Denver wins on what a Bay Area paycheck is for: lower rent, homes that cost far fewer years of income, a shorter commute and mountains on the horizon. Denver comes out ahead on 25 of 42 measures to SF Bay Area's 17. Across all 42 measures, Denver finishes top nine on 38 to SF Bay Area's 28.
Ranked against all 13 metros we track, these are the measures where Denver finishes furthest ahead of SF Bay Area.
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.
SF Bay Area 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 all 4: cost of living, typical rent, home price-to-income and infant child care.
| Measure | Denver | SF Bay Area |
|---|---|---|
| Overall cost of living | 105.8 | 115.6 |
| Typical asking rent | $1,900 | $3,445 |
| Home price relative to income | 5.3× | 8.1× |
| Infant child care, full-time center | $20,978 | $22,628 |
Denver has the edge on 4 of 5: drive to skiing, drive to a national park, wilderness nearby and public land nearby.
| Measure | Denver | SF Bay Area |
|---|---|---|
| Drive to the nearest real ski area | 1h 15m | 3h 35m |
| Drive to the nearest national park | 1h 43m | 2h 41m |
| Designated wilderness within 100 miles | 1.3M acres | 70K acres |
| Public land open to visitors within 100 miles | 6.8M acres | 1.6M acres |
| ParkScore rank | #11 | #6 |
Denver has the edge on 3 of 4: top income tax rate, property tax rate and sales tax rate.
| Measure | Denver | SF Bay Area |
|---|---|---|
| Top state income tax rate | 4.4% | 13.3% |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.47% | 0.72% |
| Combined sales tax rate | 7.89% | 9.03% |
| Average homeowners insurance premium | $4,310 | $1,413 |
Denver has the edge on 3 of 4: airport passengers, nonstop destinations and commute time.
| Measure | Denver | SF Bay Area |
|---|---|---|
| Airport passengers | 82.4M | 54.5M |
| Nonstop destinations | 219 | 132 |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 32.5 min |
| Commuters who take public transit | 2.0% | 11.6% |
Denver wins on job growth since 2019 and unemployment rate; SF Bay Area takes the other 4.
| Measure | Denver | SF Bay Area |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $107,733 | $136,020 |
| Fortune 500 headquarters | 7 | 20 |
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher | 50.6% | 54.6% |
| Workers in computer, engineering & science jobs | 10.7% | 14.7% |
| Job growth since before the pandemic | +6.2% | -3.0% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.4% |
Denver wins on natural hazard risk; SF Bay Area takes the other 3.
| Measure | Denver | SF Bay Area |
|---|---|---|
| Clear or partly cloudy days per year | 245 days | 260 days |
| Days at or above 90°F | 46 days | 3 days |
| Natural hazard risk score | 95.2 | 99.5 |
| Ozone pollution | #8 worst | #14 worst |
SF Bay Area 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 | SF Bay Area |
|---|---|---|
| For business · Talent | ||
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher | 50.6% #5 | 54.6% #1 |
| Labor force participation | 71.1% #3 | 65.7% #11 |
| Median household income | $107,733 #5 | $136,020 #1 |
| Workers in computer, engineering & science jobs | 10.7% #6 | 14.7% #2 |
| Fortune 500 headquarters | 7 #7 | 20 #1 |
| Job growth since before the pandemic | +6.2% #7 | -3.0% #13 |
| Economic output per resident | $108,167 #5 | $172,381 #1 |
| Real economic growth, 2019–2024 | +19.7% #7 | +15.5% #9 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% #9 | 4.4% #10 |
| For business · Reach | ||
| Airport passengers | 82.4M #1 | 54.5M #2 |
| Nonstop destinations | 219 #1 | 132 #6 |
| Average commute | 28.0 min #8 | 32.5 min #13 |
| Commuters who take public transit | 2.0% #8 | 11.6% #1 |
| For business & life · Cost | ||
| Typical asking rent | $1,900 #9 | $3,445 #13 |
| Overall cost of living | 105.8 #9 | 115.6 #13 |
| Top state income tax rate | 4.4% #7 | 13.3% #12 |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.47% #2 | 0.72% #9 |
| Home price relative to income | 5.3× #7 | 8.1× #12 |
| Combined sales tax rate | 7.89% #6 | 9.03% #10 |
| For life · The outdoors | ||
| Designated wilderness within 100 miles | 1.3M acres #3 | 70K acres #7 |
| Drive to the nearest real ski area | 1h 15m #3 | 3h 35m #9 |
| Drive to the nearest national park | 1h 43m #1 | 2h 41m #6 |
| Public land open to visitors within 100 miles | 6.8M acres #4 | 1.6M acres #7 |
| Outdoor recreation's share of the economy | 3.3% #1 | 2.2% #8 |
| ParkScore rank | #11 #5 | #6 #2 |
| For life · Health | ||
| Adult obesity rate | 21.6% #2 | 17.1% #1 |
| Adults with no leisure-time exercise | 17.5% #2 | 18.5% #5 |
| American Fitness Index rank | #5 #3 | #6 #4 |
| Clear or partly cloudy days per year | 245 days #4 | 260 days #3 |
| Natural hazard risk score | 95.2 #2 | 99.5 #10 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 78.5 yrs #6 | 79.3 yrs #2 |
| Days at or above 90°F | 46 days #7 | 3 days #2 |
| For life · Culture & nights out | ||
| Major pro sports teams | 6 #2 | 7 #1 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation businesses | 55.1 #4 | 55.9 #3 |
| Tradeoffs | ||
| Average homeowners insurance premium | $4,310 #13 | $1,413 #2 |
| Ozone pollution | #8 worst #11 | #14 worst #9 |
| Violent crime rate | 882 #11 | 486 #4 |
| Office vacancy | 27.1% #8 | 29.3% #10 |
| Property crime rate | 4,144 #9 | 2,960 #5 |
| People experiencing homelessness | 32.1 #9 | 105.0 #12 |
| Net moves from other U.S. places | -4.7 #9 | -6.4 #12 |
| Infant child care, full-time center | $20,978 #9 | $22,628 #11 |
Sources and methods for every measure are on the main page.
See how Denver ranks against all 12 →