Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Lakewood leads 14 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Stamford
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Rent averages $464/mo less ($1,665 vs $2,129)
Homes cost $91k less ($494,100 vs $584,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Stamford by $17,932/yr
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Stamford, CT
Pros
80% less violent crime than Lakewood
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,932 more per year on average
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Home Value
$91k less
$494,100 vs $584,700
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Stamford
Median Income
$17,932
$100,718 vs $82,786/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
80% lower
157.5 vs 787.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 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 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 34.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 135,413 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 19.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 14 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 14 and Stamford wins 9. 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $584,700 median home), income ($82,786 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Stamford, CT are about 1,655 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.