Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Grand Prairie, TX
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Grand Prairie leads 13 of 23 categories
Grand Prairie
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,626
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
197,279 ✓ Larger
Lakewood
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Grand Prairie, TX
Pros
Homes cost $251k less ($242,900 vs $494,100)
72% less violent crime than Lakewood
Violent crime is well below the national average (221.2 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $284/mo less ($1,381 vs $1,665)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $6,160/yr
Lakewood, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $6,160 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Prairie
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Grand Prairie
Violent Crime
72% lower
221.2 vs 787.2 per 100k
Grand Prairie
Median Home Value
$251k less
$242,900 vs $494,100
Grand Prairie
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 85.9°F
Lakewood
Median Income
$6,160
$82,786 vs $76,626/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Grand Prairie, TX | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,900 ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,381⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,626 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.1 min⚠ High | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.9% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.3% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GRAND PRAIRIE ISD | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.3°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 197,279 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.2% ✓ Higher | 58.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.6% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.3% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Prairie's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Grand Prairie is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Grand Prairie leads 13 of 23 categories. Grand Prairie wins 13 and Lakewood 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 Grand Prairie to Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,900 vs $494,100 median home), income ($76,626 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Grand Prairie, TX and Lakewood, CO are about 662 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.