Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 San Jose leads 13 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612
San Jose
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Homes cost $767k less ($383,000 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1062/mo less ($1,464 vs $2,526)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $56,984/yr
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
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.7%)
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,984 more per year on average
15% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Colorado Springs
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$767k less
$383,000 vs $1,149,600
Colorado Springs
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$56,984
$136,010 vs $79,026/yr
San Jose
Violent Crime
15% lower
606.8 vs 715.6 per 100k
San Jose
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Jose leads 13 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 10 and San Jose wins 13. 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 San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($79,026 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and San Jose, CA are about 932 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.