Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Tyler 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 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $19,730 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
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
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Tyler
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $289k less ($205,200 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $552/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,665)
50% less violent crime than Lakewood
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $19,730/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$19,730
$82,786 vs $63,056/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
Tyler
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Violent Crime
50% lower
391.2 vs 787.2 per 100k
Tyler
Median Home Value
$289k less
$205,200 vs $494,100
Tyler
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 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 | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 16.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tyler leads 12 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 11 and Tyler 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $205,200 median home), income ($82,786 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Tyler, TX are about 748 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.