Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 16 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Sunnyvale
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Homes cost $1140k less ($540,400 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1325/mo less ($1,665 vs $2,990)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $88,653/yr
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
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $88,653 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Denver
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Denver
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Home Value
$1140k less
$540,400 vs $1,680,700
Denver
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$88,653
$174,506 vs $85,853/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
75% lower
244.5 vs 993.0 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 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 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 19.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Denver is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 16 of 23 categories. Denver wins 7 and Sunnyvale wins 16. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($85,853 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Sunnyvale, CA are about 939 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.