Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 14 of 23 categories
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
Mesa
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,020 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($327,700 vs $494,100)
39% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $313/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,665)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lakewood by $9,020/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$9,020
$82,786 vs $73,766/yr
Mesa
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Violent Crime
39% lower
482.7 vs 787.2 per 100k
Mesa
Median Home Value
$166k less
$327,700 vs $494,100
Mesa
Summer Heat
20.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $73,766 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 14.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 16.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 14 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 9 and Mesa wins 14. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $327,700 median home), income ($82,786 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Mesa, AZ are about 568 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.