Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
East Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 15 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
East Los Angeles
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,222
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Homes cost $199k less ($383,000 vs $582,400)
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $14,907 more per year on average
18% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.6%)
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 rents — median is $1,464/mo
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Rent averages $95/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,464)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Colorado Springs by $14,907/yr
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Colorado Springs
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$14,907
$79,026 vs $64,119/yr
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$199k less
$383,000 vs $582,400
Colorado Springs
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Colorado Springs
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 82.0°F
East Los Angeles
Violent Crime
22% lower
558.4 vs 715.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | East Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $582,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $64,119 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 11.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 55.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 117,222 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 34.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs East Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 15 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 15 and East Los Angeles wins 8. 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 East Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $582,400 median home), income ($79,026 vs $64,119), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and East Los Angeles, CA are about 816 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.