Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Lakewood leads 15 of 23 categories
East Los Angeles
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,222
Lakewood
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
29% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $296/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,665)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lakewood by $18,667/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $18,667 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.4%)
Homes cost $88k less ($494,100 vs $582,400)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
East Los Angeles
Violent Crime
29% lower
558.4 vs 787.2 per 100k
Lakewood
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Income
$18,667
$82,786 vs $64,119/yr
Lakewood
Median Home Value
$88k less
$494,100 vs $582,400
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Lakewood
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $494,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 17.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 | 156,149 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 15 of 23 categories. East Los Angeles wins 8 and Lakewood wins 15. 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 East Los Angeles to Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $494,100 median home), income ($64,119 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Lakewood, CO are about 820 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.