Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Lakewood
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
156,149
Salt Lake City
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
9% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Households earn $10,429 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 40°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
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.6%)
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Rent averages $411/mo less ($1,254 vs $1,665)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Homes cost $36k less ($458,600 vs $494,100)
Cons
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lakewood by $10,429/yr
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$10,429
$82,786 vs $72,357/yr
Lakewood
Violent Crime
9% lower
787.2 vs 864.2 per 100k
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Home Value
$36k less
$458,600 vs $494,100
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.4% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $458,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $72,357 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 49.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 18.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Lakewood wins 11 and Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $458,600 median home), income ($82,786 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Salt Lake City, UT are about 367 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.