Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 16 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Washington
District of Columbia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
85% less violent crime than Washington
Households earn $46,505 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Homes cost $68k less ($637,400 vs $705,000)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Washington, DC
Pros
Rent averages $536/mo less ($1,817 vs $2,353)
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $46,505/yr
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$46,505
$148,227 vs $101,722/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
85% lower
138.1 vs 925.9 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Median Home Value
$68k less
$637,400 vs $705,000
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,817⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $101,722 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 25.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 62.6% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 92.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 44.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Highlands Ranch is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 16 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 16 and Washington 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $705,000 median home), income ($148,227 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Washington, DC are about 1,491 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.