Denver, CO and Las Vegas, NV, both stand out with unique lifestyles and opportunities for both residents and tourists. Denver, often named the Mile-High City, offers a balanced environment of urban and natural engagement. On the other hand, Las Vegas, known worldwide for its vibrant nightlife and entertainment scene, lives up to its nickname as 'The Entertainment Capital of the World.' This comparison between the two cities focuses on various aspects, including crime and safety, weather, education, and more, to provide a holistic understanding for those considering relocating or visiting either location.
Distance between
Denver, CO and
Las Vegas, NV : 609.2 miles
Denver's population is larger by 10%. Its population has grown by 156,827 people (28.3%) since 2000. The population of Las Vegas has grown by 168,356 people (35.2%) during that time.
Safety remains an essential factor while choosing a place to live or visit. In general, Las Vegas, with its large tourist population, can experience higher crime rates compared to Denver. However, crime in both cities is often localized to certain areas and avoided with due caution. Both cities have dedicated law enforcement agencies working to improve overall safety.
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
Sex Offenders
According to our data, there are 1,937 registered sex offenders living in Denver and 4,787 registered sex offenders living in . The ratio of residents to sex offenders in Denver is 358 to 1; the ratio in Las Vegas is 132 to 1. The number of registered sex offenders compared to the number of residents is a lot smaller in Denver than in Las Vegas.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Denver is generally higher than in Las Vegas, possibly due to its thriving economy and demand. Housing plays a significant role in this distinction. However, groceries, utilities, and healthcare can be more affordable in Denver compared to Las Vegas.
Income Tax
Denver residents face both state and federal income taxes, with Colorado's tax rate standing at 4.63%. Nevada, on the other hand, does not levy a state income tax, which can lead to significant savings for Las Vegas residents.
Property Tax
Property taxes in Denver are relatively low, with a residential tax rate of about 0.5%. Nevada also has moderate property taxes, with Clark County (where Las Vegas is) having an average rate of about 0.65%.
Sales Tax
Both Colorado (Denver) and Nevada (Las Vegas) have sales tax regimes. Denver's combined sales tax rate is 8.31%, while Las Vegas' rate combines to 8.38%. Tourism heavily influences Las Vegas's sales tax revenue.
Income
Type
Denver
Las Vegas
Estimated median household income
$81,630
$59,746
Estimated per capita income
$52,690
$33,825
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
111.3
99.1
If you make $50,000 in Las Vegas, you will have to make $56,155 in Denver to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Denver's location near the Rocky Mountains offers residents and visitors an array of outdoor activities. Alternatively, Las Vegas is located in a desert basin with mountains surrounding the city. Both cities have distinctive landscapes that shape their respective lifestyles.
Both cities have robust educational systems. Denver has a higher graduation rate and is home to more top-ranked schools than Las Vegas. Denver Public Schools serves the city, while the Clark County School District manages Las Vegas's public education. Both cities also offer various higher education opportunities.
Denver boasts a diverse economy with a focus on industries such as aerospace, telecommunications, and healthcare. It also boasts a lower unemployment rate compared to Las Vegas. Las Vegas, dominated by hospitality and entertainment industries, is dependent on tourism. Its economy took a significant hit during the COVID-19 pandemic due to travel restrictions.
Biggest Employers
Government bodies, healthcare organizations, and education sectors dominate the list of largest employers in Denver. This list includes Denver Public Schools, the University of Colorado Denver, and HealthONE Corporation. In Las Vegas, the biggest employers are in the hospitality and gaming sectors, including MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment.
There were 1,550 building permits issued in Denver in 2012 (847 more than in 2011) compared to 2,700 building permits issued in Las Vegas in 2012 (1886 more than in 2011).
In Denver (Denver County), 73.9% voted for Democrats and 24.3% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Las Vegas (Clark County), 56.4% voted for Democrats and 41.8% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Denver
Las Vegas
Denver
Las Vegas
Denver
Las Vegas
2020
80.1%
53.7%
18.3%
44.3%
1.6%
2.0%
2016
74.2%
52.4%
19.0%
41.7%
6.8%
5.8%
2012
73.9%
56.4%
24.3%
41.8%
1.7%
1.8%
2008
75.8%
58.5%
23.2%
39.5%
1.0%
2.0%
2004
69.7%
51.8%
29.3%
46.9%
0.9%
1.3%
2000
62.0%
51.4%
30.9%
44.8%
7.0%
3.8%
1996
61.8%
75.5%
30.0%
18.8%
8.2%
5.7%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Denver
Las Vegas
Denver
Las Vegas
CATHOLIC CHURCH
26.6%
18.1%
8.7%
4.0%
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA
2.1%
0.2%
4.3%
1.4%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1.1%
0.1%
3.2%
1.1%
SALVATION ARMY
1.1%
0.1%
0.7%
0.5%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
0.9%
1.6%
6.8%
11.2%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.7%
0.2%
3.0%
1.6%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
0.5%
0.1%
0.9%
0.6%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.4%
0.4%
2.7%
1.6%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.3%
0.2%
2.3%
1.2%
Weather
Denver boasts a semi-arid, four-season climate, with mild winters and warm summers. The city can have impressive snowfall but also enjoys many sunny days. In contrast, Las Vegas exhibits a desert climate, with scorching summers and mild winters. The city is particularly sunny, receiving over 300 sunny days per year.
