Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Denver leads 13 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800
Los Angeles
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Homes cost $282k less ($540,400 vs $822,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Households earn $9,609 more per year on average
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Cons
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
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
27% less violent crime than Denver
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Denver by $9,609/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Income
$9,609
$85,853 vs $76,244/yr
Denver
Median Home Value
$282k less
$540,400 vs $822,600
Denver
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Denver
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 78.0°F
Los Angeles
Violent Crime
27% lower
728.5 vs 993.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,791⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $76,244 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 36.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Denver is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 13 of 23 categories. Denver wins 13 and Los Angeles 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 Denver to Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $822,600 median home), income ($85,853 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Los Angeles, CA are about 845 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.