Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Fort Lauderdale, FL
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 13 of 20 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Rent averages $163/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,627)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Homes cost $35k less ($383,000 vs $417,600)
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $3,650 more per year on average
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
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 45°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Colorado Springs
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$3,650
$79,026 vs $75,376/yr
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$35k less
$383,000 vs $417,600
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $417,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,627⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $75,376 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 26.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 63.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 182,673 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 43.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 54.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 19.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Fort Lauderdale's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 13 of 20 categories. Colorado Springs wins 13 and Fort Lauderdale wins 7. 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 Fort Lauderdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $417,600 median home), income ($79,026 vs $75,376), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Fort Lauderdale, FL are about 1,674 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Colorado Springs, CO vs Aurora, CO
Fort Lauderdale, FL vs Pembroke Pines, FL
Colorado Springs, CO vs Denver, CO
Fort Lauderdale, FL vs Tallahassee, FL
Colorado Springs, CO vs Fort Collins, CO
Fort Lauderdale, FL vs Cape Coral, FL
Colorado Springs, CO vs Lakewood, CO
Fort Lauderdale, FL vs Port St. Lucie, FL