Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Lakewood leads 15 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
48% less violent crime than Lakewood
Homes cost $82k less ($411,700 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $213/mo less ($1,452 vs $1,665)
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $13,349/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.4%)
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $13,349 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.4%)
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Violent Crime
48% lower
410.2 vs 787.2 per 100k
Gresham
Median Home Value
$82k less
$411,700 vs $494,100
Lakewood
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Income
$13,349
$82,786 vs $69,437/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.8% unemployment
Lakewood
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 156,149 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 15 of 23 categories. Gresham 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 Gresham to Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $494,100 median home), income ($69,437 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Lakewood, CO are about 965 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.