Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 14 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Modesto
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
218,308
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Modesto
Households earn $5,651 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
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
Modesto, CA
Pros
8% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.6%)
Longer commutes — 29.4 min average each way
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Colorado Springs
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$5,651
$79,026 vs $73,375/yr
Colorado Springs
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Violent Crime
8% lower
655.7 vs 715.6 per 100k
Modesto
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 218,308 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 14 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 14 and Modesto wins 9. 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 Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $381,800 median home), income ($79,026 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Modesto, CA are about 884 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.