Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Denver leads 12 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Toledo
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $40,448 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% less violent crime than Toledo
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Toledo
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $442k less ($98,800 vs $540,400)
Rent averages $811/mo less ($854 vs $1,665)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $40,448/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Median Income
$40,448
$85,853 vs $45,405/yr
Denver
Violent Crime
5% lower
993.0 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Denver
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.2% unemployment
Denver
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 84.6°F
Toledo
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$442k less
$98,800 vs $540,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| 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 | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 37.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 269,962 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 12 of 23 categories. Denver wins 12 and Toledo wins 11. 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $98,800 median home), income ($85,853 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Toledo, OH are about 1,120 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.