Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Riverview, FL
🏆 Riverview leads 12 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Riverview
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,383 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
102,467
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 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 91°F
Rent averages $92/mo less ($1,665 vs $1,757)
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Riverview, FL
Pros
83% less violent crime than Lakewood
Homes cost $201k less ($292,700 vs $494,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 45°F
Households earn $4,597 more per year on average
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 34.5 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,757/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Riverview
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Riverview
Median Income
$4,597
$87,383 vs $82,786/yr
Riverview
Violent Crime
83% lower
131.1 vs 787.2 per 100k
Riverview
Median Home Value
$201k less
$292,700 vs $494,100
Riverview
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Riverview, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $292,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,757⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 | $87,383 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 34.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 91.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 102,467 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Riverview's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Riverview is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Riverview leads 12 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 11 and Riverview wins 12. 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 Riverview or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $292,700 median home), income ($82,786 vs $87,383), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Riverview, FL are about 1,539 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.