Colorado Springs vs Denver
Colorado Springs, Colorado versus Denver, Colorado: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Colorado Springs edges out Denver on overall objective livability (51 vs 44 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Colorado Springs | Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $79k | $86k |
| Cost of Living | $52k | $60k |
| Home Value | $383k | $540k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.40% | 0.45% |
| Income Tax | 4.40% | 4.90% |
| Sales Tax | 7.81% | 7.81% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 8.90% | 10.33% |
| Unemployment | 5.6% | 4.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 32°F | 32°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 75°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0 in | 15.4 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2 in | 49.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 283 days | 217 days |
| Summer Humidity | 48°F | 48°F |
| Comfortable Days | 56 days | 38 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 23.8 | 53.3 |
| Air Quality | 31 AQI | 45 AQI |
| School Quality | 52.9 | 71.5 |
| Violent Crime | 1154/100k | 2034/100k |
| Property Crime | 3400/100k | 6437/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 479,612 | 710,800 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 34.9 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.44 | 0.54 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.01 | 1.02 |
| Political Leaning | R+11 | D+63 |
| White (%) | 66.2% | 53.9% |
| Black (%) | 5.6% | 8.5% |
| Hispanic (%) | 18.5% | 29.2% |
| Asian (%) | 3.0% | 3.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 6.6% | 5.0% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 23 min | 25 min |
| Walkability | 10.9/20 | 12.7/20 |
| Airport Distance | 68 mi | 12 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 93.3% | 91.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 13.87 | 9.64 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: 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 Colorado Springs or Denver more affordable?
- Colorado Springs has the lower cost of living: its index is $52k, compared with Colorado Springs's $52k and Denver's $60k. Median rent is $1k in Colorado Springs versus $2k in Denver.
- Is Colorado Springs or Denver safer?
- Colorado Springs has the lower violent crime rate. Colorado Springs reports 1154/100k and Denver reports 2034/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Colorado Springs or Denver?
- The median home value is $383k in Colorado Springs and $540k in Denver, so homes are more affordable in Colorado Springs.