New search

City comparison

Daytona Beach, FL vs Denver, CO

Daytona Beach, FL versus Denver, CO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page โ€” typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather โ€” so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,700 a month in Daytona Beach and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $47,608 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Daytona Beach takes affordability and safety, while Denver takes job market and weather. The widest gap is median income, where Denver leads by 80% โ€” the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Daytona Beach can feel further apart than Daytona Beach and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Daytona Beach and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood โ€” and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Daytona Beach, FL

Rent
$1,700/mo
Median income
$47,608
Crime index
69
Schools
A-
Weather
84ยฐF

Denver, CO

Rent
$2,089/mo
Median income
$85,853
Crime index
137
Schools
A-
Weather
82ยฐF

Rent

19% cheaper

Daytona Beach rent is 19% cheaper than Denver

Daytona Beach

Winner

$1,700/mo

Denver

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,700 a month in Daytona Beach versus $2,089 in Denver, so Daytona Beach is 19% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,668 โ€” enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Daytona Beach still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10โ€“20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Denver.

Median income

80% higher

Denver's median income is 80% higher than Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach

$47,608

Denver

Winner

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,853 in Denver versus $47,608 in Daytona Beach, so typical pay runs 80% higher in Denver โ€” about $38,245 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Denver is the stronger labor market on paper. Daytona Beach can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

50% lower crime

Daytona Beach's crime index is 50% lower than Denver

Daytona Beach

Winner

69 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Daytona Beach's crime index is 69 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 50% lower in Daytona Beach. That gap is meaningful day-to-day โ€” it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Daytona Beach is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket โ€” just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Daytona Beach and Denver are about even on school scores.

Daytona Beach

A- ยท 84/100

Denver

A- ยท 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Daytona Beach, A- in Denver). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better โ€” at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

8% more comfortable

Denver weather is 8% more comfortable than Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach

84ยฐF typical

Denver

Winner

82ยฐF typical

What this means for your life

Denver scores 8% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 84ยฐF in Daytona Beach and 82ยฐF in Denver. Daytona Beach reads as hot, long summers; Denver reads as hot, long summers. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Daytona Beach's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Denver is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Daytona Beach

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Daytona Beach is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,700 a month. Choose Daytona Beach if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Daytona Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 50% lower than Denver (69 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Daytona Beach report โ†’

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 80% higher ($85,853), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two โ€” around 82ยฐF. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Denver report โ†’

Bottom line

Daytona Beach vs Denver, called

If the job market is your priority, Denver is the clear choice.

If safety matters more to you, Daytona Beach pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Daytona Beach offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Daytona Beach vs Denver FAQ

Is Daytona Beach cheaper than Denver?
Yes. Typical rent in Daytona Beach is $1,700 a month versus $2,089 in Denver โ€” 19% cheaper. Median household income is $47,608 in Daytona Beach compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Daytona Beach or Denver?
Daytona Beach is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 69 versus 137 in Denver โ€” 50% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Daytona Beach or Denver?
School composites are close: A- in Daytona Beach and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Daytona Beach?

Keep researching

Explore more comparisons