Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800
Phoenix
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
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
Households earn $13,761 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 104°F
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
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($340,200 vs $540,400)
19% less violent crime than Denver
Rent averages $343/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,665)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 47°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Denver by $13,761/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Median Income
$13,761
$85,853 vs $72,092/yr
Denver
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.2% unemployment
Phoenix
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Violent Crime
19% lower
799.6 vs 993.0 per 100k
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$200k less
$340,200 vs $540,400
Phoenix
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 14.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories. Denver wins 10 and Phoenix wins 13. 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $340,200 median home), income ($85,853 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Phoenix, AZ are about 585 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.