Is Evanston cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Evanston is $1,625 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 22% cheaper. Median household income is $93,188 in Evanston compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Evanston has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Evanston or Denver?

Evanston is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 137 in Denver — 37% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Evanston or Denver?

School composites are close: A- in Evanston and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Evanston, IL vs Denver, CO

Evanston, IL versus Denver, CO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,625 a month in Evanston and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $93,188 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Evanston takes affordability, job market, safety, and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Evanston leads by 43% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Evanston can feel further apart than Evanston and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Evanston and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Evanston report Full Denver report

Evanston, IL

Rent: $1,625/mo
Median income: $93,188
Crime index: 86
Schools: A-
Weather: 70°F

Denver, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $85,853
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Rent

22% cheaper

Evanston rent is 22% cheaper than Denver

Evanston

Winner

$1,625/mo

Denver

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,625 a month in Evanston versus $2,089 in Denver, so Evanston is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $464/month back in your pocket — $5,568/year. Over five years that's $27,840 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, Evanston is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

9% higher

Evanston's median income is 9% higher than Denver

Evanston

Winner

$93,188

Denver

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $93,188 in Evanston versus $85,853 in Denver, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Evanston — about $7,335 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

37% lower crime

Evanston's crime index is 37% lower than Denver

Evanston

Winner

86 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Evanston's crime index is 86 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 37% lower in Evanston. 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, Evanston is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Evanston and Denver are about even on school scores.

Evanston

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Evanston, A- in Denver). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

43% more comfortable

Evanston weather is 43% more comfortable than Denver

Evanston

Winner

70°F typical

Denver

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Evanston scores 43% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 70°F in Evanston and 82°F in Denver. Evanston reads as mild, livable temperatures; Denver reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Evanston is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Denver can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Evanston

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

Evanston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 22% cheaper here at about $1,625 a month. Choose Evanston if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 9% higher ($93,188), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 70°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Evanston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 37% lower than Denver (86 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.

Open the Evanston report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Denver

On these five categories Evanston takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Denver because the stats are kinder — they are not. Choose Denver only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Evanston vs Denver, called

If weather is your priority, Evanston is the clear choice.

If safety matters more to you, Evanston pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Evanston offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Evanston vs Denver FAQ

Is Evanston cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Evanston is $1,625 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 22% cheaper. Median household income is $93,188 in Evanston compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Evanston has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Evanston or Denver?: Evanston is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 137 in Denver — 37% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Evanston or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Evanston and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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