Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 18 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
75% less violent crime than San Leandro
Households earn $51,086 more per year on average
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $135k less ($637,400 vs $772,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Rent averages $356/mo less ($1,997 vs $2,353)
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $51,086/yr
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$51,086
$148,227 vs $97,141/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
75% lower
138.1 vs 548.7 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Median Home Value
$135k less
$637,400 vs $772,700
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Highlands Ranch
Summer Heat
15.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,997⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $97,141 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 84.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 18.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 41.0 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 57.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Highlands Ranch is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 18 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 18 and San Leandro wins 5. 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 San Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $772,700 median home), income ($148,227 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and San Leandro, CA are about 935 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.