City comparison
No. Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 279 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
The income gap between Denver and Toledo is significant: $94,718 median household versus $62,224. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,831 in Denver and $934 in Toledo.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Toledo 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Denver and Toledo are 1,127 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $934 a month in Toledo, down $897 a month (49%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $62,224 in Toledo, down $32,494 (34%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 221 in Toledo, down 50 points (18%).
The move
Toledo and Denver are 1,127 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $897 a month (96%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $94,718 in Denver, up $32,494 (52%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 271 in Denver, up 50 points (23%).
Denver, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Denver and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
49% cheaper
Toledo rent is 49% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,831 in Denver, so Toledo is 49% cheaper. That's roughly $897/month back in your pocket ($10,764/year). Over five years that's $53,820 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Denver, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Toledo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
52% higher
Denver's median income is 52% higher than Toledo
Denver
Winner$94,718
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 52% higher in Denver (about $32,494 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. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
18% lower crime
Toledo's crime index is 18% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Toledo
Winner221 (100 = avg)
Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% lower in Toledo. 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, Toledo 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
51% more comfortable
Denver weather is 51% more comfortable than Toledo
Denver
Winner62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Denver scores 51% 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 Toledo 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 52% 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
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 49% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Toledo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 18% lower than Denver (221 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
On rent alone, Toledo undercuts Denver by $897/month ($934 vs $1,831). I would not pick Denver on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Toledo rent at $934/month is still below Denver's $1,831, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 62°F in Denver and 51°F in Toledo.
Between Denver and Toledo, Toledo is ahead on housing cost — $934/month rent against $1,831. Lean Denver instead when your $94,718 income offer in Denver outweighs saving $897/month in Toledo.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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