Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 13 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Simi Valley
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Rent averages $737/mo less ($1,665 vs $2,402)
Homes cost $164k less ($540,400 vs $704,200)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
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 Simi Valley by $26,291/yr
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
87% less violent crime than Denver
Households earn $26,291 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Denver
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Home Value
$164k less
$540,400 vs $704,200
Simi Valley
Median Income
$26,291
$112,144 vs $85,853/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
87% lower
129.1 vs 993.0 per 100k
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 14.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 36.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 126,153 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Denver is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. Denver wins 10 and Simi Valley 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $704,200 median home), income ($85,853 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Simi Valley, CA are about 853 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.