Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Roswell, GA
🏆 Roswell leads 19 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Roswell
Georgia
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $40,138/yr
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
Roswell, GA
Pros
80% less violent crime than Lakewood
Households earn $40,138 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 45°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Roswell
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Roswell
Median Income
$40,138
$122,924 vs $82,786/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
80% lower
160.1 vs 787.2 per 100k
Roswell
Median Home Value
$15k less
$479,400 vs $494,100
Roswell
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Roswell, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $479,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,619⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 | $122,924 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 49 ✓ 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 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% | 63.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 92,770 |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% | 70.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Roswell's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Roswell is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 19 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 4 and Roswell wins 19. 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 Roswell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $479,400 median home), income ($82,786 vs $122,924), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Roswell, GA are about 1,209 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.