City comparison
Safety is where New York and Denver split most clearly. New York scores 115 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,821 in New York and $1,831 in Denver.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New York 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 crime gap is citywide. New York has rougher pockets and Denver has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
New York, NY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Denver, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New York and Denver? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
New York rent is 1% cheaper than Denver
New York
Winner$1,821/mo
Denver
$1,831/mo
Typical rent runs $1,821 a month in New York versus $1,831 in Denver, so New York is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $10, or $120 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.
Planning to buy in New York? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Denver's median income is 18% higher than New York
New York
$80,483
Denver
Winner$94,718
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $80,483 in New York, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Denver (about $14,235 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. New York can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
43% lower crime
New York's crime index is 43% lower than Denver
New York
Winner153 (100 = avg)
Denver
268 (100 = avg)
New York's crime index is 153 versus 268 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 43% lower in New York. 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, New York 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
12% more comfortable
Denver weather is 12% more comfortable than New York
New York
61°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 89/100
Denver
Winner68°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
New York averages about 61°F (66°F highs); Denver averages about 68°F (77°F highs). New York averages around 61°F. Denver sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Denver scores 12% 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 New York if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
New York is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,821 a month. Choose New York if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
New York is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 43% lower than Denver (153 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
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 18% higher ($94,718), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward New York: New York scores 47/100 versus 30/100 in Denver, with matched rent near $1,821/month. I would vet the exact ZIP in Denver before trading 17 safety points for an identical lease.
Median income is $94,718 in Denver versus $80,483 in New York — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Weather averages land near 61°F in New York and 68°F in Denver.
New York clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Denver deserves a serious look only when you already know the Denver block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New York and Denver, plus other cities in NY and CO.
