Lakewood, CO
Lakewood, CO scores 77/100 (Very Good) on Your Area Score. It is a mid-sized city with a moderately affordable cost profile, a stronger safety profile, and a manageable climate. Whether it is a good place to live will depend heavily on your budget, neighborhood choice, and priorities.
Based on affordability, safety, climate, infrastructure, schools, grocery access, and risk.
Pros
- Safety
- Infrastructure
Cons
- Cost of Living
- Risk
At a Glance
Why Lakewood, CO scored 77/100
Top strengths
- Safety is one of the strongest categories for this city.
- Climate also helps lift the overall score.
- Lakewood, CO may appeal most to families, people who want convenience.
Main trade-offs
- Cost of Living is one of the weaker categories here.
- Climate may be a deciding factor depending on your priorities.
- Neighborhood choice still matters because citywide averages never tell the full story.
Category Scores
This city sits in a middle affordability tier, median gross rent is about $1,665, median home value is about $494,100, with enough population scale to support a broader local economy. See cheaper cities in CO.
The main risks here include winter weather and hail. Conditions can vary significantly by neighborhood and property type. Compare safer cities in CO.
The climate in Lakewood, CO is generally four-season. This can be a positive or negative depending on your tolerance for heat, humidity, cold, rain, or seasonal swings.
Larger cities usually score better here because they support more services, access, and everyday convenience.
School quality is mixed, with some stronger districts and some weaker pockets depending on the exact neighborhood.
Grocery access is adequate for most households, though options may be more spread out than in larger markets.
Living in Lakewood, CO
This section turns the score into day-to-day reality: housing, comfort, family fit, convenience, and the main trade-offs you would notice after moving.
Cost, housing, and daily setup
This city sits in a middle affordability tier, median gross rent is about $1,665, median home value is about $494,100, with enough population scale to support a broader local economy.
- Median rent: $1,665
- Median home value: $494,100
- Best fit: families, people who want convenience
Bottom line
Lakewood, CO is currently rated Very Good with a MoveScore of 77/100. Its strongest areas are Safety and Climate, while the biggest trade-offs are Cost of Living and Climate.
Climate and comfort
The climate in Lakewood, CO is generally four-season. This can be a positive or negative depending on your tolerance for heat, humidity, cold, rain, or seasonal swings.
Risk and drawbacks
The main risks here include winter weather and hail. Conditions can vary significantly by neighborhood and property type.
Schools and family fit
School quality is mixed, with some stronger districts and some weaker pockets depending on the exact neighborhood.
Errands and convenience
Grocery access is adequate for most households, though options may be more spread out than in larger markets.
Entertainment & Things To Do
Lakewood, CO offers strong big-event access, with multiple nearby venues that can support sports, concerts, and major weekend activity.
Best Fit For
- Families who want a workable mix of schools, services, and convenience.
- People who value dining, shopping, events, and a more active city feel.
- People who can handle warmer weather in exchange for broader city amenities.
Less Ideal For
- Buyers or renters looking for one of the more affordable city options in Colorado.
- People who want milder year-round weather and fewer climate-related trade-offs.
Neighborhood Reality
Lakewood, CO is not uniform. Some areas perform significantly better than others across safety, schools, and overall livability. Where you choose to live within the city will have a major impact on your experience.
What stands out
- Empower Field at Mile High — about 6 miles away
- Ball Arena — about 6.8 miles away
- Coors Field — about 7.6 miles away
- Dick's Sporting Goods Park — about 14.1 miles away
Relocation takeaway
People who care about weekend options usually want to know whether a city feels quiet, convenient, or event-driven. Lakewood, CO currently leans more toward regional convenience and big-event access.
Crime & Safety Reality
This is a practical interpretation of the city-level safety score. It should be treated as a broad relocation signal, not a substitute for neighborhood-level research.
What the current score suggests
Lakewood, CO has a stronger city-level safety profile than many comparable markets, though neighborhood conditions still vary. The main risks here include winter weather and hail. Conditions can vary significantly by neighborhood and property type.
What movers should do next
- Compare neighborhoods, not just city averages.
- Check commute routes after dark, not only daytime convenience.
- Look for trade-offs between affordability, access, and perceived safety.
Traffic & Commute Reality
Traffic quality is not just about how many roads exist. It is about whether the city gives you enough route options to handle daily commuting, errands, and regional travel.
How travel may feel here
Lakewood, CO has workable everyday connectivity, though travel times can stretch depending on commute direction and time of day. A few strong road connections help with local and regional travel, but commute quality will still depend heavily on where you live and where you work.
Why this matters
Cities with stronger access routes usually feel easier for airport runs, cross-town errands, and commuting to job centers. That does not eliminate congestion, but it does improve flexibility when one corridor slows down.
Primary Access & Connectivity
These are some of the main road connections near Lakewood, CO. They help show how easy it is to move around locally, reach job centers, and make longer regional trips.
Interstate 70
Strong regional and long-distance access for commuting, airport runs, and cross-metro travel.
Interstate 25
Strong regional and long-distance access for commuting, airport runs, and cross-metro travel.
Nearby Stadiums & Event Venues
Nearby venues can make a city more appealing for sports fans, concerts, and large events, but they can also increase traffic and activity on event days.
Empower Field at Mile High
Nearby venue that can improve access to sports, concerts, and major events.
Ball Arena
Nearby venue that can improve access to sports, concerts, and major events.
Coors Field
Nearby venue that can improve access to sports, concerts, and major events.
Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Nearby venue that can improve access to sports, concerts, and major events.