City comparison
No. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
Safety is where Denver and Raleigh split most clearly. Raleigh scores 129 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 $1,572 in Raleigh.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Raleigh costs less and Denver 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. Raleigh has rougher pockets and Denver has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Denver and Raleigh are 1,460 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $259 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $85,395 in Raleigh, down $9,323 (10%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 142 in Raleigh, down 129 points (48%).
The move
Raleigh and Denver are 1,460 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $259 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $94,718 in Denver, up $9,323 (11%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 271 in Denver, up 129 points (91%).
Denver, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Denver and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 14% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,831 in Denver, so Raleigh is 14% 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 $3,108, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Raleigh still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Denver.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Denver's median income is 11% higher than Raleigh
Denver
Winner$94,718
Raleigh
$85,395
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $85,395 in Raleigh, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Denver (about $9,323 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. Raleigh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
48% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 48% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 48% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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
7% more comfortable
Denver weather is 7% more comfortable than Raleigh
Denver
Winner62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Raleigh averages around 60°F. Denver scores 7% 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 Raleigh if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 11% higher ($94,718), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 62°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 48% lower than Denver (142 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 Raleigh). That 19-point spread matters more than the $259 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Denver still pays more locally ($94,718 median income vs $85,395), which can offset the lease if your field pays Denver rates.
Median income is $94,718 in Denver versus $85,395 in Raleigh.
If safety drives your move, Raleigh 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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Next steps
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Nearby research
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