Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 13 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Tampa
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Households earn $12,224 more per year on average
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $383,000
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Tampa, FL
Pros
38% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Homes cost $50k less ($333,200 vs $383,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Colorado Springs by $12,224/yr
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Colorado Springs
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$12,224
$79,026 vs $66,802/yr
Tampa
Violent Crime
38% lower
444.6 vs 715.6 per 100k
Tampa
Median Home Value
$50k less
$333,200 vs $383,000
Tampa
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 388,768 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 13 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 10 and Tampa 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $333,200 median home), income ($79,026 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Tampa, FL are about 1,484 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.