Denver or Phoenix: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Denver and Phoenix are even: 5 : 5 across 11 indicators.
- Money: Phoenix 1:3
- Climate and risks: Denver 4:2
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Denver
Indicator
Phoenix
Money
Better: Phoenix (1 : 3)Per capita income
higher is better
✓$92,174
202432% higher
✗$70,055
202424% lower
Typical rent
lower is better
✗$1,900
2026-09-3010% higher
✓$1,720
2026-09-309% lower
Typical home value
lower is better
✗$555,487
2026-09-3026% higher
✓$441,097
2026-09-3021% lower
Price level
lower is better
✗105.8 100 = US average
20242% higher
✓103.3 100 = US average
20242% lower
Climate and risks
Better: Denver (4 : 2)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✓64 AQI
202426% lower
✗86 AQI
202434% higher
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✓42 days per year
202463% lower
✗114 days per year
2024171% higher
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✓91 days per year
2016-202556% lower
✗206 days per year
2016-2025127% higher
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✗24 days per year
2016-2025
✓0 days per year
2016-2025
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
lower is better
✗1.8 days per year
2016-2025
✓0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
13 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2,796 °C·days per year
2016-2025
384 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
654 °C·days per year
2016-2025
2,923 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
52 days per year
2016-2025
23 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
no data for one of the places
13 days per year
2016-2025
no data
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
356 mm per year
2016-2025
156 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
10.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
15.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
14.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
49 %
2021-2025
30 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✓0 days per year
2021-2025
✗7 days per year
2021-2025
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,171 km
2006-2025
261 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
tie
0.00 per year
2006-2025
0.00 per year
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
3,052,498 people
2024
5,186,958 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Denver, Phoenix.