Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Independence leads 14 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
122,218
Lakewood
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $343k less ($150,800 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $645/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,665)
27% less violent crime than Lakewood
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $25,371/yr
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.4%)
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $25,371 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°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
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Independence
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Violent Crime
27% lower
571.2 vs 787.2 per 100k
Independence
Median Home Value
$343k less
$150,800 vs $494,100
Lakewood
Median Income
$25,371
$82,786 vs $57,415/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 156,149 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 58.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 17.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Independence is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Independence leads 14 of 23 categories. Independence wins 14 and Lakewood wins 9. 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 Independence to Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $494,100 median home), income ($57,415 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Lakewood, CO are about 576 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.