City comparison
Frederick, MD 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 $2,246 a month in Frederick and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $89,981 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.
Frederick takes job market, safety, and weather, while Denver takes affordability. The widest gap is typical weather, where Frederick leads by 36% — 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 Frederick can feel further apart than Frederick and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Frederick and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.
Frederick, MD
Denver, CO
Rent
7% cheaper
Denver rent is 7% cheaper than Frederick
Frederick
$2,246/mo
Denver
Winner$2,089/mo
Typical rent runs $2,089 a month in Denver versus $2,246 in Frederick, so Denver is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $157, or $1,884 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.
Median income
5% higher
Frederick's median income is 5% higher than Denver
Frederick
Winner$89,981
Denver
$85,853
Median household income is $89,981 in Frederick versus $85,853 in Denver, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Frederick — about $4,128 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
18% lower crime
Frederick's crime index is 18% lower than Denver
Frederick
Winner112 (100 = avg)
Denver
137 (100 = avg)
Frederick's crime index is 112 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% lower in Frederick. 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, Frederick 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
Frederick and Denver are about even on school scores.
Frederick
A- · 84/100
Denver
A- · 84/100
School composites are effectively even (A- in Frederick, 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
36% more comfortable
Frederick weather is 36% more comfortable than Denver
Frederick
Winner72°F typical
Denver
82°F typical
Frederick scores 36% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 72°F in Frederick and 82°F in Denver. Frederick reads as warm weather most of the year; 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. Frederick 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
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 5% higher ($89,981), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 72°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Frederick 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 (112 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Denver
Denver is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $2,089 a month. Choose Denver if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
If weather is your priority, Frederick is the clear choice.
If cost of living matters more to you, Denver pulls ahead.
For most movers comparing these two cities, Frederick offers the better overall package.
Common questions
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