What it's like to live in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is a large city in Colorado with commutes that run shorter than most cities, a highly educated workforce, several well-rated hospitals, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Colorado Springs deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Several well-rated hospitals
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 55" per year
How Colorado Springs compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Colorado Springs
Based on Colorado Springs's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,296
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $65,920 a year
- 53% of Colorado Springs renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$90,520
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $45,260
- Homes cost 5.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 17% above US
$1,648/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,648 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $452,600. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $452,600 · 53% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.0% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.0%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 110% above US
690 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 3029/100k · Colorado Springs Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 13% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 18% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 19°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
7 hospitals
There are 7 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 19% above US
43% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 43% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
151 public schools inside the boundary
There are 151 public schools inside the boundary and 13 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (28 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Colorado Springs's strongest points are commutes that run shorter than most cities and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,648/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (18% of workers here already work from home) and college-educated professionals.
See all the data for Colorado Springs →·All Colorado cities →
Other places near Colorado Springs
All Colorado guides →Moving to Cimarron Hills →
3 mi away · pop. 19,817
Rent $1,664/mo · Income $80,808
Compare with Colorado Springs →Moving to Security-Widefield →
8 mi away · pop. 37,345
Rent $1,793/mo · Income $91,142
Compare with Colorado Springs →Moving to Fort Carson →
9 mi away · pop. 18,019
Rent $2,180/mo · Income $66,237
Compare with Colorado Springs →