Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
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 1.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Rent averages $196/mo less ($1,665 vs $1,861)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Norwalk by $15,093/yr
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Norwalk, CT
Pros
89% less violent crime than Lakewood
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $15,093 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Norwalk
Median Income
$15,093
$97,879 vs $82,786/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
89% lower
85.0 vs 787.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $491,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 42.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 34.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 19.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 13 and Norwalk 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $491,800 median home), income ($82,786 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Norwalk, CT are about 1,662 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.