Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Orlando, FL
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
156,149
Orlando
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
6% less violent crime than Orlando
Households earn $16,494 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
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
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Orlando, FL
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($332,700 vs $494,100)
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 45°F
Rent averages $156/mo less ($1,509 vs $1,665)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Cons
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lakewood by $16,494/yr
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$16,494
$82,786 vs $66,292/yr
Lakewood
Violent Crime
6% lower
787.2 vs 835.8 per 100k
Lakewood
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Orlando
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Orlando
Median Home Value
$161k less
$332,700 vs $494,100
Orlando
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Orlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $332,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,509⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $66,292 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 209⚠ 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 | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 91.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | ORANGE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 | 307,738 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Orlando's 101.1 (US average = 100).
Orlando is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 12 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 12 and Orlando 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 Orlando or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $332,700 median home), income ($82,786 vs $66,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Orlando, FL are about 1,566 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.