Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Columbus, GA
🏆 Columbus leads 13 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Columbus
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,561
Violent Crime Index
159⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
204,572
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Households earn $24,465 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
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
Columbus, GA
Pros
Homes cost $215k less ($168,400 vs $383,000)
Rent averages $426/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,464)
16% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Colorado Springs
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.8)
Cons
Median income trails Colorado Springs by $24,465/yr
Violent crime (603.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$24,465
$79,026 vs $54,561/yr
Colorado Springs
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.3% unemployment
Columbus
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 88.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Violent Crime
16% lower
603.8 vs 715.6 per 100k
Columbus
Median Home Value
$215k less
$168,400 vs $383,000
Columbus
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Columbus, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 88.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High | $168,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $54,561 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 20.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Muscogee County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 57.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 204,572 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 49.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Columbus's 88.8 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbus leads 13 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 10 and Columbus wins 13. 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 Colorado Springs to Columbus or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $168,400 median home), income ($79,026 vs $54,561), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Columbus, GA are about 1,196 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.