Denver has the more educated workforce, cooler summers and far less natural-hazard risk. Phoenix is cheaper and sunnier. Denver comes out ahead on 22 of 42 measures to Phoenix's 20. Across all 42 measures, Denver finishes top nine on 38 to Phoenix's 28.
Ranked against all 13 metros we track, these are the measures where Denver finishes furthest ahead of Phoenix.
Every metro here has a standout stat. Denver's advantage is that it rarely trails: it finishes in the top nine of 13 on 38 of 42 measures (90%), more than any other metro, and near the bottom on just 4.
Phoenix finishes top nine on 28 of 42 (67%) and near the bottom on 14.
Share of all 42 scored measures in each band, among the 13 metros. The number is the top-nine share. See every metro →
Denver has the edge on 3 of 4: hot days (90°F+), natural hazard risk and ozone (smog).
| Measure | Denver | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Clear or partly cloudy days per year | 245 days | 296 days |
| Days at or above 90°F | 46 days | 173 days |
| Natural hazard risk score | 95.2 | 99.9 |
| Ozone pollution | #8 worst | #4 worst |
Denver has the edge on 3 of 4: airport passengers, nonstop destinations and transit commute share.
| Measure | Denver | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Airport passengers | 82.4M | 51.6M |
| Nonstop destinations | 219 | 144 |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 27.5 min |
| Commuters who take public transit | 2.0% | 1.0% |
Denver has the edge on 3 of 5: drive to skiing, drive to a national park and ParkScore rank.
| Measure | Denver | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Drive to the nearest real ski area | 1h 15m | 3h 6m |
| Drive to the nearest national park | 1h 43m | 2h 9m |
| Designated wilderness within 100 miles | 1.3M acres | 1.5M acres |
| Public land open to visitors within 100 miles | 6.8M acres | 12.7M acres |
| ParkScore rank | #11 | #87 |
Denver has the edge on 3 of 6: household income, bachelor's degree+ and STEM workforce share.
| Measure | Denver | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $107,733 | $91,093 |
| Fortune 500 headquarters | 7 | 9 |
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher | 50.6% | 36.4% |
| Workers in computer, engineering & science jobs | 10.7% | 7.7% |
| Job growth since before the pandemic | +6.2% | +13.1% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.2% |
Denver wins on sales tax rate; Phoenix takes the other 3.
| Measure | Denver | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Top state income tax rate | 4.4% | 2.5% |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.47% | 0.44% |
| Combined sales tax rate | 7.89% | 8.54% |
| Average homeowners insurance premium | $4,310 | $2,225 |
Phoenix comes out ahead on these.
| Measure | Denver | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Overall cost of living | 105.8 | 103.3 |
| Typical asking rent | $1,900 | $1,720 |
| Home price relative to income | 5.3× | 5.0× |
| Infant child care, full-time center | $20,978 | $15,964 |
Phoenix first, Denver second. Blue means the move is an upgrade.
All 42 measures where both metros have data. Ranks are out of the 13 metros we compare, and the shaded cell has the edge.
| Measure | Denver | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| For business · Talent | ||
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher | 50.6% #5 | 36.4% #13 |
| Labor force participation | 71.1% #3 | 64.0% #13 |
| Median household income | $107,733 #5 | $91,093 #12 |
| Workers in computer, engineering & science jobs | 10.7% #6 | 7.7% #11 |
| Fortune 500 headquarters | 7 #7 | 9 #4 |
| Job growth since before the pandemic | +6.2% #7 | +13.1% #5 |
| Economic output per resident | $108,167 #5 | $83,965 #13 |
| Real economic growth, 2019–2024 | +19.7% #7 | +27.1% #3 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% #9 | 4.2% #8 |
| For business · Reach | ||
| Airport passengers | 82.4M #1 | 51.6M #5 |
| Nonstop destinations | 219 #1 | 144 #4 |
| Average commute | 28.0 min #8 | 27.5 min #6 |
| Commuters who take public transit | 2.0% #8 | 1.0% #11 |
| For business & life · Cost | ||
| Typical asking rent | $1,900 #9 | $1,720 #4 |
| Overall cost of living | 105.8 #9 | 103.3 #6 |
| Top state income tax rate | 4.4% #7 | 2.5% #4 |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.47% #2 | 0.44% #1 |
| Home price relative to income | 5.3× #7 | 5.0× #6 |
| Combined sales tax rate | 7.89% #6 | 8.54% #9 |
| For life · The outdoors | ||
| Designated wilderness within 100 miles | 1.3M acres #3 | 1.5M acres #2 |
| Drive to the nearest real ski area | 1h 15m #3 | 3h 6m #8 |
| Drive to the nearest national park | 1h 43m #1 | 2h 9m #4 |
| Public land open to visitors within 100 miles | 6.8M acres #4 | 12.7M acres #1 |
| Outdoor recreation's share of the economy | 3.3% #1 | 2.7% #4 |
| ParkScore rank | #11 #5 | #87 #11 |
| For life · Health | ||
| Adult obesity rate | 21.6% #2 | 30.6% #12 |
| Adults with no leisure-time exercise | 17.5% #2 | 20.0% #8 |
| American Fitness Index rank | #5 #3 | #58 #11 |
| Clear or partly cloudy days per year | 245 days #4 | 296 days #1 |
| Natural hazard risk score | 95.2 #2 | 99.9 #13 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 78.5 yrs #6 | 76.7 yrs #10 |
| Days at or above 90°F | 46 days #7 | 173 days #13 |
| For life · Culture & nights out | ||
| Major pro sports teams | 6 #2 | 4 #6 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation businesses | 55.1 #4 | 35.9 #13 |
| Tradeoffs | ||
| Average homeowners insurance premium | $4,310 #13 | $2,225 #7 |
| Ozone pollution | #8 worst #11 | #4 worst #13 |
| Violent crime rate | 882 #11 | 697 #7 |
| Office vacancy | 27.1% #8 | 25.1% #6 |
| Property crime rate | 4,144 #9 | 2,052 #3 |
| People experiencing homelessness | 32.1 #9 | 20.8 #3 |
| Net moves from other U.S. places | -4.7 #9 | +4.3 #5 |
| Infant child care, full-time center | $20,978 #9 | $15,964 #6 |
Sources and methods for every measure are on the main page.
See how Denver ranks against all 12 →