Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Lakewood leads 14 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
156,149
Stockton
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
31% less violent crime than Stockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $11,174 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Stockton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $112k less ($382,000 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $248/mo less ($1,417 vs $1,665)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lakewood by $11,174/yr
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Income
$11,174
$82,786 vs $71,612/yr
Lakewood
Violent Crime
31% lower
787.2 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Lakewood
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Median Home Value
$112k less
$382,000 vs $494,100
Stockton
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $382,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,417⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $71,612 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 14 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 14 and Stockton 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 Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $382,000 median home), income ($82,786 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Stockton, CA are about 878 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.