Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Salt Lake City
Utah
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
17% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Homes cost $76k less ($383,000 vs $458,600)
Households earn $6,669 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 40°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.6%)
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.6%)
Rent averages $210/mo less ($1,254 vs $1,464)
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Colorado Springs by $6,669/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$6,669
$79,026 vs $72,357/yr
Colorado Springs
Violent Crime
17% lower
715.6 vs 864.2 per 100k
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$76k less
$383,000 vs $458,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.4 on the COL index
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $72,357 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 49.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 201,269 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 14 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 14 and Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $458,600 median home), income ($79,026 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Salt Lake City, UT are about 403 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.