Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greeley, CO
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Greeley leads 12 of 23 categories
Greeley
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,525
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
107,949
Lakewood
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
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.
Greeley, CO
Pros
Homes cost $148k less ($346,400 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $457/mo less ($1,208 vs $1,665)
15% less violent crime than Lakewood
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Cons
Violent crime (670.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lakewood by $17,261/yr
Property crime (3019.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.4%)
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $17,261 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Greeley
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 96.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Greeley
Violent Crime
15% lower
670.7 vs 787.2 per 100k
Greeley
Median Home Value
$148k less
$346,400 vs $494,100
Greeley
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 85.9°F
Lakewood
Median Income
$17,261
$82,786 vs $65,525/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greeley, CO | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $346,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,208 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,525 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.8% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.6% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GreeleySchool District No. 6 in the county of Weld and Sta | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.1°F | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 17.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.9" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,949 | 156,149 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.6% ✓ Higher | 58.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greeley's cost of living index is 96.0 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Greeley is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Greeley leads 12 of 23 categories. Greeley wins 12 and Lakewood 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 Greeley to Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($346,400 vs $494,100 median home), income ($65,525 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greeley, CO and Lakewood, CO are about 53 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.