Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 16 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Raleigh
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $4,155 more per year on average
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
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Homes cost $147k less ($347,000 vs $494,100)
38% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $294/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,665)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Lakewood by $4,155/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$4,155
$82,786 vs $78,631/yr
Raleigh
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Violent Crime
38% lower
488.8 vs 787.2 per 100k
Raleigh
Median Home Value
$147k less
$347,000 vs $494,100
Raleigh
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $347,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $78,631 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 16 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 7 and Raleigh 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $347,000 median home), income ($82,786 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Raleigh, NC are about 1,465 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.