Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Livonia, MI
🏆 Livonia leads 16 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Livonia
Michigan
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
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 0.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Livonia, MI
Pros
Homes cost $245k less ($249,000 vs $494,100)
71% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $430/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,665)
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $9,672 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Lakewood
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 82.9°F
Livonia
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Livonia
Median Income
$9,672
$92,458 vs $82,786/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
71% lower
228.1 vs 787.2 per 100k
Livonia
Median Home Value
$245k less
$249,000 vs $494,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Livonia, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $249,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 | $92,458 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 13.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Livonia Public Schools School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 30.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 33.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 36.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 94,928 |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 45.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 18.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Livonia's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Livonia is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Livonia leads 16 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 7 and Livonia wins 16. 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 Livonia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $249,000 median home), income ($82,786 vs $92,458), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Livonia, MI are about 1,145 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.