Denver, CO vs Seattle, WA
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | DenverDenver, CO | SeattleSeattle, WA | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Good | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | High Risk | Same |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | High Risk |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 701 mi from the coastline, Denver, CO and Seattle, WA sit at opposite ends of the proximity spectrum, with Seattle at 0 mi in the 0th percentile and Denver in the 83rd percentile for this metric. The distance to an international border also diverges sharply: Denver is 556 mi away (77th percentile) while Seattle is 95 mi away (9th percentile). Air quality follows a similar pattern, with Denver’s AQI of 55 (93rd percentile) running 34% higher than Seattle’s 41 (42nd percentile) in 2024 EPA data.
2023 Census figures show median household income at $91,681 in Denver versus $121,984 in Seattle, a 33% gap that places Denver in the 71st percentile and Seattle in the 89th. The state and local tax burden is 9.7% in Denver (40th percentile) compared to 10.7% in Seattle (62nd percentile), a 1.0-point difference. Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 17 in Denver (51st percentile) versus 14 in Seattle (41st percentile), with Denver 19% higher. Bachelor’s degree attainment among adults reaches 55.6% in Denver (85th percentile) and 67.5% in Seattle (93rd percentile), an 11.9-point spread.
Population figures are close—713,734 in Denver and 741,440 in Seattle, both in the 99th percentile—but density differs sharply: 4,663 people per square mile in Denver versus 8,824 in Seattle, 89% higher. Median rent runs $1,770 in Denver and $1,998 in Seattle, a 13% difference, while the cost of living index sits at 175 for Denver and 233 for Seattle, with Seattle 33% higher. Both cities carry an F grade for national disaster risk and a B- for job market, and violent crime rates are 875 per 100,000 in Denver (97th percentile) versus 697 in Seattle (93rd percentile), a 26% gap.
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 | Seattle, WA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 17586th pctl | 23394th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Denver, CO 175; Seattle, WA 233; Seattle is 33% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $586,70087th pctl | $912,10095th pctl | Median home value: Denver, CO $586,700; Seattle, WA $912,100; Seattle is 55% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,77083rd pctl | $1,99891st pctl | Median rent: Denver, CO $1,770; Seattle, WA $1,998; Seattle is 13% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $91,68171st pctl | $121,98489th pctl | Median household income: Denver, CO $91,681; Seattle, WA $121,984; Seattle is 33% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $113,98689th pctl | $164,14695th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Denver, CO $113,986; Seattle, WA $164,146; Seattle is 44% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $167,55989th pctl | $241,29595th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Denver, CO $167,559; Seattle, WA $241,295; Seattle is 44% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Unaffordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Seattle needs about
$99,900
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 175 vs 233). 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 | Seattle, WA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 4.3%77th pctl | 4.2%74th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.6%10th pctl | -0.4%13th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $61,20288th pctl | $82,50894th pctl | Per-capita income: Denver, CO $61,202; Seattle, WA $82,508; Seattle is 35% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 11.2%48th pctl | 9.9%41st pctl | Poverty rate: Denver, CO 11.2%; Seattle, WA 9.9%; Denver is 1.3 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 25.4 min63rd pctl | 26.6 min71st pctl | Average commute: Denver, CO 25.4 min; Seattle, WA 26.6 min; Seattle is 1 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 24.4%90th pctl | 31.3%96th pctl | Work from home: Denver, CO 24.4%; Seattle, WA 31.3%; Seattle is 6.9 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Strong | About the same |
| Job market | Stable | Stable | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Denver, CO | Seattle, WA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 87597th pctl | 69793rd pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Denver, CO 875; Seattle, WA 697; Denver is 26% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 4,12698th pctl | 4,42498th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Denver, CO 4,126; Seattle, WA 4,424; Seattle is 7% 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. | 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 | Seattle, WA | 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-; Seattle, WA A+; Seattle 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 Seattle, WA; 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 | Seattle, WA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ModerateState 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 | moderateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | highState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | DState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | FState 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. | C-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | Net exporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState 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 | Seattle, WA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi0th pctl | 1 mi1st pctl | Nearest large city: Denver, CO 0 mi; Seattle, WA 1 mi; Seattle is higher (Denver: 0 mi). |
| Target proximity | Poor | Poor | Target proximity: Denver, CO F; Seattle, WA D+; Seattle is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 556 mi77th pctl | 95 mi9th pctl | Distance to international border: Denver, CO 556 mi; Seattle, WA 95 mi; Denver is 5.8 times higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 701 mi83rd pctl | 0 mi0th pctl | Distance to coastline: Denver, CO 701 mi; Seattle, WA 0 mi; Denver is higher (Seattle: 0 mi). |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | High Risk | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Denver, CO | Seattle, WA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 713,73499th pctl | 741,44099th pctl | About the same |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 4,66390th pctl | 8,82497th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Denver, CO 4,663; Seattle, WA 8,824; Seattle is 89% higher. |
| Median age | 35.227th pctl | 35.529th pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 55.6%85th pctl | 67.5%93rd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Denver, CO 55.6%; Seattle, WA 67.5%; Seattle is 11.9 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.112th pctl | 26th pctl | About the same |
More about Denver's residents · Seattle'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 Denver and Seattle
- Median rent: $1,770 in Denver, $1,998 in Seattle
- Median home value: $586,700 in Denver, $912,100 in Seattle
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 175 in Denver, 233 in Seattle
- Median household income: $91,681 in Denver, $121,984 in Seattle
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $167,559 in Denver, $241,295 in Seattle
- Unemployment: 4.3% in Denver, 4.2% in Seattle
- Average commute: 25.4 min in Denver, 26.6 min in Seattle
- Violent crime per 100k: 875 in Denver, 697 in Seattle
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More places like Denver and Seattle
- 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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