Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Paradise, NV
🏆 Paradise leads 13 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36
Population
101,514
Paradise
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,224
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
189,733 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $93,003 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 105°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Paradise
Paradise, NV
Pros
Rent averages $1161/mo less ($1,192 vs $2,353)
Homes cost $304k less ($333,800 vs $637,400)
32% less violent crime than Highlands Ranch
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $93,003/yr
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 3.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$93,003
$148,227 vs $55,224/yr
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 8.9% unemployment
Paradise
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Paradise
Violent Crime
32% lower
94.1 vs 138.1 per 100k
Paradise
Median Home Value
$304k less
$333,800 vs $637,400
Paradise
Summer Heat
17.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Paradise, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 100.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $333,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,192 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $55,224 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 23.7% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 85.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" | 4.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 189,733 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 38.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 39.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Paradise's 100.1 (US average = 100).
Paradise is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Paradise leads 13 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 10 and Paradise 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 Highlands Ranch to Paradise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $333,800 median home), income ($148,227 vs $55,224), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Paradise, NV are about 603 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.