Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Midland leads 14 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Midland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°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
Midland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($280,700 vs $540,400)
63% less violent crime than Denver
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Rent averages $265/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,665)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$4,595
$90,448 vs $85,853/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
63% lower
364.9 vs 993.0 per 100k
Midland
Median Home Value
$260k less
$280,700 vs $540,400
Midland
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $280,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 84.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 1.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 132,490 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 14 of 23 categories. Denver wins 9 and Midland wins 14. 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $280,700 median home), income ($85,853 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Midland, TX are about 557 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.