Highlands Ranch vs Stamford
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $624,400 in Stamford and $712,700 in Highlands Ranch.
- Households earn more in Highlands Ranch ($159,307 vs $111,586 median).
- Highlands Ranch has the warmer winter: January highs of 47°F vs 38°F.
- Highlands Ranch gets far more snow: 49 inches a year vs 34.
- Highlands Ranch has more scorching days: 42 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 18.
- Stamford is growing faster: +3% since 2020 vs +0%.
- Commutes are shorter in Highlands Ranch (24 vs 29 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Highlands Ranch, CO | Stamford, CT | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 102,257 | 139,535 |
| Growth since 2020 | n/a | +3% |
| People per square mile | 4,214 | 3,708 |
| Median age | 41.5 | 38.4 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 68% | 52% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $159,307 | $111,586 |
| Median home value | $712,700 | $624,400 |
| Home value to income | 4.5× | 5.6× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $2,531 | $2,276 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 105.8 | 106.9 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 146.9 | 150.5 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $79,300 | $80,100 |
| Homeowners | 78% | 49% |
| Top state income tax | 4.4% | 6.99% |
| Combined sales tax | 7.89% | 6.35% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 24.2 | 28.5 |
| Work from home | 33% | 19% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 10% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 4% | 4.9% |
| Poverty rate | 2.9% | 10.1% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 47° / 18° | 38° / 22° |
| July high / low | 90° / 59° | 85° / 64° |
| Precipitation per year | 15 in | 52 in |
| Snowfall per year | 49 in | 34 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 42 | 18 |
| Nights below freezing | 156 | 119 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | n/a |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 88.7 | n/a |
| Good air days, 2025 | 29% | 65% |
| Home prices, past year | -0.5% | +5.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +21.4% | +53.3% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Highlands Ranch: May to June and September. Stamford: May and July to August.
Full monthly tables: Highlands Ranch weather by month and Stamford weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $79,300 in Highlands Ranch and $80,100 in Stamford. Moving from Highlands Ranch to Stamford, you would need about $75,800 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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