Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 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
Tracy
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
Rent averages $497/mo less ($1,665 vs $2,162)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Homes cost $77k less ($540,400 vs $617,300)
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 Tracy by $25,864/yr
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Tracy, CA
Pros
70% less violent crime than Denver
Households earn $25,864 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Home Value
$77k less
$540,400 vs $617,300
Denver
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Tracy
Median Income
$25,864
$111,717 vs $85,853/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
70% lower
301.4 vs 993.0 per 100k
Tracy
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Denver is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 13 of 23 categories. Denver wins 13 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $617,300 median home), income ($85,853 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Tracy, CA are about 903 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.