Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
156,149
Lancaster
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.4%)
6% less violent crime than Lancaster
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $11,419 more per year on average
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
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
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $125k less ($368,800 vs $494,100)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
Rent averages $89/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,665)
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Lakewood by $11,419/yr
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Lakewood
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Income
$11,419
$82,786 vs $71,367/yr
Lakewood
Violent Crime
6% lower
787.2 vs 834.7 per 100k
Lakewood
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$125k less
$368,800 vs $494,100
Lancaster
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Lancaster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $71,367 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 | 171,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 57.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 13 and Lancaster wins 10. 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 Lakewood to Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $368,800 median home), income ($82,786 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Lancaster, CA are about 796 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.