Is Renton cheaper than Denver?

No. Denver is cheaper: typical rent is $2,089 a month versus $2,501 in Renton — 16% lower. Median household income is $92,292 in Renton compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Renton has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Renton or Denver?

Renton is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 116 versus 137 in Denver — 15% 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, Renton or Denver?

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

New search

City comparison

Renton, WA vs Denver, CO

Renton, WA 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 $2,501 a month in Renton and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $92,292 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Renton takes job market, safety, and weather, while Denver takes affordability. The widest gap is typical weather, where Renton leads by 33% — 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 Renton can feel further apart than Renton and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Renton and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Renton report Full Denver report

Renton, WA

Rent: $2,501/mo
Median income: $92,292
Crime index: 116
Schools: A-
Weather: 67°F

Denver, CO

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

Rent

16% cheaper

Denver rent is 16% cheaper than Renton

Renton

$2,501/mo

Denver

Winner

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $2,089 a month in Denver versus $2,501 in Renton, so Denver is 16% 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 $4,944 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Denver still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Renton.

Median income

8% higher

Renton's median income is 8% higher than Denver

Renton

Winner

$92,292

Denver

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $92,292 in Renton versus $85,853 in Denver, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Renton — about $6,439 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

15% lower crime

Renton's crime index is 15% lower than Denver

Renton

Winner

116 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Renton's crime index is 116 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% lower in Renton. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Renton, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Denver. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Renton and Denver are about even on school scores.

Renton

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Renton, 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

33% more comfortable

Renton weather is 33% more comfortable than Denver

Renton

Winner

67°F typical

Denver

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Renton scores 33% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 67°F in Renton and 82°F in Denver. Renton reads as mild, livable temperatures; 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. Renton 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 Renton

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

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 8% higher ($92,292), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 67°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Renton is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 15% lower than Denver (116 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 Renton report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Denver

Denver is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $2,089 a month. Choose Denver if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Renton vs Denver, called

If weather is your priority, Renton is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Denver pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Renton vs Denver FAQ

Is Renton cheaper than Denver?: No. Denver is cheaper: typical rent is $2,089 a month versus $2,501 in Renton — 16% lower. Median household income is $92,292 in Renton compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Renton has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Renton or Denver?: Renton is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 116 versus 137 in Denver — 15% 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, Renton or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Renton and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Renton?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps