Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Riverside, 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
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Riverside
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Homes cost $103k less ($383,000 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $247/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.6%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
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
Median income trails Riverside by $4,422/yr
Riverside, CA
Pros
18% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 45°F
Households earn $4,422 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$103k less
$383,000 vs $485,500
Colorado Springs
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Riverside
Median Income
$4,422
$83,448 vs $79,026/yr
Riverside
Violent Crime
18% lower
589.7 vs 715.6 per 100k
Riverside
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 316,076 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 14 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 14 and Riverside 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $485,500 median home), income ($79,026 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Riverside, CA are about 780 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.