Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Colorado Springs, CO
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Chattanooga
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
Colorado Springs
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $153k less ($230,500 vs $383,000)
Rent averages $398/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,464)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.1%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Colorado Springs by $21,323/yr
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Households earn $21,323 more per year on average
13% less violent crime than Chattanooga
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,000
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$153k less
$230,500 vs $383,000
Chattanooga
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.1% vs 5.6% unemployment
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 86.5°F
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$21,323
$79,026 vs $57,703/yr
Colorado Springs
Violent Crime
13% lower
715.6 vs 823.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Colorado Springs, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $383,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,464⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $79,026 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 41.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 19.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 55.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 479,612 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 61.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Colorado Springs's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Chattanooga wins 11 and Colorado Springs wins 11. 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 Chattanooga to Colorado Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $383,000 median home), income ($57,703 vs $79,026), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Colorado Springs, CO are about 1,106 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.