Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Lakewood, CO

    Is Lakewood a good place to live?

    Watch Lakewood

    Lakewood ranks #26 of 34 Colorado cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (37/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.1% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $548,200
    +10.9% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,746
    per month
    Household income
    $85,789
    median
    Unemployment
    4.5%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Lakewood

    The median home value in Lakewood is $548,200 and median rent is $1,746 a month, against a median household income of $85,789. Homes cost about 6.4× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Lakewood crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Colorado the 2025 rate was 438 violent and 2,235 property crimes per 100,000 people — #2 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Lakewood, CO

    Lakewood has about 156,309 residents, 4.5% unemployment and 29% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Lakewood with

    Lakewood vs DenverLakewood vs Colorado SpringsLakewood vs AuroraLakewood vs Fort CollinsLakewood vs ThorntonLakewood vs ArvadaLakewood vs WestminsterLakewood vs Pueblo

    More: Where to move in Colorado · Best counties in Colorado

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report