City Comparison
Lakewood vs Tigard
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Lakewood scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Lakewood
Tigard
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Lakewood is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
3% lower than in Tigard.
| Metric | Lakewood | Tigard | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,795 | $1,800 | -0% |
| Groceries | $410 | $450 | -9% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $115 | $120 | -4% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $250 | -8% |
| Monthly Total | $2,730 | $2,800 | -3% |
| Cost Index | 106 | 121 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Lakewood offers 11% higher 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 Lakewood is estimated at
$60,000 vs $55,000 in Tigard.
| Metric | Lakewood | Tigard |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $72,000 | $65,000 |
| Salary Needed | $60,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 67,925 idx | 53,719 idx |
| Household Income | $89,792 | $108,823 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Lakewood runs warmer on average — a 51.5°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Lakewood comes out ahead with 277 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Lakewood sees 29.4 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Lakewood | Tigard |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.50°F | °F |
| Summer High | 84.90°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 19.30°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 18.40 in | in |
| Snowfall | 29.40 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 277 | |
| Humidity | 52.00% | 73.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Tigard has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Lakewood.
Lakewood scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Tigard leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Lakewood | Tigard |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 54.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 70.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | 60.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Lakewood is the larger city
— approximately 2.8x the population of Tigard.
From a growth perspective, Tigard 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 | Lakewood | Tigard |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 156,927 | 56,011 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.18% | 1.00% |
| Median Age | 38.2 | 39.4 |
| Unemployment | 4.00% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
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.
Tigard
Advantages
Tigard boasts a strong economy with a high number of local jobs and a short commute to major employment centers like Silicon Forest and downtown Portland.
The city offers an exceptional quality of life, with a livability score of 87 out of 100, ranking in the 99th percentile of all US cities.
Tigard provides abundant green spaces, including over 16 miles of paved trails and nearly 550 acres of parks, such as Cook Park and the Fanno Creek Trail.
Healthcare and utilities costs are lower than in most U.S. cities, contributing to overall affordability despite higher housing costs.
The public schools in Tigard are highly rated, making it a desirable location for families.
Drawbacks
Tigard has a higher overall crime rate compared to the national average, primarily driven by property crime in commercial areas.
The cost of living in Tigard is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to housing expenses.
Traffic congestion on major routes like US 217 and Highway 99W can be very heavy during rush hour.
Despite public transit options, Tigard is largely car-dependent, with limited light rail access in many areas.
Some commercial corridors in Tigard can feel dated, and the city may have a less distinct community identity compared to some other suburbs.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
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
Tigard
#505Oregon, USA
52.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,800
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
121
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
70.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.00%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
87
Business
68
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