Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $38,342 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (4.4%)
23% less violent crime than Trenton
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $383k less ($111,200 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $488/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,665)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $38,342/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$38,342
$82,786 vs $44,444/yr
Lakewood
Violent Crime
23% lower
787.2 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Lakewood
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Median Home Value
$383k less
$111,200 vs $494,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 26.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 13 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 13 and Trenton wins 10. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $111,200 median home), income ($82,786 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Trenton, NJ are about 1,600 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.