City comparison
No. Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Denver is cheaper. Median rent is $1,831 a month versus $2,007 in Jersey City.
Safety is where Denver and Jersey City split most clearly. Jersey City scores 136 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 $2,007 in Jersey City.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Denver costs less and Jersey City pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Jersey City has rougher pockets and Denver has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Denver and Jersey City are 1,623 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $2,007 a month in Jersey City, up $176 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $97,710 in Jersey City, up $2,992 (3%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 135 in Jersey City, down 136 points (50%).
The move
Jersey City and Denver are 1,623 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,007 a month in Jersey City to $1,831 a month in Denver, down $176 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $97,710 in Jersey City to $94,718 in Denver, down $2,992 (3%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Jersey City to 271 in Denver, up 136 points (101%).
Denver, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Jersey City, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Denver and Jersey City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Denver rent is 9% cheaper than Jersey City
Denver
Winner$1,831/mo
Jersey City
$2,007/mo
Typical rent runs $1,831 a month in Denver versus $2,007 in Jersey City, so Denver is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $176, or $2,112 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 Denver? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Jersey City's median income is 3% higher than Denver
Denver
$94,718
Jersey City
Winner$97,710
Median household income is $97,710 in Jersey City versus $94,718 in Denver, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Jersey City (about $2,992 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
50% lower crime
Jersey City's crime index is 50% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Jersey City
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 50% lower in Jersey City. 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, Jersey City 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
18% more comfortable
Denver weather is 18% more comfortable than Jersey City
Denver
Winner57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Jersey City
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Denver averages about 57°F (66°F highs); Jersey City averages about 53°F (58°F highs). Denver averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Jersey City averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Denver scores 18% 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 Jersey City 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
Denver is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% 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.
Pick Denver if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (57°F) beat Jersey City on this page's weather index by 18%. Jersey City may pay more or cost less, but Denver is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Jersey City is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 3% higher here ($97,710). Start with Jersey City if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Jersey City 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 (135 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Jersey City leads on safety (51/100 vs 30/100 in Denver). Typical rent is $2,007 in Jersey City and $1,831 in Denver; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Jersey City vs 30/100 in Denver), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,831 in Denver and $2,007 in Jersey City.
Between Denver and Jersey City, Jersey City is ahead on safety — 51/100 safety versus 30/100. Lean Denver instead when you already know the Denver block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Denver and Jersey City, plus other cities in CO and NJ.
