Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 17 of 22 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Homes cost $242k less ($383,000 vs $624,800)
22% less violent crime than Richmond
Rent averages $389/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,853)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.6%)
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
Median income trails Richmond by $7,592/yr
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Richmond, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 87°F
Households earn $7,592 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Colorado Springs
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Violent Crime
22% lower
715.6 vs 923.1 per 100k
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$242k less
$383,000 vs $624,800
Colorado Springs
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Colorado Springs
Summer Heat
15.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$7,592
$86,618 vs $79,026/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 24.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 17 of 22 categories. Colorado Springs wins 17 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $624,800 median home), income ($79,026 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Richmond, CA are about 953 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.