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: 97.4Colorado 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 CrimeColorado Springs's violent crime rate is 715.6 per 100,000 residents — 88% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
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.
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 45.0°F |
| Average High — July | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" |
Demographics
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 479,612 | — |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 22.9 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 73.4% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 6.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 10.3% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 3.1% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 14.3% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO is covered by 25 ZIP codes: