Is Lakewood cheaper than Denver?

No. Denver is cheaper: typical rent is $2,089 a month versus $2,903 in Lakewood — 28% lower. Median household income is $113,030 in Lakewood compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Lakewood has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Lakewood or Denver?

Lakewood is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 122 versus 137 in Denver — 11% 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, Lakewood or Denver?

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

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City comparison

Lakewood, CA vs Denver, CO

Lakewood, CA 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 $2,903 a month in Lakewood and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $113,030 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Lakewood takes job market, safety, and weather, while Denver takes affordability. The widest gap is median income, where Lakewood leads by 32% — 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 Lakewood can feel further apart than Lakewood and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Lakewood and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Lakewood report Full Denver report

Lakewood, CA

Rent: $2,903/mo
Median income: $113,030
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 80°F

Denver, CO

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

Rent

28% cheaper

Denver rent is 28% cheaper than Lakewood

Lakewood

$2,903/mo

Denver

Winner

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $2,089 a month in Denver versus $2,903 in Lakewood, so Denver is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $814/month back in your pocket — $9,768/year. Over five years that's $48,840 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 Lakewood, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Denver is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

32% higher

Lakewood's median income is 32% higher than Denver

Lakewood

Winner

$113,030

Denver

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $113,030 in Lakewood versus $85,853 in Denver, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Lakewood — about $27,177 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, Lakewood is the stronger labor market on paper. Denver can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

11% lower crime

Lakewood's crime index is 11% lower than Denver

Lakewood

Winner

122 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Lakewood's crime index is 122 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Lakewood. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Lakewood, 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.

School scores

Neck and neck

Lakewood and Denver are about even on school scores.

Lakewood

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Lakewood, 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

7% more comfortable

Lakewood weather is 7% more comfortable than Denver

Lakewood

Winner

80°F typical

Denver

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Lakewood scores 7% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 80°F in Lakewood and 82°F in Denver. Lakewood reads as warm weather most of the year; Denver reads as hot, long summers. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Denver's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Lakewood is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Lakewood

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 32% higher ($113,030), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 80°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Lakewood is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 11% lower than Denver (122 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 Lakewood report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

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 28% 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.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Lakewood vs Denver, called

If the job market is your priority, Lakewood is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Denver pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Lakewood vs Denver FAQ

Is Lakewood cheaper than Denver?: No. Denver is cheaper: typical rent is $2,089 a month versus $2,903 in Lakewood — 28% lower. Median household income is $113,030 in Lakewood compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Lakewood has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Lakewood or Denver?: Lakewood is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 122 versus 137 in Denver — 11% 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, Lakewood or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Lakewood and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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