Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Denver leads 14 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
7% less violent crime than Tacoma
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,768 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Cons
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $125k less ($415,300 vs $540,400)
Rent averages $176/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,665)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Income
$6,768
$85,853 vs $79,085/yr
Denver
Violent Crime
7% lower
993.0 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Denver
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Denver
Summer Heat
13.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$125k less
$415,300 vs $540,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Denver is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 14 of 23 categories. Denver wins 14 and Tacoma wins 9. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $415,300 median home), income ($85,853 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Tacoma, WA are about 1,018 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.