Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 17 of 22 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
479,612
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Households earn $21,489 more per year on average
21% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
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
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($215,500 vs $383,000)
Rent averages $214/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,464)
Cons
Median income trails Colorado Springs by $21,489/yr
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$21,489
$79,026 vs $57,537/yr
Colorado Springs
Violent Crime
21% lower
715.6 vs 908.7 per 100k
Colorado Springs
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$168k less
$215,500 vs $383,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 16.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 17 of 22 categories. Colorado Springs wins 17 and Philadelphia wins 5. 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $215,500 median home), income ($79,026 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Philadelphia, PA are about 1,576 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.