| Measure | DenverColorado, United States Remove Denver | SalinaKansas, United States Remove Salina |
|---|---|---|
| Scores (out of 10) | ||
| Overall score | 6.6 | 5.8 |
| Connector Score | 8.1 | 6.5 |
| Safety | 3.2 | — |
| Affordability | 5.2 | 8.3 |
| Transportation | 10.0 | 7.0 |
| Car-free friendliness | 8.5 | 5.0 |
| Walkability | 7.9 | 6.4 |
| Things to do | 6.6 | 5.3 |
| Food & dining | 5.4 | 3.8 |
| Places to stay | 6.9 | 5.3 |
| Nature & outdoors | 6.0 | 3.5 |
| Scenic value | 7.0 | 4.0 |
| Family friendliness | 4.6 | 6.7 |
| Solo-traveler friendliness | 5.3 | 5.9 |
| Nightlife | 4.0 | 3.6 |
| Remote-work friendliness | 6.1 | 5.7 |
| Road-trip convenience | 6.5 | 5.8 |
| Train-trip convenience | 7.5 | 1.0 |
| Bus-trip convenience | 6.9 | 6.8 |
| Cost (per person per day, USD) | ||
| Budget | $180 | $80 |
| Mid-range | $295 | $125 |
| Luxury | $551 | $207 |
| Living there | ||
| Cost of living index (national = 100) | 113 | 82 |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent | $1,850 | $825 |
| Median home price | $580,000 | $204,000 |
| Population | 741K | 46K |
| Getting there | ||
| Accessible by | Drive Train Bus Airport | Drive Bus Airport |
| Car recommended | — | — |
| Travel time from Denver | — | 9 h 27 min details |
| Character | ||
| Best for | Car-free travel | Budget stays |
| Known for | Mountains & hiking, National & state parks, Museums & galleries, Pro sports, Shopping | Lakes & rivers, Museums & galleries, Live music, Pro sports, Shopping, Family & kids |
| When to go | — | Peak: Summer road-trip season and the Smoky H… |
Scores and costs are estimates from public data and our own research; check the city pages for sources and dates.