Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 12 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Homes cost $235k less ($494,100 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $399/mo less ($1,665 vs $2,064)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails San Marcos by $16,627/yr
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
San Marcos, CA
Pros
72% less violent crime than Lakewood
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $16,627 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 45°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Lakewood
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Home Value
$235k less
$494,100 vs $728,800
San Marcos
Median Income
$16,627
$99,413 vs $82,786/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
72% lower
222.4 vs 787.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 16.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 41.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 12 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 11 and San Marcos 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 San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $728,800 median home), income ($82,786 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and San Marcos, CA are about 808 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.