Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 15 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Lakewood
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Homes cost $111k less ($383,000 vs $494,100)
9% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $201/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,665)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
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 unemployment (5.6% vs 4.4%)
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $3,760 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Violent Crime
9% lower
715.6 vs 787.2 per 100k
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$111k less
$383,000 vs $494,100
Lakewood
Median Income
$3,760
$82,786 vs $79,026/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 58.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 15 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 15 and Lakewood 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 Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $494,100 median home), income ($79,026 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Lakewood, CO are about 61 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.