Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Spring Valley, NV
🏆 Spring Valley leads 14 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Spring Valley
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,341
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
220,114 ✓ Larger
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 3.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $13,445 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Spring Valley, NV
Pros
88% less violent crime than Lakewood
Homes cost $119k less ($375,200 vs $494,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
Rent averages $142/mo less ($1,523 vs $1,665)
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $13,445/yr
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 4.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$13,445
$82,786 vs $69,341/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
Spring Valley
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Spring Valley
Violent Crime
88% lower
94.1 vs 787.2 per 100k
Spring Valley
Median Home Value
$119k less
$375,200 vs $494,100
Spring Valley
Summer Heat
19.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Spring Valley, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $375,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,523⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $69,341 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 6.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 | 220,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 49.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 19.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Spring Valley's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Spring Valley is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spring Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 9 and Spring Valley wins 14. 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 Spring Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $375,200 median home), income ($82,786 vs $69,341), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Spring Valley, NV are about 606 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.