

Denver, CO vs San Diego, CA
San Diego, CA comes out ahead of Denver, CO on 21 of 39 statistics where one end is better, to 18. Denver, CO leads on Economics. San Diego, CA leads on Crime & Safety.
39 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 18
- Avg. percentile
- 45
- Categories led
- 1
- Wins
- 21
- Avg. percentile
- 52
- Categories led
- 1
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.
| Statistic | Denver, CO | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 746,590 19th of 477 | 1,410,522 8th of 477 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $94,718 98th of 434 | $108,077 68th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $616,000 354th of 434 | $906,700 391st of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 11.2% 137th of 434 | 11.0% 131st of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 105.8 tied 360th of 460 | 111.9 tied 417th of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $81,690 tied 46th of 460 | $79,060 tied 54th of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,831 333rd of 434 | $2,313 395th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 875.7 355th of 395 | 372.3 191st of 395 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Crime & SafetySan Diego, CA · 5 statistics
- EconomicsDenver, CO · 14 statistics
Biggest differences
The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.
| Statistic | Denver, CO | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 87.9 tied 153rd of 460 | 174.2 tied 453rd of 460 |
| Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 583.5 368th of 395 | 145.4 117th of 395 |
| Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 4,103.5 374th of 395 | 1,539.0 157th of 395 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 875.7 355th of 395 | 372.3 191st of 395 |
| Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 5.7 261st of 395 | 1.7 119th of 395 |
| Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 101.0 tied 311th of 460 | 108.0 tied 437th of 460 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 756.4 380th of 395 | 297.6 275th of 395 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 92.9% 156th of 434 | 95.2% 69th of 434 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,831 333rd of 434 | $2,313 395th of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 105.8 tied 360th of 460 | 111.9 tied 417th of 460 |
| Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 146.9 tied 380th of 460 | 179.3 tied 434th of 460 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 24.9 285th of 434 | 23.5 244th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $616,000 354th of 434 | $906,700 391st of 434 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $94,718 98th of 434 | $108,077 68th of 434 |
| Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $62,320 tied 42nd of 460 | $58,690 tied 70th of 460 |
| Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 99.4 tied 246th of 460 | 99.6 tied 265th of 460 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 56.5% 71st of 434 | 51.0% 87th of 434 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $81,690 tied 46th of 460 | $79,060 tied 54th of 460 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 11.2% 137th of 434 | 11.0% 131st of 434 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Denver, CO or San Diego, CA?
- San Diego, CA comes out ahead of Denver, CO on 21 of 39 statistics where one end is better, to 18. Denver, CO leads on Economics. San Diego, CA leads on Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Denver, CO or San Diego, CA?
- Denver, CO has a population of 746,590 (19th of 477 US cities) and San Diego, CA has 1,410,522 (8th of 477).
- How do Denver, CO and San Diego, CA compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Denver, CO $94,718 (98th of 434), San Diego, CA $108,077 (68th of 434) among US cities. San Diego, CA ranks better.
- How do Denver, CO and San Diego, CA compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
- Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Denver, CO $616,000 (354th of 434), San Diego, CA $906,700 (391st of 434) among US cities. Denver, CO ranks better.
- Where does Denver, CO beat San Diego, CA most clearly?
- Denver, CO ranks far ahead on Price Level (Utilities) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 87.9 vs 174.2; Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 101.0 vs 108.0; Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $1,831 vs $2,313.
- Where does San Diego, CA beat Denver, CO most clearly?
- San Diego, CA ranks far ahead on Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 145.4 vs 583.5; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 1,539.0 vs 4,103.5; Violent Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 372.3 vs 875.7.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Denver, CO or San Diego, CA.
- Aurora, CO vs Denver, CO
- Austin, TX vs Denver, CO
- Charlotte, NC vs Denver, CO
- Chicago, IL vs Denver, CO
- Colorado Springs, CO vs Denver, CO
- Columbus, OH vs Denver, CO
- Dallas, TX vs Denver, CO
- Denver, CO vs Detroit, MI
- Austin, TX vs San Diego, CA
- Charlotte, NC vs San Diego, CA
- Chicago, IL vs San Diego, CA
- Chula Vista, CA vs San Diego, CA
- Columbus, OH vs San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX vs San Diego, CA
- Detroit, MI vs San Diego, CA
- El Paso, TX vs San Diego, CA