Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 15 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36
Population
101,514 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Homes cost $246k less ($637,400 vs $883,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $269/mo less ($2,353 vs $2,622)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Cons
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
28% less violent crime than Highlands Ranch
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Highlands Ranch
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$11,657
$148,227 vs $136,570/yr
Highlands Ranch
Median Home Value
$246k less
$637,400 vs $883,600
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.4% unemployment
Highlands Ranch
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 79.5°F
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
28% lower
99.2 vs 138.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Mission Viejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $136,570 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 41.0 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Highlands Ranch is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 15 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 15 and Mission Viejo 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 Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $883,600 median home), income ($148,227 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Mission Viejo, CA are about 813 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.