Lakewood vs Arvada
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $574,400 in Lakewood and $632,600 in Arvada.
- Households earn more in Arvada ($117,348 vs $89,792 median).
Side by side
| Lakewood, CO | Arvada, CO | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 156,927 | 122,901 |
| Growth since 2020 | +0.6% | -1.2% |
| People per square mile | 3,609 | 3,152 |
| Median age | 38.2 | 40.0 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45% | 52% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $89,792 | $117,348 |
| Median home value | $574,400 | $632,600 |
| Home value to income | 6.4× | 5.4× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,806 | $1,888 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 105.8 | 105.8 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 146.9 | 146.9 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $79,300 | $79,300 |
| Homeowners | 58% | 75% |
| Top state income tax | 4.4% | 4.4% |
| Combined sales tax | 7.89% | 7.89% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 25.5 | 26.1 |
| Work from home | 23% | 25% |
| Take public transit | 2% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 4.5% | 3.8% |
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | 5.8% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 47° / 18° | 47° / 18° |
| July high / low | 90° / 59° | 90° / 59° |
| Precipitation per year | 15 in | 15 in |
| Snowfall per year | 49 in | 49 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 42 | 42 |
| Nights below freezing | 156 | 156 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 94.9 | 94.9 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 29% | 29% |
| Home prices, past year | -0.5% | -0.5% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +21.4% | +21.4% |
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: Lakewood: May to June and September. Arvada: May to June and September.
Full monthly tables: Lakewood weather by month and Arvada 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 Lakewood and $79,300 in Arvada. Moving from Lakewood to Arvada, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.