Is Franklin cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Franklin is $1,730 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 17% cheaper. Median household income is $106,592 in Franklin compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Franklin has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Franklin or Denver?

Denver is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 137 versus 140 in Franklin — 2% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Franklin or Denver?

School composites are close: A- in Franklin and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Franklin, TN vs Denver, CO

Franklin, TN versus Denver, CO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,730 a month in Franklin and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $106,592 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Franklin takes affordability, job market, and weather, while Denver takes safety. The widest gap is median income, where Franklin leads by 24% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Franklin can feel further apart than Franklin and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Franklin and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Franklin report Full Denver report

Franklin, TN

Rent: $1,730/mo
Median income: $106,592
Crime index: 140
Schools: A-
Weather: 77°F

Denver, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $85,853
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Rent

17% cheaper

Franklin rent is 17% cheaper than Denver

Franklin

Winner

$1,730/mo

Denver

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,730 a month in Franklin versus $2,089 in Denver, so Franklin is 17% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,308 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Franklin still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Denver.

Median income

24% higher

Franklin's median income is 24% higher than Denver

Franklin

Winner

$106,592

Denver

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $106,592 in Franklin versus $85,853 in Denver, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Franklin — about $20,739 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Franklin is the stronger labor market on paper. Denver can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

2% lower crime

Denver's crime index is 2% lower than Franklin

Franklin

140 (100 = avg)

Denver

Winner

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Denver's crime index is 137 versus 140 in Franklin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 2% lower in Denver. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Denver, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Franklin. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Franklin and Denver are about even on school scores.

Franklin

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Franklin, A- in Denver). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

19% more comfortable

Franklin weather is 19% more comfortable than Denver

Franklin

Winner

77°F typical

Denver

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Franklin scores 19% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 77°F in Franklin and 82°F in Denver. Franklin reads as warm weather most of the year; Denver reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Franklin is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Denver can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Franklin

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

Franklin is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,730 a month. Choose Franklin if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 24% higher ($106,592), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 77°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Franklin report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Denver is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 2% lower than Franklin (137 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Franklin vs Denver, called

If the job market is your priority, Franklin is the clear choice.

If safety matters more to you, Denver pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Franklin offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Franklin vs Denver FAQ

Is Franklin cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Franklin is $1,730 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 17% cheaper. Median household income is $106,592 in Franklin compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Franklin has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Franklin or Denver?: Denver is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 137 versus 140 in Franklin — 2% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Franklin or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Franklin and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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