Is Gresham cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Gresham is $1,586 a month versus $1,831 in Denver — 13% cheaper. Median household income is $77,795 in Gresham compared with $94,718 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Gresham or Denver?

Gresham is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 137 in Denver — 77% 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, Gresham or Denver?

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

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City comparison

Gresham, OR vs Denver, CO

Gresham, OR 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 $1,586 a month in Gresham and $1,831 in Denver, and median household income lands at $77,795 versus $94,718. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Gresham takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Denver takes job market. The widest gap is crime index, where Gresham leads by 77% — 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 Gresham can feel further apart than Gresham and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Gresham and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Gresham report Full Denver report

Gresham, OR

Rent: $1,586/mo
Median income: $77,795
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 68°F

Denver, CO

Rent: $1,831/mo
Median income: $94,718
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 78°F

Rent

13% cheaper

Gresham rent is 13% cheaper than Denver

Gresham

Winner

$1,586/mo

Denver

$1,831/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,586 a month in Gresham versus $1,831 in Denver, so Gresham is 13% 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 $2,940 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Gresham still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Denver.

Median income

22% higher

Denver's median income is 22% higher than Gresham

Gresham

$77,795

Denver

Winner

$94,718

What this means for your life

Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $77,795 in Gresham, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Denver — about $16,923 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, Denver is the stronger labor market on paper. Gresham can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

77% lower crime

Gresham's crime index is 77% lower than Denver

Gresham

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Gresham's crime index is 32 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 77% lower in Gresham. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Gresham is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Gresham and Denver are about even on school scores.

Gresham

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Gresham, 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

Gresham weather is 19% more comfortable than Denver

Gresham

Winner

68°F typical

Denver

78°F typical

What this means for your life

Gresham scores 19% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 68°F in Gresham and 78°F in Denver. Gresham reads as mild, livable temperatures; Denver reads as warm weather most of the year. 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. Gresham 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 Gresham

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Gresham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,586 a month. Choose Gresham if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Gresham if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Denver on this page's weather index by 19%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but Gresham is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Gresham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 77% lower than Denver (32 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 Gresham report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 22% higher here ($94,718). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Gresham vs Denver, called

If safety is your priority, Gresham is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Denver pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Gresham vs Denver FAQ

Is Gresham cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Gresham is $1,586 a month versus $1,831 in Denver — 13% cheaper. Median household income is $77,795 in Gresham compared with $94,718 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Gresham or Denver?: Gresham is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 137 in Denver — 77% 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, Gresham or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Gresham and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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