Median Income
$79,026
household / year
Median Home Value
$383,000
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,464
gross / month
Cost of Living
97
national avg = 100

Is Colorado Springs, CO a Good Place to Live?

Colorado Springs is a large city of 479,612 in Colorado, with a median household income of $79,026 and a 5.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Colorado Springs stands out for solid school ratings (B), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Colorado Springs is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Colorado Springs city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 97.4

Colorado Springs's overall cost of living index is 97.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Colorado Springs costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric Colorado Springs, CO National Avg
Median Home Value $383,000 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,464 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 61.1% 65.9%
Median Household Income $79,026 $74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Colorado Springs's violent crime rate is 715.6 per 100,000 residents — 88% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
715.6 /100k
Property Crime
3448.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Colorado Springs is served primarily by Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Colorado Springs, CO National Avg
School District Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E —
Elementary Schools 37 —
Middle Schools 9 —
High Schools 11 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 14.9:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 41.1% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 94.3% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Colorado Springs sees average highs of 45.0°F in January and 86.5°F in July, with 19.0 inches of annual precipitation and 55.2 inches of snow per year.

MetricColorado Springs, CO
Average High — January45.0°F
Average High — July86.5°F
Annual Precipitation19.0"
Annual Snowfall55.2"

Demographics

MetricColorado Springs, CONational Avg
Population479,612—
Median Age35.138.9
Unemployment Rate5.6%3.7%
Avg Commute Time22.9 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)73.4%59.3%
Black or African American6.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino10.3%18.9%
Asian3.1%6.3%
Under 1822.1%22.2%
65 and over14.3%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, CO is covered by 25 ZIP codes:

Colorado Springs vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Colorado Springs roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $383,000 and median rent is $1,464/month.
Colorado Springs's violent crime rate is 715.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3448.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Colorado Springs are operated by Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E. The district has 37 elementary, 9 middle, and 11 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 41.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Colorado Springs, CO has a population of 479,612, a median household income of $79,026, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Colorado Springs averages 45.0°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 19.0 inches with about 55.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Colorado Springs, CO is covered by 25 ZIP codes: 80916, 80906, 80925, 80919, 80918, 80920, 80904, 80907, 80909, 80929, 80921, 80831, 80910, 80923, 80924, 80917, 80903, 80938, 80905, 80922, 80927, 80951, 80926, 80914, 80939.
The population of Colorado Springs, Colorado is 479,612 with a median age of 35.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Colorado Springs: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $383,000, median household income $79,026, crime index 179 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Colorado Springs side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.