Arapahoe County vs Jefferson County
Arapahoe County, Colorado versus Jefferson County, Colorado: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Jefferson County edges out Arapahoe County on overall objective livability (46 vs 42 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Arapahoe County | Jefferson County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $92k | $103k |
| Cost of Living | $63k | $63k |
| Home Value | $481k | $557k |
| Monthly Rent | $2k | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.55% | 0.49% |
| Income Tax | 4.40% | 4.40% |
| Sales Tax | 7.81% | 7.81% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.82% | 9.60% |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | 3.9% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 32°F | 31°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 74°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.5 in | 19.8 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 62.1 in | 74.4 in |
| Sunny Days | 253 days | 283 days |
| Summer Humidity | 48°F | 48°F |
| Comfortable Days | 46 days | 44 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 93.8 | 94.9 |
| Air Quality | 47 AQI | 49 AQI |
| School Quality | 65.2 | 56.1 |
| Violent Crime | 1639/100k | 1173/100k |
| Property Crime | 4009/100k | 3492/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 654,453 | 580,519 |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 40.2 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.55 | 0.29 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.00 | 1.01 |
| Political Leaning | D+25 | D+19 |
| White (%) | 57.8% | 76.5% |
| Black (%) | 10.6% | 1.1% |
| Hispanic (%) | 20.2% | 15.8% |
| Asian (%) | 6.1% | 2.8% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.4% | 3.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 28 min | 27 min |
| Walkability | 12.2/20 | 10.9/20 |
| Airport Distance | 21 mi | 37 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 93.6% | 93.8% |
| Amenities Nearby | 0.00 | 0.50 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Arapahoe County or Jefferson County more affordable?
- Arapahoe County has the lower cost of living: its index is $63k, compared with Arapahoe County's $63k and Jefferson County's $63k. Median rent is $2k in Arapahoe County versus $2k in Jefferson County.
- Is Arapahoe County or Jefferson County safer?
- Jefferson County has the lower violent crime rate. Arapahoe County reports 1639/100k and Jefferson County reports 1173/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Arapahoe County or Jefferson County?
- The median home value is $481k in Arapahoe County and $557k in Jefferson County, so homes are more affordable in Arapahoe County.