City comparison
Yes. Atlanta's crime index is 197 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 193 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Atlanta is cheaper. Median rent is $1,711 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
Safety is where Atlanta and Denver split most clearly. Atlanta scores 74 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,711 in Atlanta and $1,831 in Denver.
Atlanta is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, 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 Atlanta is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Atlanta has rougher pockets and Denver has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Atlanta and Denver are 1,210 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $120 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $94,718 in Denver, up $9,066 (11%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 271 in Denver, up 74 points (38%).
The move
Denver and Atlanta are 1,210 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, down $120 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $85,652 in Atlanta, down $9,066 (10%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 197 in Atlanta, down 74 points (27%).
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Denver, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Atlanta and Denver? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Atlanta rent is 7% cheaper than Denver
Atlanta
Winner$1,711/mo
Denver
$1,831/mo
Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Atlanta versus $1,831 in Denver, so Atlanta is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $120, or $1,440 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Denver's median income is 11% higher than Atlanta
Atlanta
$85,652
Denver
Winner$94,718
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $85,652 in Atlanta, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Denver (about $9,066 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. Atlanta can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
27% lower crime
Atlanta's crime index is 27% lower than Denver
Atlanta
Winner197 (100 = avg)
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Atlanta's crime index is 197 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% lower in Atlanta. 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, Atlanta 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
16% more comfortable
Atlanta weather is 16% more comfortable than Denver
Atlanta
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Denver
60°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 86/100
Atlanta averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Denver averages about 60°F (70°F highs). Atlanta sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Denver averages around 60°F. Atlanta scores 16% 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Atlanta is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,711 a month. Choose Atlanta if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Atlanta if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Denver on this page's weather index by 16%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but Atlanta is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Atlanta is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 27% lower than Denver (197 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 11% higher here ($94,718). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Denver rent runs $1,831/month versus $1,711 in Atlanta, and Denver median income is $94,718 against $85,652 in Atlanta. Neither city is a safety standout: Atlanta scores 39/100 and Denver 30/100.
Atlanta averages 68°F; Denver sits at 60°F with more altitude swing. I would not choose Atlanta on the stats alone without a job or family pull.
Denver wins if you can afford the rent and want stronger local pay with somewhat better crime numbers, but walk the block you would rent because both cities hide rough ZIPs behind citywide averages.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Atlanta and Denver, plus other cities in GA and CO.