Weather and climate
Type
Denver
Las Vegas
Temperature - Average
49.5°F
65.5°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
50.6%
30.7%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
20%
42%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
55%
52%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
35%
10%
Precipitation - Yearly average
17 in
5.7 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
114 in
1.6 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
19.2%
35.1%
Sunshine amount - Average
75.6%
91.8%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
10%
16%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
74%
92%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
64%
76%
Wind speed - Average
8.6 mph
9.2 mph
Average climate in Denver, Colorado
Average climate in Las Vegas, Nevada
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Denver
Las Vegas
Denver
Las Vegas
Denver
Las Vegas
Denver
Las Vegas
Denver
Denver
Las Vegas
Denver
Las Vegas
Denver
Las Vegas
2018
100
100
0.50
0.42
25.4
13.1
27.9
37.2
N/A
N/A
29.2
24.4
8.6
6.0
0.7
0.7
2017
95
101
0.49
0.29
25.9
13.0
27.6
38.5
N/A
N/A
22.0
20.3
8.4
7.3
0.8
0.8
2016
90
97
0.53
0.38
27.7
11.2
27.2
36.5
N/A
N/A
22.6
20.6
8.7
8.7
1.0
0.8
2015
101
92
0.53
0.36
27.8
12.4
25.2
35.6
N/A
N/A
21.0
18.9
10.4
8.4
1.0
1.2
2014
94
91
0.53
0.40
25.4
10.8
24.6
36.5
N/A
N/A
25.1
21.1
10.1
9.2
1.3
1.4
2013
85
103
0.45
0.45
21.9
9.6
24.0
36.9
N/A
N/A
24.4
22.1
N/A
8.6
1.5
1.5
2012
91
94
0.33
0.49
18.9
5.9
26.2
38.5
N/A
N/A
24.9
21.5
N/A
8.3
1.4
1.4
2011
91
85
0.34
0.40
18.1
5.3
25.8
37.5
N/A
N/A
23.7
18.2
N/A
7.8
1.6
1.2
2010
82
86
0.43
0.50
16.3
5.7
23.6
36.6
N/A
N/A
26.4
16.1
N/A
7.1
1.0
N/A
2009
79
87
0.41
0.56
14.1
6.0
23.1
33.3
0.005
N/A
22.2
20.9
N/A
8.3
1.3
N/A
2008
85
82
0.43
0.66
17.3
8.2
26.0
33.0
0.008
N/A
25.2
N/A
N/A
9.2
1.6
N/A
2007
96
97
0.37
0.61
20.6
11.7
21.9
32.4
0.007
N/A
30.2
N/A
N/A
8.6
1.2
0.1
2006
89
102
0.51
0.75
19.0
13.4
22.1
32.7
0.008
N/A
28.0
N/A
N/A
8.3
1.4
0.8
2005
86
100
0.57
0.76
21.3
15.1
20.9
30.2
0.068
N/A
30.9
N/A
N/A
7.8
1.5
5.3
2004
82
85
0.60
0.71
21.2
16.0
19.2
30.6
0.012
N/A
28.6
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.8
1.6
2003
106
99
0.60
0.67
21.2
15.9
20.8
29.8
0.015
N/A
32.6
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.9
1.0
2002
86
94
0.65
0.73
19.2
15.7
20.4
30.6
0.014
N/A
35.7
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.5
0.7
2001
95
95
0.86
0.76
23.6
15.0
18.6
29.4
0.012
N/A
32.6
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.6
1.1
2000
93
95
0.81
0.88
13.4
14.7
19.2
29.7
0.013
N/A
12.2
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.1
0.4
Natural disasters
Type
Denver
Las Vegas
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
129.5%
2.1%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
811.7%
6,093.4%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
10%
12%
Transportation
Denver offers a reliable network of buses and light rail services, managed by the Regional Transportation District. Alternatively, Las Vegas has buses operated by RTC Transit and a monorail system servicing the Strip. Both cities also support biking and have significant ride-sharing operations.
Transport
Type
Denver
Las Vegas
Amtrak stations
2
1
Amtrak stations nearby
2
1
FAA registered aircraft
602
1
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
28
81
Means of transportation to work
Type
Denver
Las Vegas
Bicycle
1.5%
0.1%
Bus
2.6%
2.2%
Carpooled
8.8%
10.3%
Car alone
81.1%
82.7%
Motorcycle
0.1%
0.4%
Railroad
1.2%
0%
Streetcar
0.2%
0%
Taxicab
0.1%
0%
Walked
2.8%
1.4%
Average travel time to work
Type
Denver
Las Vegas
Average
29.4 min
26.3 min
Other means
24.2 min
24 min
Public transportation
38 min
49.9 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
Denver
Las Vegas
Average
1.1
1.2
Drove alone
90.6%
88.9%
In 2 person carpool
7.3%
8.2%
In 3 person carpool
1.3%
2.1%
In 4 person carpool
0.5%
0.2%
In 5-6 person carpool
0.2%
0.4%
In 7+ person carpool
0%
0.2%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Real estate prices in Denver are higher than in Las Vegas, reflecting the city's robust economy and quality of life. Las Vegas' real estate is more affordable, and the city also has a bustling rental market due to the high tourist inflow.
