Denver, Colorado
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Denver, CO.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Denver, CO?
For relocators asking how much Denver costs: the housing index sits at 162 versus 100 nationally, with homes near $586,700 and rents near $1,770. Local median income is about $91,681 and unemployment recently ran 4.3% (U.S. 4.2%). Commutes average 27 minutes. Violent-offense rates run about 748.9 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 162U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $586,700U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,770U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $91,681U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.3%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 27 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 748.9per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 87°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Denver compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 729,019City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $91,681Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year17% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 162ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year62% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $586,700City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year93% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,770City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year31% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.3%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026Near U.S. rate (4.2%)U.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 27 min8% above catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 6136% above catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 748.9per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)34% above catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 3743.5per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)25% above catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 87°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (87°F)Catalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 18°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals17.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 15.4 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals54% below catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 281As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (268)Catalog avg 268
Population trend
Denver grew 20.8% from 603,359 in 2010 to 729,019 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Denver, CO expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Denver's housing cost index is 162 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($586,700 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,770 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 162 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $586,700 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,770 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Denver, CO?
Typical ownership costs center near $586,700, while median gross rent is about $1,770 a month. Against a median household income of $91,681, rent alone is roughly 23% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $586,700
- Median rent $1,770/month
- Median household income $91,681
What is the job market like in Denver, CO?
County unemployment recently ran 4.3% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Denver is about $91,681 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.3% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $91,681
How long is the typical commute in Denver, CO?
Average one-way commute time is about 27 minutes, with Walk Score near 61/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 27 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 61/100
Is Denver, CO safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 748.9 per 100k and property about 3743.5 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 748.9 per 100k
- Property 3743.5 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Denver, CO?
Normals show summer highs near 87°F, winter lows near 18°F, about 15.4 inches of rain, and roughly 281 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 87°F
- Winter low 18°F
- 15.4 in rain · 281 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in Denver, CO?
Newcomers often start with LoDo, RiNo, Capitol Hill — tour at commute hour before signing. Neighborhood lists are curated research starting points, not rankings.
- LoDo
- RiNo
- Capitol Hill
What nearby city comparisons involve Denver?
These curated pair pages put Denver beside another high-intent destination with the same proprietary metrics table.
Denver, Colorado counts about 729,019 residents inside the city limits. Households here report a median income near $91,681; our housing-derived cost index is about 162 (well above the national housing-cost baseline). A typical home near $586,700 and rents around $1,770 frame most shortlists.
High plains sun and Front Range mountain access pull outdoor-oriented movers. Winter lows around 18°F mean heating costs and snow logistics belong on the checklist. Commutes average near 27 minutes one-way, with walkability near 61/100. BLS LAUS puts recent unemployment around 4.3% for the surrounding county. Violent-offense rates near 748.9 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Ask locals about LoDo versus RiNo — those two pockets illustrate how different daily life can feel inside the same city limits, with Capitol Hill as a common third option. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Denver with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Neighborhoods often researched
- LoDo
- RiNo
- Capitol Hill
- Highlands
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Denver city, 1600000US0820000) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Denver County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00023062 DENVER-STAPLETON) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19