Denver, CO vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Denver
69.1
#1250 nationally
Phoenix
66.7
#1514 nationally
Denver leads in walk score (61 vs 41). Denver leads in median household income ($85,853 vs $65,891). Phoenix leads in cost of living index (106 vs 128).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Denver, CO | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.1 (#1250) | 66.7 (#1514) |
| Population | 713,252 | 1,650,070 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $533,060 | $408,770 |
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $65,891 |
| Average Commute | 26.4 min | 26.7 min |
| Walk Score | 61 | 41 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | 6.2 | 5.8 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 106 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+56.1 | R+3.5 |
D+
69.1 Score
Denver, CO
Mile High City with mountain access
Median Home
$533,060
Population
713,252
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B-
West
View Denver, CO →
D
66.7 Score
Phoenix, AZ
Valley of the Sun with explosive growth
Median Home
$408,770
Population
1,650,070
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C+
Southwest
View Phoenix, AZ →