Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 15 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Newark
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Households earn $32,566 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $383,000
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Newark, NJ
Pros
19% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Homes cost $71k less ($312,300 vs $383,000)
Rent averages $191/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,464)
Cons
Median income trails Colorado Springs by $32,566/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Colorado Springs
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$32,566
$79,026 vs $46,460/yr
Colorado Springs
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 10.7% unemployment
Newark
Violent Crime
19% lower
581.2 vs 715.6 per 100k
Newark
Median Home Value
$71k less
$312,300 vs $383,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 307,355 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 15 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 15 and Newark 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $312,300 median home), income ($79,026 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Newark, NJ are about 1,621 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.