Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 16 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Homes cost $196k less ($383,000 vs $578,900)
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.6%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Households earn $11,838 more per year on average
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
South Gate, CA
Pros
27% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Colorado Springs
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$11,838
$79,026 vs $67,188/yr
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$196k less
$383,000 vs $578,900
Colorado Springs
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Colorado Springs
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 82.0°F
South Gate
Violent Crime
27% lower
525.6 vs 715.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 16 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 16 and South Gate wins 7. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $578,900 median home), income ($79,026 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and South Gate, CA are about 820 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.