Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Denver leads 13 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Stamford
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Rent averages $464/mo less ($1,665 vs $2,129)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Homes cost $44k less ($540,400 vs $584,700)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cons
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Stamford by $14,865/yr
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Stamford, CT
Pros
84% less violent crime than Denver
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,865 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.7%)
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Home Value
$44k less
$540,400 vs $584,700
Denver
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Denver
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 84.8°F
Stamford
Median Income
$14,865
$100,718 vs $85,853/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
84% lower
157.5 vs 993.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 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 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 50.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 34.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 135,413 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 19.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Denver is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 13 of 23 categories. Denver wins 13 and Stamford 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $584,700 median home), income ($85,853 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Stamford, CT are about 1,642 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.