Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Urban Honolulu, HI
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,772
Violent Crime Index
49
Population
348,547 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $65,455 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than Urban Honolulu
Homes cost $168k less ($637,400 vs $805,500)
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 1.7 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Urban Honolulu, HI
Pros
Rent averages $619/mo less ($1,734 vs $2,353)
Violent crime is well below the national average (185.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $65,455/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $805,500
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 106.8 (100 = US avg)
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$65,455
$148,227 vs $82,772/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
25% lower
138.1 vs 185.2 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Median Home Value
$168k less
$637,400 vs $805,500
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.1% unemployment
Highlands Ranch
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 79.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Urban Honolulu, HI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $805,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,734⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $82,772 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min | 22.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 49 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Hawaii Department of Education |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 76.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 79.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 31.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 348,547 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 48.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 21.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Urban Honolulu's 106.8 (US average = 100).
Highlands Ranch is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 15 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 15 and Urban Honolulu 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 Urban Honolulu or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $805,500 median home), income ($148,227 vs $82,772), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Urban Honolulu, HI are about 3,338 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Highlands Ranch, CO vs Longmont, CO
Urban Honolulu, HI vs Anaheim, CA
Highlands Ranch, CO vs Boulder, CO
Urban Honolulu, HI vs Cleveland, OH
Highlands Ranch, CO vs Centennial, CO
Urban Honolulu, HI vs Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Highlands Ranch, CO vs Greeley, CO
Urban Honolulu, HI vs Stockton, CA