City Comparison
Parker vs Grants Pass
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Parker scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Parker
Grants Pass
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Grants Pass is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
15% lower than in Parker.
Housing costs are a major driver: Parker's average rent is
41% higher than Grants Pass's.
| Metric | Parker | Grants Pass | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,050 | $1,450 | +41% |
| Groceries | $420 | $450 | -7% |
| Utilities | $180 | $400 | -55% |
| Transport | $130 | $120 | +8% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $150 | +60% |
| Monthly Total | $3,020 | $2,570 | +18% |
| Cost Index | 122 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Parker offers 37% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Parker delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Parker is estimated at
$75,000 vs $58,000 in Grants Pass.
| Metric | Parker | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $88,000 | $64,331 |
| Salary Needed | $75,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 72,131 idx | 57,438 idx |
| Household Income | $133,369 | $59,646 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Parker runs warmer on average — a 51.8°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Parker comes out ahead with 280 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Parker sees 28.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Parker | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.80°F | °F |
| Summer High | 83.10°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 20.50°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 18.20 in | in |
| Snowfall | 28.80 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 280 | |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 74.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Grants Pass has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,000 minutes (67 hours) per year compared to Parker.
Parker scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Parker leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Parker | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 40.0/100 | 27.0/100 |
| Walkability | 45.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Parker is the larger city
— approximately 1.6x the population of Grants Pass.
From a growth perspective, Parker is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Parker has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Parker | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 65,473 | 40,051 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.45% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 36.2 | 40.8 |
| Unemployment | 3.00% | 5.60% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Parker
Advantages
Median household income stands at an affluent $133,369 per year, significantly outperforming the national average.
Consistently maintains low crime rates, ranking as one of the safest communities of its size in Colorado.
Features over 1,000 acres of developed park land and extensive connectivity to the Cherry Creek regional trail network.
More than 56% of adult residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher, fostering a highly educated community.
Home to AdventHealth Parker, providing high-quality acute healthcare and specialized services locally.
Drawbacks
Overall cost of living and housing expenses run substantially higher than the U.S. national average.
High degree of car dependency with limited public mass transit options for daily work commuters.
Competitive real estate market places homeownership out of reach for many median-income earners.
Commuting to downtown Denver or the Tech Center during peak hours can result in significant highway congestion.
Limited dense urban nightlife or late-night entertainment options within town limits.
Grants Pass
Advantages
Access to world-class outdoor recreation on the Rogue River, including rafting and fishing.
More sunny days and a warmer, drier climate compared to much of western Oregon.
Housing is comparatively more affordable than larger West Coast cities and some other Oregon metros.
A growing arts and food scene in a walkable, historic downtown.
Friendly community atmosphere appealing to families and retirees.
Drawbacks
Overall crime rate is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to property crime.
Limited high-wage job opportunities compared to larger economic centers.
Air quality can be impacted by wildfire smoke during certain seasons.
Presence of a significant homeless population in the downtown core.
High car dependency due to minimal public transportation options.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Parker
#124Colorado, USA
66.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,050
Avg Salary
$88,000
Cost Index
122
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
45.0/100
Sunny Days
280/yr
Avg Temp
51.80°F
Pop. Growth
2.45%
Unemployment
3.00%
Livability
83
Business
75
Grants Pass
#584Oregon, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$64,331
Cost Index
112
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
27.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
70
Business
60
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Parker and Grants Pass.
Open Cost Calculator