Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Colorado Springs, CO
🏆 Austin leads 13 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Colorado Springs
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
35% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 45°F
Households earn $7,530 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($383,000 vs $461,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
Rent averages $85/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,549)
Cons
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.4%)
Median income trails Austin by $7,530/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$7,530
$86,556 vs $79,026/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
35% lower
466.9 vs 715.6 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 86.5°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.6 on the COL index
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$79k less
$383,000 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Colorado Springs, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $79,026 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 179⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 164⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 41.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 19.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 55.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 479,612 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 61.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 22.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Colorado Springs's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 13 of 23 categories. Austin wins 13 and Colorado Springs wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Austin to Colorado Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $383,000 median home), income ($86,556 vs $79,026), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Colorado Springs, CO are about 713 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.