Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Livonia, MI
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 13 of 23 categories
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 ✓ Larger
Livonia
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,458
Violent Crime Index
60
Population
94,928
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $55,769 more per year on average
39% less violent crime than Livonia
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Livonia
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Livonia, MI
Pros
Homes cost $388k less ($249,000 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1118/mo less ($1,235 vs $2,353)
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $55,769/yr
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$55,769
$148,227 vs $92,458/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
39% lower
138.1 vs 228.1 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Highlands Ranch
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 82.9°F
Livonia
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Livonia
Median Home Value
$388k less
$249,000 vs $637,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Livonia, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $249,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $92,458 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 13.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 94.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Livonia Public Schools School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 30.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 33.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 36.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 ✓ Larger | 94,928 |
| Median Age | 41.0 | 45.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Livonia's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Livonia is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 13 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 13 and Livonia 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 Highlands Ranch to Livonia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $249,000 median home), income ($148,227 vs $92,458), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Livonia, MI are about 1,141 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.