Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $26,541 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 107°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
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 12% higher than Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $354k less ($186,500 vs $540,400)
Rent averages $637/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,665)
57% less violent crime than Denver
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $26,541/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 4.7%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Median Income
$26,541
$85,853 vs $59,312/yr
Denver
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Violent Crime
57% lower
423.6 vs 993.0 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$354k less
$186,500 vs $540,400
Yuma
Summer Heat
16.5°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories. Denver wins 9 and Yuma wins 14. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $186,500 median home), income ($85,853 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Yuma, AZ are about 734 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.