City Comparison
Greeley vs Lakewood
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Greeley scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Greeley
Lakewood
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Greeley is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
11% lower than in Lakewood.
Housing costs are a major driver: Greeley's average rent is
17% lower than Lakewood's.
| Metric | Greeley | Lakewood | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,495 | $1,795 | -17% |
| Groceries | $400 | $410 | -2% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $115 | +4% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $230 | +4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,435 | $2,730 | -11% |
| Cost Index | 95 | 106 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Lakewood offers 14% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Lakewood delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Greeley is estimated at
$52,000 vs $60,000 in Lakewood.
| Metric | Greeley | Lakewood |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $62,000 | $72,000 |
| Salary Needed | $52,000 | $60,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,263 idx | 67,925 idx |
| Household Income | $69,881 | $89,792 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.2°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Lakewood sees 9.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Greeley | Lakewood |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 52.70°F | 51.50°F |
| Summer High | 87.30°F | 84.90°F |
| Winter Low | 17.70°F | 19.30°F |
| Rainfall | 16.80 in | 18.40 in |
| Snowfall | 20.30 in | 29.40 in |
| Sunny Days | 286 | 277 |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 52.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Lakewood scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Lakewood leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Greeley | Lakewood |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 48.0/100 | 54.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | 48.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Lakewood is the larger city
— approximately 0.7x the population of Greeley.
From a growth perspective, Greeley is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Lakewood has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Greeley | Lakewood |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 115,073 | 156,927 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.20% | 0.18% |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 38.2 |
| Unemployment | 4.50% | 4.00% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Greeley
Advantages
Median home prices and average rents remain significantly more affordable than the Colorado state average and neighboring Front Range cities.
A diversified and resilient local economy featuring major employers in food processing, energy, and healthcare.
A youthful, vibrant population and collegiate atmosphere anchored by the University of Northern Colorado and Aims Community College.
Extensive recreational amenities including over 30 parks, miles of trails, and cultural venues like the Union Colony Civic Center.
Recognized economic growth momentum and status as a prominent Northern Colorado regional hub.
Drawbacks
Certain industrial and agricultural operations can create localized odors and environmental management challenges across parts of the city.
Public transit options outside core areas are limited, resulting in high reliance on personal vehicles for daily commutes.
Poverty rates in specific neighborhoods remain slightly higher than the state average due to demographic shifts.
Rapid regional growth has placed upward pressure on traffic congestion along key arterial corridors during peak hours.
Proximity to heavy industrial and energy extraction sites draws ongoing debate regarding environmental and land-use policies.
Lakewood
Advantages
Median household income stands at $89,792, reflecting a strong local economy that outperforms the national average per U.S. Census data.
Exceptional geographic proximity to the Rocky Mountain foothills and Red Rocks Amphitheatre provides unmatched outdoor recreation access.
The RTD W Line light rail system offers fast, direct commuter rail transit into downtown Denver.
Home to major economic anchors like the Denver Federal Center and St. Anthony Level I Trauma Center.
Abundant green spaces featuring over 80 public parks and extensive multi-use trail networks.
Drawbacks
Typical monthly apartment rents average around $1,800, placing financial pressure on lower-income renters.
Property crime rates remain a challenge, reflecting broader metropolitan trends across the Denver area.
Car dependency is high in outer residential neighborhoods despite light rail availability along central corridors.
Traffic congestion peaks heavily along major commuter arteries like U.S. 6 and Interstate 70 during rush hours.
Housing affordability has tightened significantly due to intense regional population growth and high real estate demand.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Greeley
#235Colorado, USA
62.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,495
Avg Salary
$62,000
Cost Index
95
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
48.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
286/yr
Avg Temp
52.70°F
Pop. Growth
1.20%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
75
Business
72
Lakewood
#372Colorado, USA
59.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,795
Avg Salary
$72,000
Cost Index
106
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
54.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
277/yr
Avg Temp
51.50°F
Pop. Growth
0.18%
Unemployment
4.00%
Livability
80
Business
72
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