Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Lansing, MI
🏆 Denver leads 15 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Lansing
Michigan
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $35,106 more per year on average
26% less violent crime than Lansing
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 31°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Lansing
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $428k less ($112,200 vs $540,400)
Rent averages $711/mo less ($954 vs $1,665)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $35,106/yr
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Median Income
$35,106
$85,853 vs $50,747/yr
Denver
Violent Crime
26% lower
993.0 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Denver
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.3% unemployment
Denver
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 82.8°F
Lansing
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Lansing
Median Home Value
$428k less
$112,200 vs $540,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $112,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $954 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $50,747 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High ✓ Safer | 260⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 29.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Lansing Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 30.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 33.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" ✓ Less | 50.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 112,986 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Lansing's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Lansing is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 15 of 23 categories. Denver wins 15 and Lansing wins 8. 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 Lansing or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $112,200 median home), income ($85,853 vs $50,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Lansing, MI are about 1,073 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.