City comparison
No. Stockton's crime index is 233 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 314 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Stockton is cheaper. Median rent is $1,577 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
The income gap between Denver and Stockton is significant: $94,718 median household versus $79,907. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,831 in Denver and $1,577 in Stockton.
Stockton 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 Stockton is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Denver and Stockton are 885 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,577 a month in Stockton, down $254 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $79,907 in Stockton, down $14,811 (16%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 233 in Stockton, down 38 points (14%).
The move
Stockton and Denver are 885 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $254 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $94,718 in Denver, up $14,811 (19%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 271 in Denver, up 38 points (16%).
Denver, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Stockton, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Denver and Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Stockton rent is 14% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Stockton
Winner$1,577/mo
Typical rent runs $1,577 a month in Stockton versus $1,831 in Denver, so Stockton 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 $3,048, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Stockton 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 Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
19% higher
Denver's median income is 19% higher than Stockton
Denver
Winner$94,718
Stockton
$79,907
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $79,907 in Stockton, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Denver (about $14,811 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. Stockton can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
14% lower crime
Stockton's crime index is 14% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Stockton
Winner233 (100 = avg)
Stockton's crime index is 233 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 14% lower in Stockton. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Stockton, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Denver. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Stockton weather is 9% more comfortable than Denver
Denver
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Stockton
Winner71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Stockton averages about 71°F (83°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Stockton sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Stockton 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
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 19% higher here ($94,718). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Stockton is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,577 a month. Choose Stockton if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Stockton if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat Denver on this page's weather index by 9%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but Stockton is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Stockton is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 14% lower than Denver (233 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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Denver at $94,718 median income versus $79,907 in Stockton. Housing ($1,577 in Stockton, $1,831 in Denver) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Denver still pays more locally ($94,718 median income vs $79,907), which can offset the lease if your field pays Denver rates.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Denver and 34/100 in Stockton.
If local pay drives your move, Denver is the stronger match ($94,718 median income against $79,907). If an employer or family tie already points to Stockton, treat $1,577/month rent and $79,907 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Denver and Stockton, plus other cities in CO and CA.
