Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 12 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Tampa
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $15,984 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
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
Tampa, FL
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($333,200 vs $494,100)
44% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $243/mo less ($1,422 vs $1,665)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 45°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lakewood by $15,984/yr
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$15,984
$82,786 vs $66,802/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Tampa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Violent Crime
44% lower
444.6 vs 787.2 per 100k
Tampa
Median Home Value
$161k less
$333,200 vs $494,100
Tampa
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 16.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 12 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 11 and Tampa wins 12. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $333,200 median home), income ($82,786 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Tampa, FL are about 1,525 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.