Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 22 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Lakewood
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786
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.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $65,441 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Lakewood
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Rent averages $688/mo less ($1,665 vs $2,353)
Homes cost $143k less ($494,100 vs $637,400)
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $65,441/yr
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
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$65,441
$148,227 vs $82,786/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
82% lower
138.1 vs 787.2 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.4% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 105.5 on the COL index
Lakewood
Median Home Value
$143k less
$494,100 vs $637,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $494,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $82,786 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 16.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 58.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 156,149 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 58.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 22 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 14 and Lakewood wins 8. 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 Highlands Ranch to Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $494,100 median home), income ($148,227 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Lakewood, CO are about 13 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.