Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Warren, MI
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 16 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Warren
Michigan
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,633
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
138,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $86,594 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Warren
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Warren
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Warren, MI
Pros
Homes cost $468k less ($169,300 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1214/mo less ($1,139 vs $2,353)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $86,594/yr
Violent crime (541.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$86,594
$148,227 vs $61,633/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
75% lower
138.1 vs 541.8 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.4% unemployment
Highlands Ranch
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 83.5°F
Warren
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Warren
Median Home Value
$468k less
$169,300 vs $637,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Warren, 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 | $169,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,139 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $61,633 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 86.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Warren Consolidated Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 32.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 29.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 27.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 138,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 38.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 71.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 21.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Warren's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Warren is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 16 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 16 and Warren wins 7. 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 Warren or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $169,300 median home), income ($148,227 vs $61,633), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Warren, MI are about 1,159 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.