Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Lakewood leads 12 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Riverside
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076 ✓ 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 1.7 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Cons
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
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Riverside, CA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Lakewood
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Riverside
Median Income
$662
$83,448 vs $82,786/yr
Riverside
Violent Crime
25% lower
589.7 vs 787.2 per 100k
Riverside
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 12 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 12 and Riverside 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $485,500 median home), income ($82,786 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Riverside, CA are about 786 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.