Aspen, CO vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | AspenAspen, CO | DenverDenver, CO | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Great | Good | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Very Safe | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Defensible | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
With an air quality index (AQI) of 19, Aspen, CO and Denver, CO differ sharply on environmental conditions, according to 2023 Census and 2024 EPA figures. Aspen’s AQI is in the 3rd percentile, meaning its air is among the cleanest, while Denver’s 55 AQI sits in the 93rd percentile, indicating a higher pollutant load. The two cities also diverge on safety: Denver’s violent crime rate of 875 per 100,000 people is 9.4 times higher than Aspen’s 93, placing Denver in the 97th percentile and Aspen in the 18th. Denver’s property crime rate of 4,126 per 100,000 is 68% higher than Aspen’s 2,449. Job growth over the past year was 1.9% in Aspen (74th percentile) versus a decline of 0.6% in Denver (11th percentile). The average commute in Aspen is 14.2 minutes (2nd percentile), while Denver’s is 25.4 minutes (64th percentile).
Population size is vastly different: Denver’s 713,734 residents (99th percentile) dwarf Aspen’s 6,862 (23rd percentile). Denver’s population density of 4,663 per square mile is 2.6 times higher than Aspen’s 1,776. The median age in Aspen is 41.7 (75th percentile), 6.5 years older than Denver’s 35.2 (27th percentile). The share of residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher is 68.3% in Aspen (93rd percentile) versus 55.6% in Denver (85th percentile). Aspen’s cost of living index of 293 is 67% higher than Denver’s 175, and the median home value of $1,375,000 is 2.3 times Denver’s $586,700. Denver’s median household income of $91,681 is 17% higher than Aspen’s $78,636.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Aspen, CO | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 29397th pctl | 17586th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Aspen, CO 293; Denver, CO 175; Aspen is 67% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $1,375,00098th pctl | $586,70087th pctl | Median home value: Aspen, CO $1,375,000; Denver, CO $586,700; Aspen is 2.3 times higher. |
| Median rent | $1,89789th pctl | $1,77083rd pctl | Median rent: Aspen, CO $1,897; Denver, CO $1,770; Aspen is 7% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $78,63657th pctl | $91,68171st pctl | Median household income: Aspen, CO $78,636; Denver, CO $91,681; Denver is 17% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $244,44398th pctl | $113,98689th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Aspen, CO $244,443; Denver, CO $113,986; Aspen is 2.1 times higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $359,33198th pctl | $167,55989th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Aspen, CO $359,331; Denver, CO $167,559; Aspen is 2.1 times higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Stretched | Housing affordability: Aspen, CO F; Denver, CO C-; Denver is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Denver needs about
$44,800
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 293 vs 175). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Aspen, CO | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.6%48th pctl | 4.3%78th pctl | Unemployment: Aspen, CO 3.6%; Denver, CO 4.3%; Denver is 0.7 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.9%74th pctl | -0.6%11th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Aspen, CO +1.9%; Denver, CO -0.6%; Aspen is 2.5 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $111,26697th pctl | $61,20288th pctl | Per-capita income: Aspen, CO $111,266; Denver, CO $61,202; Aspen is 82% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 11.8%51st pctl | 11.2%48th pctl | About the same |
| CommuteAverage commute | 14.2 min2nd pctl | 25.4 min64th pctl | Average commute: Aspen, CO 14.2 min; Denver, CO 25.4 min; Denver is 11 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 17.1%76th pctl | 24.4%90th pctl | Work from home: Aspen, CO 17.1%; Denver, CO 24.4%; Denver is 7.3 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Strong | Stable | Economic opportunity: Aspen, CO A-; Denver, CO B-; Aspen is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Stable | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Aspen, CO | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 9318th pctl | 87597th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Aspen, CO 93; Denver, CO 875; Denver is 9.4 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,44986th pctl | 4,12698th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Aspen, CO 2,449; Denver, CO 4,126; Denver is 68% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Very Safe | Dangerous | Crime & safety: Aspen, CO A; Denver, CO F; Aspen is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Aspen, CO | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Air quality: Aspen, CO A+; Denver, CO A-; Aspen is graded higher. |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Dry | Dry | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Workable | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | Moderate | High-Risk | National disaster risk: Aspen, CO C; Denver, CO F; Aspen is graded higher. |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Colorado, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Colorado →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Aspen, CO | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 105 mi49th pctl | 0 mi0th pctl | Nearest large city: Aspen, CO 105 mi; Denver, CO 0 mi; Aspen is higher (Denver: 0 mi). |
| Target proximity | Good | Poor | Target proximity: Aspen, CO A; Denver, CO F; Aspen is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 510 mi70th pctl | 556 mi77th pctl | Distance to international border: Aspen, CO 510 mi; Denver, CO 556 mi; Denver is 9% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 628 mi78th pctl | 701 mi83rd pctl | Distance to coastline: Aspen, CO 628 mi; Denver, CO 701 mi; Denver is 12% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Defensible | Vulnerable | Strategic location: Aspen, CO B+; Denver, CO D-; Aspen is graded higher. |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Aspen, CO | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,86223rd pctl | 713,73499th pctl | Population: Aspen, CO 6,862; Denver, CO 713,734; Denver is 706,872 larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,77655th pctl | 4,66390th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Aspen, CO 1,776; Denver, CO 4,663; Denver is 2.6 times higher. |
| Median age | 41.775th pctl | 35.227th pctl | Median age: Aspen, CO 41.7; Denver, CO 35.2; Aspen is 6.5 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 68.3%93rd pctl | 55.6%85th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Aspen, CO 68.3%; Denver, CO 55.6%; Aspen is 12.7 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 1.70th pctl | 2.112th pctl | Average household size: Aspen, CO 1.7; Denver, CO 2.1; Denver is 28% larger. |
More about Aspen's residents · Denver's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Aspen and Denver
- Median rent: $1,897 in Aspen, $1,770 in Denver
- Median home value: $1,375,000 in Aspen, $586,700 in Denver
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 293 in Aspen, 175 in Denver
- Median household income: $78,636 in Aspen, $91,681 in Denver
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $359,331 in Aspen, $167,559 in Denver
- Unemployment: 3.6% in Aspen, 4.3% in Denver
- Average commute: 14.2 min in Aspen, 25.4 min in Denver
- Violent crime per 100k: 93 in Aspen, 875 in Denver
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More places like Aspen and Denver
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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