Denver-Aurora-Centennial receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Denver-Aurora-Centennial
Opportunity
43 · Bottom 25%
vs58 · Top 45%
Growth
63 · Top 30%
vs60 · Top 33%
Climate
59 · Bottom 22%
vs62 · Bottom 37%
Physical resilience
44 · Bottom 34%
vs48 · Bottom 39%
Housing affordability
66 · Bottom 9%
vs66 · Bottom 9%
Access
95 · Top 15%
vs100 · Top 1%
Economic stability
75 · Top 19%
vs97 · Top 1%
Measured values
| Metric | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | Denver-Aurora-Centennial | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,028,754 | 3,002,721 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $88,301 | $105,762 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $45,239 | $57,998 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 345/sq mi | 360/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $440,900 | $603,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,702 | $1,874 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.6% | 64.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.9% | -2.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.3% | 49.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 8.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 34,635 | 16,728 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.9 | 5.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -17.2% | 5.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 107°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 46°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 7.2" | 15.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 17 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 29.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.9 | 37.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Denver-Aurora-Centennial
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
64
Your Score
57
Area Score
Denver-Aurora-Centennial
70
Your Score
62
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Metro Area · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology