Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno leads 13 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Reno
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,073
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
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 0.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $9,713 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Reno, NV
Pros
33% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $305/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,665)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Homes cost $32k less ($462,100 vs $494,100)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Cons
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lakewood by $9,713/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$9,713
$82,786 vs $73,073/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Reno
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Reno
Violent Crime
33% lower
529.6 vs 787.2 per 100k
Reno
Median Home Value
$32k less
$462,100 vs $494,100
Reno
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $462,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $73,073 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 33.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 19.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Reno is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 13 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 10 and Reno wins 13. 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $462,100 median home), income ($82,786 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Reno, NV are about 783 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.