Which city is safer, Newport Beach or Denver?

Newport Beach 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, Newport Beach or Denver?

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

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City comparison

Newport Beach, CA vs Denver, CO

Newport Beach, 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 $3,236 a month in Newport Beach and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $149,471 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Newport Beach takes job market and safety, while Denver takes affordability. The widest gap is median income, where Newport Beach leads by 74% — 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 Newport Beach can feel further apart than Newport Beach and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Newport Beach and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Newport Beach report Full Denver report

Newport Beach, CA

Rent: $3,236/mo
Median income: $149,471
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Denver, CO

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

Rent

35% cheaper

Denver rent is 35% cheaper than Newport Beach

Newport Beach

$3,236/mo

Denver

Winner

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $2,089 a month in Denver versus $3,236 in Newport Beach, so Denver is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $1,147/month back in your pocket — $13,764/year. Over five years that's $68,820 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 Newport Beach, 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

74% higher

Newport Beach's median income is 74% higher than Denver

Newport Beach

Winner

$149,471

Denver

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $149,471 in Newport Beach versus $85,853 in Denver, so typical pay runs 74% higher in Newport Beach — about $63,618 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, Newport Beach 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

Newport Beach's crime index is 11% lower than Denver

Newport Beach

Winner

122 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

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

Newport Beach and Denver are about even on school scores.

Newport Beach

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Newport Beach, 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

Neck and neck

Newport Beach and Denver are about even on typical weather.

Newport Beach

82°F typical

Denver

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Outdoor comfort is close between Newport Beach and Denver. Typical temperatures sit around 82°F in Newport Beach and 82°F in Denver. You are choosing a flavor of season, not paradise versus misery. Visit in the season you currently like least. A long weekend in October lies; a week in July or January does not.

Fit check

Who should choose Newport Beach

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Newport Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 74% higher here ($149,471). Start with Newport Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Newport Beach 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 Newport Beach 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 35% 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

Newport Beach vs Denver, called

If the job market is your priority, Newport Beach is the clear choice.

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

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

Common questions

Newport Beach vs Denver FAQ

Is Newport Beach cheaper than Denver?: No. Denver is cheaper: typical rent is $2,089 a month versus $3,236 in Newport Beach — 35% lower. Median household income is $149,471 in Newport Beach compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Newport Beach has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Newport Beach or Denver?: Newport Beach 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, Newport Beach or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Newport Beach and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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