Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hampton, VA
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 13 of 22 categories
Hampton
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65
Population
137,217 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hampton, VA
Pros
Homes cost $418k less ($219,800 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1098/mo less ($1,255 vs $2,353)
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $83,797/yr
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 3.4%)
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $83,797 more per year on average
44% less violent crime than Hampton
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Hampton
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Hampton
Median Home Value
$418k less
$219,800 vs $637,400
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$83,797
$148,227 vs $64,430/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
44% lower
138.1 vs 247.6 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hampton, VA | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $219,800 ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,430 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 94 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hampton City Public Schools | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,217 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 13 of 22 categories. Hampton wins 9 and Highlands Ranch wins 13. 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 Hampton to Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($219,800 vs $637,400 median home), income ($64,430 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hampton, VA and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 1,558 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.