Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,057
Lakewood
Colorado
13
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.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $295k less ($198,900 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $511/mo less ($1,154 vs $1,665)
34% less violent crime than Lakewood
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $40,945/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 4.4%)
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $40,945 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.2 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 37°F
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
Hartford
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Violent Crime
34% lower
515.8 vs 787.2 per 100k
Hartford
Median Home Value
$295k less
$198,900 vs $494,100
Lakewood
Median Income
$40,945
$82,786 vs $41,841/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
6.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 10.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 156,149 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 10 and Lakewood 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 Hartford to Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $494,100 median home), income ($41,841 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Lakewood, CO are about 1,694 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.