Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Lakewood
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
156,149
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $259k less ($235,000 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $430/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,665)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 45°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $22,346/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.4%)
Lakewood, CO
Pros
31% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $22,346 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$259k less
$235,000 vs $494,100
Houston
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 85.9°F
Lakewood
Median Income
$22,346
$82,786 vs $60,440/yr
Lakewood
Violent Crime
31% lower
787.2 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Lakewood
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 221⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Houston is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories. Houston wins 10 and Lakewood 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 Houston to Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $494,100 median home), income ($60,440 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Lakewood, CO are about 879 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.