Denver, CO vs Salt Lake City, UT
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | DenverDenver, CO | Salt Lake CitySalt Lake City, UT | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | Elevated | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Exposed |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 25.4 minutes, Denver, CO has an average commute that runs 6 minutes longer than Salt Lake City, UT’s 19.6 minutes, with Denver in the 64th percentile and Salt Lake City in the 25th for commute length in 2023 Census figures. Unemployment also diverges: Denver’s 4.3% sits 1.0 points higher than Salt Lake City’s 3.3%, placing Denver in the 78th percentile versus Salt Lake City’s 34th. Job growth over the past year moves in opposite directions, with Denver at -0.6% and Salt Lake City at +1.1%, a 1.7-point gap that puts Salt Lake City in the 50th percentile and Denver in the 11th.
The state and local tax burden differs by 2.4 points, with Salt Lake City at 12.1% and Denver at 9.7%, placing Salt Lake City in the 79th percentile and Denver in the 40th. Healthcare access scores show Denver at 100/100, 12 points higher than Salt Lake City’s 88/100, with Denver in the 90th percentile and Salt Lake City in the 56th. Population density also separates the two: Denver’s 4,663 people per square mile is 2.5× higher than Salt Lake City’s 1,839, with Denver in the 90th percentile and Salt Lake City in the 56th.
Nearest large city figures place Denver at 0 miles and Salt Lake City at 580 miles, a difference that puts Salt Lake City in the 76th percentile and Denver in the 0th. Median home values follow the cost pattern, with Denver at $586,700 versus Salt Lake City’s $495,700, an 18% gap, while median rents of $1,770 and $1,343 differ by 32%. Violent crime rates are close at 875 and 857 per 100,000 people, both in the 97th percentile, though property crime runs 15% higher in Salt Lake City at 4,753 versus Denver’s 4,126.
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 | Denver, CO | Salt Lake City, UT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 17586th pctl | 14073rd pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Denver, CO 175; Salt Lake City, UT 140; Denver is 25% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $586,70087th pctl | $495,70082nd pctl | Median home value: Denver, CO $586,700; Salt Lake City, UT $495,700; Denver is 18% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,77083rd pctl | $1,34360th pctl | Median rent: Denver, CO $1,770; Salt Lake City, UT $1,343; Denver is 32% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $91,68171st pctl | $74,92553rd pctl | Median household income: Denver, CO $91,681; Salt Lake City, UT $74,925; Denver is 22% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $113,98689th pctl | $96,30584th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Denver, CO $113,986; Salt Lake City, UT $96,305; Denver is 18% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $167,55989th pctl | $141,56984th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Denver, CO $167,559; Salt Lake City, UT $141,569; Denver is 18% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Unaffordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Salt Lake City needs about
$60,000
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 175 vs 140). 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 | Denver, CO | Salt Lake City, UT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 4.3%78th pctl | 3.3%34th pctl | Unemployment: Denver, CO 4.3%; Salt Lake City, UT 3.3%; Denver is 1.0 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.6%11th pctl | +1.1%50th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Denver, CO -0.6%; Salt Lake City, UT +1.1%; Salt Lake City is 1.7 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $61,20288th pctl | $49,64277th pctl | Per-capita income: Denver, CO $61,202; Salt Lake City, UT $49,642; Denver is 23% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 11.2%48th pctl | 13.4%59th pctl | Poverty rate: Denver, CO 11.2%; Salt Lake City, UT 13.4%; Salt Lake City is 2.2 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 25.4 min64th pctl | 19.6 min25th pctl | Average commute: Denver, CO 25.4 min; Salt Lake City, UT 19.6 min; Denver is 6 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 24.4%90th pctl | 18.5%80th pctl | Work from home: Denver, CO 24.4%; Salt Lake City, UT 18.5%; Denver is 5.9 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Stable | Strong | Job market: Denver, CO B-; Salt Lake City, UT A-; Salt Lake City is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Denver, CO | Salt Lake City, UT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 87597th pctl | 85797th pctl | About the same |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 4,12698th pctl | 4,75399th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Denver, CO 4,126; Salt Lake City, UT 4,753; Salt Lake City is 15% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Dangerous | About the same |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Denver, CO | Salt Lake City, UT | 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 | 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 | Workable | Prime | Homesteading potential: Denver, CO B-; Salt Lake City, UT A-; Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City, UT; 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 | Denver, CO | Salt Lake City, UT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | PredatoryState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Taxes: Denver, CO B-; Salt Lake City, UT D; Denver is graded higher. |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | moderateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | lowState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | DState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | A-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | DState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | BState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | Net exporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Self-sufficientState 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 | Denver, CO | Salt Lake City, UT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi0th pctl | 580 mi76th pctl | Nearest large city: Denver, CO 0 mi; Salt Lake City, UT 580 mi; Salt Lake City is higher (Denver: 0 mi). |
| Target proximity | Poor | Poor | Target proximity: Denver, CO F; Salt Lake City, UT D; Salt Lake City is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 556 mi77th pctl | 569 mi79th pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 701 mi83rd pctl | 579 mi75th pctl | Distance to coastline: Denver, CO 701 mi; Salt Lake City, UT 579 mi; Denver is 21% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Exposed | Strategic location: Denver, CO D-; Salt Lake City, UT C+; Salt Lake City is graded higher. |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Denver, CO | Salt Lake City, UT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 713,73499th pctl | 203,88895th pctl | Population: Denver, CO 713,734; Salt Lake City, UT 203,888; Denver is 3.5 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 4,66390th pctl | 1,83956th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Denver, CO 4,663; Salt Lake City, UT 1,839; Denver is 2.5 times higher. |
| Median age | 35.227th pctl | 3315th pctl | Median age: Denver, CO 35.2; Salt Lake City, UT 33; Denver is 2.2 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 55.6%85th pctl | 50.9%81st pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Denver, CO 55.6%; Salt Lake City, UT 50.9%; Denver is 4.7 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.112th pctl | 2.218th pctl | About the same |
More about Denver's residents · Salt Lake City's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | DenverDenver, CO | Salt Lake CitySalt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+29 | R+10 |
| 2024 presidential | D +56.0 pts | R +20.0 pts |
Full politics data: Denver · Salt Lake City
Moving between Denver and Salt Lake City
- Median rent: $1,770 in Denver, $1,343 in Salt Lake City
- Median home value: $586,700 in Denver, $495,700 in Salt Lake City
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 175 in Denver, 140 in Salt Lake City
- Median household income: $91,681 in Denver, $74,925 in Salt Lake City
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $167,559 in Denver, $141,569 in Salt Lake City
- Unemployment: 4.3% in Denver, 3.3% in Salt Lake City
- Average commute: 25.4 min in Denver, 19.6 min in Salt Lake City
- Violent crime per 100k: 875 in Denver, 857 in Salt Lake City
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- 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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