Two mountain metros with the same outdoor economy. Denver is home to 7 Fortune 500 headquarters to Salt Lake's 0, with the bigger airport, higher incomes and the closer national park. Salt Lake is cheaper and closer to the ski lifts. Denver comes out ahead on 20 of 40 measures to Salt Lake City's 18, with 2 ties. Across all 42 measures, Denver finishes top nine on 38 to Salt Lake City's 31.
Ranked against all 13 metros we track, these are the measures where Denver finishes furthest ahead of Salt Lake City.
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.
Salt Lake City finishes top nine on 31 of 40 (78%) and near the bottom on 9.
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 4 of 6: household income, Fortune 500 HQs, bachelor's degree+ and STEM workforce share.
| Measure | Denver | Salt Lake City |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $107,733 | $101,152 |
| Fortune 500 headquarters | 7 | 0 |
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher | 50.6% | 39.7% |
| Workers in computer, engineering & science jobs | 10.7% | 9.3% |
| Job growth since before the pandemic | +6.2% | +13.9% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 3.2% |
Denver has the edge on 3 of 4: sunny days, hot days (90°F+) and natural hazard risk.
| Measure | Denver | Salt Lake City |
|---|---|---|
| Clear or partly cloudy days per year | 245 days | 226 days |
| Days at or above 90°F | 46 days | 62 days |
| Natural hazard risk score | 95.2 | 98.6 |
| Ozone pollution | #8 worst | #13 worst |
Denver has the edge on 2 of 4: top income tax rate and property tax rate.
| Measure | Denver | Salt Lake City |
|---|---|---|
| Top state income tax rate | 4.4% | 4.5% |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.47% | 0.50% |
| Combined sales tax rate | 7.89% | 7.42% |
| Average homeowners insurance premium | $4,310 | $1,656 |
Denver has the edge on 2 of 4: drive to a national park and wilderness nearby.
| Measure | Denver | Salt Lake City |
|---|---|---|
| Drive to the nearest real ski area | 1h 15m | 38m |
| Drive to the nearest national park | 1h 43m | 4h 21m |
| Designated wilderness within 100 miles | 1.3M acres | 746K acres |
| Public land open to visitors within 100 miles | 6.8M acres | 9.2M acres |
Denver has the edge on 2 of 4: airport passengers and nonstop destinations.
| Measure | Denver | Salt Lake City |
|---|---|---|
| Airport passengers | 82.4M | 28.2M |
| Nonstop destinations | 219 | 103 |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 24.5 min |
| Commuters who take public transit | 2.0% | 2.1% |
Denver wins on home price-to-income; Salt Lake City takes the other 3.
| Measure | Denver | Salt Lake City |
|---|---|---|
| Overall cost of living | 105.8 | 100.9 |
| Typical asking rent | $1,900 | $1,644 |
| Home price relative to income | 5.3× | 5.5× |
| Infant child care, full-time center | $20,978 | $14,160 |
Salt Lake City first, Denver second. Blue means the move is an upgrade.
All 40 measures where both metros have data. Ranks are out of the 13 metros we compare, and the shaded cell has the edge.
| Measure | Denver | Salt Lake City |
|---|---|---|
| For business · Talent | ||
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher | 50.6% #5 | 39.7% #12 |
| Labor force participation | 71.1% #3 | 72.4% #1 |
| Median household income | $107,733 #5 | $101,152 #9 |
| Workers in computer, engineering & science jobs | 10.7% #6 | 9.3% #10 |
| Fortune 500 headquarters | 7 #7 | 0 #13 |
| Job growth since before the pandemic | +6.2% #7 | +13.9% #4 |
| Economic output per resident | $108,167 #5 | $120,772 #4 |
| Real economic growth, 2019–2024 | +19.7% #7 | +18.4% #8 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% #9 | 3.2% #3 |
| For business · Reach | ||
| Airport passengers | 82.4M #1 | 28.2M #8 |
| Nonstop destinations | 219 #1 | 103 #9 |
| Average commute | 28.0 min #8 | 24.5 min #1 |
| Commuters who take public transit | 2.0% #8 | 2.1% #6 |
| For business & life · Cost | ||
| Typical asking rent | $1,900 #9 | $1,644 #2 |
| Overall cost of living | 105.8 #9 | 100.9 #5 |
| Top state income tax rate | 4.4% #7 | 4.5% #8 |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.47% #2 | 0.50% #3 |
| Home price relative to income | 5.3× #7 | 5.5× #9 |
| Combined sales tax rate | 7.89% #6 | 7.42% #5 |
| For life · The outdoors | ||
| Designated wilderness within 100 miles | 1.3M acres #3 | 746K acres #5 |
| Drive to the nearest real ski area | 1h 15m #3 | 38m #1 |
| Drive to the nearest national park | 1h 43m #1 | 4h 21m #9 |
| Public land open to visitors within 100 miles | 6.8M acres #4 | 9.2M acres #2 |
| Outdoor recreation's share of the economy | 3.3% #1 | 3.3% #1 |
| For life · Health | ||
| Adult obesity rate | 21.6% #2 | 29.9% #10 |
| Adults with no leisure-time exercise | 17.5% #2 | 18.9% #7 |
| Clear or partly cloudy days per year | 245 days #4 | 226 days #6 |
| Natural hazard risk score | 95.2 #2 | 98.6 #9 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 78.5 yrs #6 | 79.0 yrs #5 |
| Days at or above 90°F | 46 days #7 | 62 days #11 |
| For life · Culture & nights out | ||
| Major pro sports teams | 6 #2 | 4 #6 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation businesses | 55.1 #4 | 44.5 #12 |
| Tradeoffs | ||
| Average homeowners insurance premium | $4,310 #13 | $1,656 #6 |
| Ozone pollution | #8 worst #11 | #13 worst #10 |
| Violent crime rate | 882 #11 | 863 #10 |
| Office vacancy | 27.1% #8 | 21.9% #4 |
| Property crime rate | 4,144 #9 | 4,771 #12 |
| People experiencing homelessness | 32.1 #9 | 23.4 #5 |
| Net moves from other U.S. places | -4.7 #9 | -4.7 #9 |
| Infant child care, full-time center | $20,978 #9 | $14,160 #5 |
Sources and methods for every measure are on the main page.
See how Denver ranks against all 12 →