Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Lakewood leads 15 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,381
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 3.5 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $15,598 more per year on average
Homes cost $85k less ($494,100 vs $578,900)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
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
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
South Gate, CA
Pros
33% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $265/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,665)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lakewood by $15,598/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Income
$15,598
$82,786 vs $67,188/yr
Lakewood
Median Home Value
$85k less
$494,100 vs $578,900
Lakewood
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
Lakewood
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 82.0°F
South Gate
Violent Crime
33% lower
525.6 vs 787.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 15 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 15 and South Gate wins 8. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $578,900 median home), income ($82,786 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and South Gate, CA are about 824 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.