Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 16 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $13,453 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 102°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
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
St. George, UT
Pros
73% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $330/mo less ($1,335 vs $1,665)
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Homes cost $79k less ($415,200 vs $494,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $13,453/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$13,453
$82,786 vs $69,333/yr
St. George
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Violent Crime
73% lower
210.0 vs 787.2 per 100k
St. George
Median Home Value
$79k less
$415,200 vs $494,100
St. George
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.4% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
16.0°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $415,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,335⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $69,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 32.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
St. George is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 16 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 7 and St. George wins 16. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $415,200 median home), income ($82,786 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and St. George, UT are about 492 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.