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Denver
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Home Value
$436k less
$540,400 vs $976,800
Denver
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Denver
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$28,894
$114,747 vs $85,853/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
79% lower
207.3 vs 993.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Huntington Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 16.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 46.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 93.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 197,481 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Denver is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 12 of 23 categories. Denver wins 12 and Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $976,800 median home), income ($85,853 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Huntington Beach, CA are about 838 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.