Lakewood, Colorado
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Lakewood.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Lakewood?
Lakewood, CO has a MapsToIt housing cost index of 155 (well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline; 100 = U.S. avg). Median home value is about $548,200 and median rent about $1,746, against national ACS medians of $303,400 and $1,348. Median household income is roughly $85,789. Typical commute is 26 minutes; summer highs average 87°F. Official citywide FBI crime rates are currently unavailable, so treat safety as a neighborhood-level check.
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 155U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $548,200U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,746U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $85,789U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 3.9%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 26 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- UnavailableFBI gap
- Summer high
- 87°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Lakewood compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for 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
- 156,868City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $85,789Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year9% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 155ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year55% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $548,200City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year81% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,746City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year30% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 3.9%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 26 minNear U.S. avg (25 min)U.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 427% below U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- UnavailableFBI CDE gap
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 CDE monthly rates - Property crime rate
- UnavailableFBI CDE gap
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 CDE monthly rates - Summer high
- 87°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear U.S. avg (87°F)U.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 18°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals16.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 15.4 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals53% below U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 281As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear U.S. avg (268)U.S. 268
Population trend
Lakewood grew 9.9% from 142,759 in 2010 to 156,868 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Lakewood expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Lakewood's housing cost index is 155 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($548,200 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,746 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 155 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $548,200 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,746 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Lakewood?
Typical ownership costs center near $548,200, while median gross rent is about $1,746 a month. Against a median household income of $85,789, rent alone is roughly 24% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $548,200
- Median rent $1,746/month
- Median household income $85,789
What is the job market like in Lakewood?
County unemployment recently ran 3.9% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Lakewood is about $85,789 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 3.9% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $85,789
How long is the typical commute in Lakewood?
Average one-way commute time is about 26 minutes, with Walk Score near 42/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 26 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 42/100
Is Lakewood safer than similar U.S. cities?
MapsToIt could not publish a usable FBI agency crime rate for Lakewood in the latest pull. Treat safety as a block-by-block research task and check local PD reports.
- FBI citywide rates: data unavailable
What is the climate like year-round in Lakewood?
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
Lakewood (pop. 156,868) sits in Colorado. Median household income is roughly $85,789, while the ACS housing-cost index sits near 155 — well above the national housing-cost baseline (100 ≈ U.S. average). Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $548,200 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Lakewood is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Lakewood with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
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. Plan on roughly 26 minutes each way for a typical commute; Walk Score is about 42. Unemployment recently ran near 3.9%, broadly in line with many large U.S. counties. Official FBI agency crime rates were not published for this place in the latest pull, so treat safety as a neighborhood-level research task.
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 (Lakewood city, 1600000US0843000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Jefferson County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: data unavailable — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 CDE monthly rates
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00023062 DENVER-STAPLETON) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10