Denver vs Seattle
Two markets on the list for people leaving LA. Here's how they stack up on price, pace and taxes, measured against what a typical LA home sells for.
| Denver, CO | Seattle, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $650K | $901K |
| Median single-family | $715K | $1.17M |
| Median condo | $335K | $503K |
| Median $/sq ft | $367 | $571 |
| Median days on market | 21 | 11 |
| Avg sale-to-list | 99.1% | 100.8% |
| Sq ft for $1M (at median $/sq ft) | 2,720 | 1,750 |
| Californians who moved to the state (2024) | 19,717 | 43,938 |
Redfin Data Center, May 2026, all residential unless noted. Typical LA County zip for reference: $904K median, $588/sq ft, 44 median days on market. Mover counts: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024, estimates with margins of error.
The short version
Denver is the less expensive of the two at the median, about $650K versus $901K in Seattle, roughly 28% less (Redfin, May 2026). $1 million covers roughly 2,720 square feet in Denver at the median price per square foot, versus about 1,750 in Seattle. Seattle homes have been moving faster, 11 median days on market versus 21 in Denver. Colorado has a 4.4% flat income tax (tax year 2026). Washington has no personal income tax on wages. In 2024 about 20,000 Californians moved to Colorado and about 44,000 to Washington (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024).
Taxes
Denver: 4.4% flat rate (tax year 2026). Seattle: None on wages (Washington has no personal income tax on wages). Property tax, insurance and HOA costs vary by address in both places and can matter as much as income tax, so price them for any specific home.
Go deeper
Read the full guides: moving from LA to Denver and moving from LA to Seattle.
Common questions
Is Denver or Seattle cheaper?
Denver had the lower median sale price, about $650K versus $901K in Seattle (Redfin, May 2026), roughly 28% less at the median.
Which has lower state income tax, Denver or Seattle?
Seattle has the lower state income tax. Washington has no personal income tax on wages. By comparison, Colorado has a 4.4% flat income tax (tax year 2026). Rates change, so confirm with each state and a CPA.
What does $1 million buy in Denver vs Seattle?
At the median price per square foot, $1 million works out to roughly 2,720 square feet in Denver and 1,750 in Seattle, versus about 1,700 at the LA median. A rough illustration, not a listing.
