Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Hartford, CT
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 13 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Hartford
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,057
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Households earn $37,185 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,000
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $184k less ($198,900 vs $383,000)
28% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Rent averages $310/mo less ($1,154 vs $1,464)
Cons
Median income trails Colorado Springs by $37,185/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$37,185
$79,026 vs $41,841/yr
Colorado Springs
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 10.6% unemployment
Hartford
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Violent Crime
28% lower
515.8 vs 715.6 per 100k
Hartford
Median Home Value
$184k less
$198,900 vs $383,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Hartford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High | $198,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,154 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $41,841 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 17.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Hartford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 36.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 51.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 121,057 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 25.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Hartford's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 13 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 13 and Hartford wins 10. 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 Hartford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $198,900 median home), income ($79,026 vs $41,841), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Hartford, CT are about 1,692 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.