Is Upland cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Upland is $1,841 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 12% cheaper. Median household income is $93,994 in Upland compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Upland has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Upland or Denver?

Upland is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 122 versus 137 in Denver — 11% 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, Upland or Denver?

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

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City comparison

Upland, CA vs Denver, CO

Upland, CA 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 $1,841 a month in Upland and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $93,994 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Upland takes affordability, job market, and safety, while Denver takes weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Denver leads by 40% — 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 Upland can feel further apart than Upland and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Upland and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Upland report Full Denver report

Upland, CA

Rent: $1,841/mo
Median income: $93,994
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 90°F

Denver, CO

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

Rent

12% cheaper

Upland rent is 12% cheaper than Denver

Upland

Winner

$1,841/mo

Denver

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,841 a month in Upland versus $2,089 in Denver, so Upland is 12% 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 $2,976 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Upland still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Denver.

Median income

9% higher

Upland's median income is 9% higher than Denver

Upland

Winner

$93,994

Denver

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $93,994 in Upland versus $85,853 in Denver, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Upland — about $8,141 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

11% lower crime

Upland's crime index is 11% lower than Denver

Upland

Winner

122 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Upland's crime index is 122 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Upland. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Upland, 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

Upland and Denver are about even on school scores.

Upland

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Upland, 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

40% more comfortable

Denver weather is 40% more comfortable than Upland

Upland

90°F typical

Denver

Winner

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Denver scores 40% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 90°F in Upland and 82°F in Denver. Upland reads as hot, long summers; 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. Denver is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Upland 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 Upland

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Upland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,841 a month. Choose Upland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Upland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($93,994). Start with Upland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Upland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 11% lower than Denver (122 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 Upland report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

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

Pick Denver if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (82°F) beat Upland on this page's weather index by 40%. Upland may pay more or cost less, but Denver is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Upland vs Denver, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Upland vs Denver FAQ

Is Upland cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Upland is $1,841 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 12% cheaper. Median household income is $93,994 in Upland compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Upland has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Upland or Denver?: Upland is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 122 versus 137 in Denver — 11% 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, Upland or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Upland and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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