Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 14 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Homes cost $501k less ($383,000 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $1158/mo less ($1,464 vs $2,622)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $57,544/yr
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%)
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,544 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Colorado Springs
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
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 Home Value
$501k less
$383,000 vs $883,600
Colorado Springs
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 79.5°F
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$57,544
$136,570 vs $79,026/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
86% lower
99.2 vs 715.6 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Mission Viejo, 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 | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 14 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 9 and Mission Viejo wins 14. 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 Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $883,600 median home), income ($79,026 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Mission Viejo, CA are about 804 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.