Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 15 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Stockton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
38% less violent crime than Stockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Stockton
Households earn $7,414 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
Stockton, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Colorado Springs
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$7,414
$79,026 vs $71,612/yr
Colorado Springs
Violent Crime
38% lower
715.6 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Colorado Springs
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High | $382,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,417⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $71,612 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 320,030 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 15 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 15 and Stockton wins 8. 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 Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $382,000 median home), income ($79,026 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Stockton, CA are about 897 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.