Austin, TX vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | AustinAustin, TX | DenverDenver, CO | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Good | Same |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | High Risk | |
| Education | Same | ||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | Same |
| Sovereignty | High Autonomy | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
3.5% of the labor force was unemployed in Austin, TX, compared to 4.3% in Denver, CO (the 43rd percentile versus the 77th percentile) according to 2023 Census figures, while violent crime per 100,000 people was 418 in Austin and 875 in Denver, a 2.1× higher rate for Denver. Traffic deaths per 100,000 people were 22 in Austin and 17 in Denver, putting Austin in the 65th percentile and Denver in the 51st percentile. Denver's cost of living index of 175 is 11% higher than Austin's 158, with Denver in the 86th percentile and Austin in the 81st percentile. Healthcare access scores were 92 out of 100 in Austin and 100 out of 100 in Denver, placing Austin in the 65th percentile and Denver in the 90th percentile. Denver's state and local tax burden of 9.7% is 1.1 percentage points higher than Austin's 8.6%, with Austin in the 10th percentile and Denver in the 40th percentile. Distance to an international border is 196 miles for Austin and 556 miles for Denver, placing Austin in the 22nd percentile and Denver in the 77th percentile. Distance to coastline is 155 miles for Austin and 701 miles for Denver, with Austin in the 37th percentile and Denver in the 83rd percentile.
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 | Austin, TX | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 15881st pctl | 17586th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Austin, TX 158; Denver, CO 175; Denver is 11% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $512,70083rd pctl | $586,70087th pctl | Median home value: Austin, TX $512,700; Denver, CO $586,700; Denver is 14% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,65577th pctl | $1,77083rd pctl | Median rent: Austin, TX $1,655; Denver, CO $1,770; Denver is 7% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $91,46171st pctl | $91,68171st pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $99,60985th pctl | $113,98689th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Austin, TX $99,609; Denver, CO $113,986; Denver is 14% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $146,42585th pctl | $167,55989th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Austin, TX $146,425; Denver, CO $167,559; Denver is 14% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Denver needs about
$83,100
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 158 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 | Austin, TX | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.5%43rd pctl | 4.3%77th pctl | Unemployment: Austin, TX 3.5%; Denver, CO 4.3%; Denver is 0.8 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.1%19th pctl | -0.6%11th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $59,42787th pctl | $61,20288th pctl | About the same |
| Poverty rate | 12.3%54th pctl | 11.2%48th pctl | Poverty rate: Austin, TX 12.3%; Denver, CO 11.2%; Austin is 1.1 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 24 min54th pctl | 25.4 min63rd pctl | Average commute: Austin, TX 24 min; Denver, CO 25.4 min; Denver is 1 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 27.5%94th pctl | 24.4%90th pctl | Work from home: Austin, TX 27.5%; Denver, CO 24.4%; Austin is 3.1 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Stable | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Austin, TX | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 41880th pctl | 87597th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Austin, TX 418; Denver, CO 875; Denver is 2.1 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,07792nd pctl | 4,12698th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Austin, TX 3,077; Denver, CO 4,126; Denver is 34% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Dangerous | About the same |
| Traffic safety | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Austin, TX C+; Denver, CO B+; Denver is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Austin, TX | 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. | 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 | Fair | Clean | Tap water: Austin, TX C-; Denver, CO A-; Denver is graded higher. |
| 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 | Homesteading potential: Austin, TX A+; Denver, CO B-; Austin is graded higher. |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort isn't available for Austin, TX; 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
| Metric | Austin, TX | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | FriendlyState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | moderateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | AState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | DState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | B-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | DState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | Net exporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Net exporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Austin, TX | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 2 mi2nd pctl | 0 mi0th pctl | Nearest large city: Austin, TX 2 mi; Denver, CO 0 mi; Austin is higher (Denver: 0 mi). |
| Target proximity | Poor | Poor | About the same |
| To borderDistance to international border | 196 mi22nd pctl | 556 mi77th pctl | Distance to international border: Austin, TX 196 mi; Denver, CO 556 mi; Denver is 2.8 times higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 155 mi37th pctl | 701 mi83rd pctl | Distance to coastline: Austin, TX 155 mi; Denver, CO 701 mi; Denver is 4.5 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Austin, TX | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 967,862100th pctl | 713,73499th pctl | Population: Austin, TX 967,862; Denver, CO 713,734; Austin is 36% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,97877th pctl | 4,66390th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Austin, TX 2,978; Denver, CO 4,663; Denver is 57% higher. |
| Median age | 34.522nd pctl | 35.227th pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.2%87th pctl | 55.6%85th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Austin, TX 58.2%; Denver, CO 55.6%; Austin is 2.6 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.113th pctl | 2.112th pctl | About the same |
More about Austin'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 Austin and Denver
- Median rent: $1,655 in Austin, $1,770 in Denver
- Median home value: $512,700 in Austin, $586,700 in Denver
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 158 in Austin, 175 in Denver
- Median household income: $91,461 in Austin, $91,681 in Denver
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $146,425 in Austin, $167,559 in Denver
- Unemployment: 3.5% in Austin, 4.3% in Denver
- Average commute: 24 min in Austin, 25.4 min in Denver
- Violent crime per 100k: 418 in Austin, 875 in Denver
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More places like Austin 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: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- 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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