City comparison
No. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Denver is cheaper. Median rent is $1,831 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
Safety is where Denver and Anaheim split most clearly. Anaheim scores 128 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver and $2,175 in Anaheim.
Anaheim is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Denver makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Anaheim is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Denver at $1,831 average has pockets that run $1,631 and others at $2,231: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Denver and Anaheim are 822 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $344 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $509 (1%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 143 in Anaheim, down 128 points (47%).
The move
Anaheim and Denver are 822 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,831 a month in Denver, down $344 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $94,718 in Denver, down $509 (1%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 271 in Denver, up 128 points (90%).
Denver, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Denver and Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Denver rent is 16% cheaper than Anaheim
Denver
Winner$1,831/mo
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Typical rent runs $1,831 a month in Denver versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Denver is 16% 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 $4,128, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Denver still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Anaheim.
Planning to buy in Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Anaheim's median income is 1% higher than Denver
Denver
$94,718
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $94,718 in Denver, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Anaheim (about $509 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
47% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 47% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% lower in Anaheim. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. 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, Anaheim is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Anaheim weather is 9% more comfortable than Denver
Denver
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Anaheim
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Anaheim sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anaheim scores 9% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Denver if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Denver
Denver is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,831 a month. Choose Denver if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
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 1% higher ($95,227), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Anaheim is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 47% lower than Denver (143 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.
Bottom line
Denver carries the heavier crime signal on this page (30/100 safety vs 49/100 in Anaheim). That 19-point spread matters more than the $344 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Anaheim still pays more locally ($95,227 median income vs $94,718), which can offset the lease if your field pays Anaheim rates.
Weather averages land near 62°F in Denver and 76°F in Anaheim.
If safety drives your move, Anaheim is the stronger match (49/100 safety versus 30/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Denver, treat $1,831/month rent and $94,718 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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