Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Denver leads 13 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Providence
Rhode Island
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $24,488 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
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
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $247k less ($293,000 vs $540,400)
72% less violent crime than Denver
Rent averages $451/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,665)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $24,488/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Median Income
$24,488
$85,853 vs $61,365/yr
Denver
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
Denver
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 83.6°F
Providence
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Violent Crime
72% lower
276.7 vs 993.0 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$247k less
$293,000 vs $540,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 36.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 189,715 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 13 of 23 categories. Denver wins 13 and Providence 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $293,000 median home), income ($85,853 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Providence, RI are about 1,745 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.