Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 12 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Spokane
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
227,922
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Households earn $15,710 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $383,000
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
Spokane, WA
Pros
Rent averages $404/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,464)
Homes cost $96k less ($286,900 vs $383,000)
6% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Colorado Springs by $15,710/yr
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$15,710
$79,026 vs $63,316/yr
Colorado Springs
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Spokane
Violent Crime
6% lower
674.9 vs 715.6 per 100k
Spokane
Median Home Value
$96k less
$286,900 vs $383,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 45.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 227,922 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 12 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 12 and Spokane wins 11. 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $286,900 median home), income ($79,026 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Spokane, WA are about 879 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.