Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 12 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Homes cost $188k less ($540,400 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $399/mo less ($1,665 vs $2,064)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails San Marcos by $13,560/yr
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
San Marcos, CA
Pros
78% less violent crime than Denver
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $13,560 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Denver
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Home Value
$188k less
$540,400 vs $728,800
Denver
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 87.2°F
San Marcos
Median Income
$13,560
$99,413 vs $85,853/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
78% lower
222.4 vs 993.0 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 16.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 41.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Denver is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 12 of 23 categories. Denver wins 11 and San Marcos wins 12. 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 San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $728,800 median home), income ($85,853 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and San Marcos, CA are about 821 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.