Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Colorado Springs, CO
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 17 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870
Colorado Springs
Colorado
17
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.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $191k less ($192,000 vs $383,000)
Rent averages $571/mo less ($893 vs $1,464)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Colorado Springs
Cons
Median income trails Colorado Springs by $29,835/yr
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.6%)
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Households earn $29,835 more per year on average
15% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.6%)
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
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$191k less
$192,000 vs $383,000
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$29,835
$79,026 vs $49,191/yr
Colorado Springs
Violent Crime
15% lower
715.6 vs 845.6 per 100k
Colorado Springs
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Colorado Springs, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $383,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,464⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $79,026 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 41.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 19.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 55.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 | 479,612 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 61.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 22.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Colorado Springs's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 17 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 6 and Colorado Springs wins 17. 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 Cincinnati to Colorado Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $383,000 median home), income ($49,191 vs $79,026), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Colorado Springs, CO are about 1,085 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.