Neighborhoods
Denver's neighborhoods range from bustling downtown areas to tranquil, family-friendly suburban communities. The Highlands, Capitol Hill, and Cherry Creek are popular areas in the city. On the other hand, Las Vegas features iconic neighborhoods like Paradise, home to the famous Las Vegas Strip, and Henderson, known for its quality of life.
Houses and residents
Type
Denver
Las Vegas
Houses
351,829
269,602
Average household size (people)
2.2
2.7
Median year apartment built
1981
1991
Median year house/condo built
1966
1995
Length of stay in the house since moving in
11.3 years
10.1 years
Houses occupied
326,634 (92.8%)
250,350 (92.9%)
Houses occupied by owners
164,429 (50.3%)
138,677 (55.4%)
Houses occupied by renters
162,205 (49.7%)
111,673 (44.6%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,674
$1,176
Median monthly housing costs
$1,626
$1,255
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$970,375
$989,410
Estimated median house or condo value
$541,500
$362,400
Median numbers of rooms
4.6
5.2
Median number of rooms in apartments
3.5
4.1
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.4
6.1
Median house price - detached houses
$690,450
$439,169
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
$668,727
$161,204
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$410,273
$201,871
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$487,647
$327,174
Median house price - mobile homes
$174,140
$113,235
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$568,100
$274,961
Median house price - All housing units
$644,007
$417,434
Median house age
47
27
Renting percentage
50%
43.5%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
2,294.3
2,379.4
House value disparities
26.4%
27.1%
Household income disparities
44%
47.1%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$120,615
$90,388
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$77,011
$62,287
Housing units without a mortgage
2,112 (1.7%)
1,172 (1.2%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
9,615 (7.6%)
4,450 (4.6%)
Housing units with a mortgage
123,690 (98.3%)
95,992 (98.8%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
273 (0.2%)
178 (0.2%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
12,819 (10.2%)
5,092 (5.2%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
7
7
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
1
2
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
1.3%
1.3%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
0.8%
1%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
Denver
Las Vegas
One, detached
42.9%
61.5%
One, attached
8.3%
5.3%
Two
2.1%
1.3%
3 or 4
3.1%
7.7%
5 to 9
3.6%
8.4%
10 to 19
7.0%
4.8%
20 to 49
10.4%
2.8%
50 or more
22.0%
6.8%
Mobile homes
0.4%
1.4%
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.
0.1%
0.1%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
24,661
18,990
State government workers
15,204
6,950
Unpaid family workers
763
614
Industries and Occupations
As mentioned, Denver thrives on diverse industries including aerospace, telecommunications, and healthcare. In contrast, Las Vegas is heavily reliant on the entertainment, hospitality, and gaming sectors. Employment opportunities in these fields differentiate the two cities.
Both Las Vegas and Denver have excellent healthcare facilities. Denver boasts several top-rated hospitals, including UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. Las Vegas, home to several reputable hospitals like the Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, also caters to healthcare needs effectively.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Denver
Las Vegas
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Denver's infrastructure includes well-maintained roads, mass transit systems, and a world-class airport, Denver International. Las Vegas also boasts a robust infrastructure with an emphasis on supporting the tourism industry. It has McCarran International Airport and an efficient road system.
Infrastructure
Type
Denver
Las Vegas
Hospitals
16
39
TV stations
17
12
Arenas or stadiums
4
2
Bank branches located here
205
281
Bank institutions located here
43
34
Main business address for public companies
58
57
Drinking water stations with no reported violations in the past
8
32
Drinking water stations with reported violations in the past
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
Denver
Las Vegas
1999
2,727
2,657
2000
2,698
579
2001
1,996
371
2002
1,591
380
2003
2,472
3,590
2004
3,789
5,908
2005
5,168
7,894
2006
5,506
6,914
2007
3,599
3,733
2008
1,902
1,431
2009
768
813
Culture and Food
Both Denver and Las Vegas have bustling cultural scenes. Denver offers a blend of outdoor activities and urban sophistication, with a focus on local arts, craft breweries, and farm-to-table dining. Las Vegas, globally famous for its entertainment offerings, has a range of cultural experiences, high-end dining, and a vibrant club scene.
Sports Teams
Sports enthusiasts will appreciate both cities. Denver hosts a range of professional sports teams, including the Denver Broncos (NFL), Colorado Rockies (MLB), and Denver Nuggets (NBA). Las Vegas boasts some famous teams, including the Las Vegas Raiders (NFL) and Vegas Golden Knights (NHL).
Denver, CO
Las Vegas, NV
Denver, CO and 
Las Vegas, NV : 609.2 miles
