Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock leads 17 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Round Rock
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
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
Median income trails Round Rock by $9,102/yr
Round Rock, TX
Pros
83% less violent crime than Lakewood
Homes cost $157k less ($337,500 vs $494,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Households earn $9,102 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 45°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Round Rock
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Round Rock
Median Income
$9,102
$91,888 vs $82,786/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
83% lower
130.7 vs 787.2 per 100k
Round Rock
Median Home Value
$157k less
$337,500 vs $494,100
Round Rock
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Round Rock
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $337,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,586⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 | $91,888 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 36.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 120,465 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 55.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Round Rock is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 17 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 6 and Round Rock wins 17. 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 Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $337,500 median home), income ($82,786 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Round Rock, TX are about 760 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.