Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greensboro, NC
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Greensboro leads 13 of 23 categories
Greensboro
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,051
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
Lakewood
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
156,149
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Homes cost $297k less ($197,200 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $617/mo less ($1,048 vs $1,665)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $27,735/yr
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.4%)
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $27,735 more per year on average
15% less violent crime than Greensboro
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Greensboro
Key Differences at a Glance
Greensboro
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Greensboro
Median Home Value
$297k less
$197,200 vs $494,100
Lakewood
Median Income
$27,735
$82,786 vs $55,051/yr
Lakewood
Violent Crime
15% lower
787.2 vs 923.7 per 100k
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greensboro, NC | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,048 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,051 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 161⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.9% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.1" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 297,202 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.6% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.6% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greensboro's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Greensboro is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Greensboro leads 13 of 23 categories. Greensboro 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 Greensboro to Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $494,100 median home), income ($55,051 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greensboro, NC and Lakewood, CO are about 1,396 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.