Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Lakewood leads 12 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
New Haven
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,736
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $28,481 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
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
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $258k less ($236,500 vs $494,100)
32% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $263/mo less ($1,402 vs $1,665)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $28,481/yr
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$28,481
$82,786 vs $54,305/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.8% unemployment
Lakewood
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 82.1°F
New Haven
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
New Haven
Violent Crime
32% lower
534.8 vs 787.2 per 100k
New Haven
Median Home Value
$258k less
$236,500 vs $494,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 98.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $236,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,402⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 85.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 33.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
New Haven is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 12 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 12 and New Haven wins 11. 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 New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $236,500 median home), income ($82,786 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and New Haven, CT are about 1,685 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.