City comparison
Sparks, NV 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 $1,716 a month in Sparks and $1,831 in Denver, and median household income lands at $89,056 versus $94,718. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.
Sparks takes affordability and safety, while Denver takes job market. The widest gap is crime index, where Sparks leads by 15% — 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 Sparks can feel further apart than Sparks and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Sparks and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.
Sparks, NV
Denver, CO
Rent
6% cheaper
Sparks rent is 6% cheaper than Denver
Sparks
Winner$1,716/mo
Denver
$1,831/mo
Typical rent runs $1,716 a month in Sparks versus $1,831 in Denver, so Sparks is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $115, or $1,380 a year — noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Median income
6% higher
Denver's median income is 6% higher than Sparks
Sparks
$89,056
Denver
Winner$94,718
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $89,056 in Sparks, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Denver — about $5,662 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
Sparks's crime index is 15% lower than Denver
Sparks
Winner117 (100 = avg)
Denver
137 (100 = avg)
Sparks's crime index is 117 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% lower in Sparks. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Sparks, 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
Sparks and Denver are about even on school scores.
Sparks
A- · 84/100
Denver
A- · 84/100
School composites are effectively even (A- in Sparks, 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
Neck and neck
Sparks and Denver are about even on typical weather.
Sparks
78°F typical
Denver
78°F typical
Outdoor comfort is close between Sparks and Denver. Typical temperatures sit around 78°F in Sparks and 78°F in Denver. You are choosing a flavor of season, not paradise versus misery. Visit in the season you currently like least. A long weekend in October lies; a week in July or January does not.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Sparks is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,716 a month. Choose Sparks if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Sparks 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 (117 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.
Fit check
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 6% higher here ($94,718). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
If safety is your priority, Sparks is the clear choice.
If the job market matters more to you, Denver pulls ahead.
For most movers comparing these two cities, Sparks offers the better overall package.
Common questions
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