Colorado Springs, CO vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | Colorado SpringsColorado Springs, CO | DenverDenver, CO | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Good | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Elevated | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At +0.7% year-over-year job growth, Colorado Springs, CO saw an increase while Denver, CO experienced a decline of -0.6%, a difference of 1.3 percentage points according to 2023 Census figures. Denver's per-capita income of $61,202 was 36% higher than Colorado Springs' $44,893, placing Denver in the 88th percentile and Colorado Springs in the 68th. The average commute in Denver was 25.4 minutes, three minutes longer than Colorado Springs' 22.8 minutes, with Denver in the 64th percentile and Colorado Springs in the 46th.
Healthcare access scores differed notably, with Denver scoring 100 out of 100 (90th percentile) compared to Colorado Springs' 77 out of 100 (41st percentile). Traffic deaths per 100,000 people were 17 in Denver versus 11 in Colorado Springs, a 50% higher rate for Denver, which ranked in the 51st percentile against Colorado Springs' 29th. Population density in Denver was 4,663 people per square mile, nearly double Colorado Springs' 2,389, placing Denver in the 90th percentile and Colorado Springs in the 68th. Average household size was 2.4 in Colorado Springs, 13% larger than Denver's 2.1, with Colorado Springs in the 43rd percentile and Denver in the 12th.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
Looking at homes in Colorado Springs or Denver?
Get a property report for a specific address.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 14073rd pctl | 17586th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Colorado Springs, CO 140; Denver, CO 175; Denver is 25% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $420,70074th pctl | $586,70087th pctl | Median home value: Colorado Springs, CO $420,700; Denver, CO $586,700; Denver is 39% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,56273rd pctl | $1,77083rd pctl | Median rent: Colorado Springs, CO $1,562; Denver, CO $1,770; Denver is 13% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $83,19863rd pctl | $91,68171st pctl | Median household income: Colorado Springs, CO $83,198; Denver, CO $91,681; Denver is 10% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $81,73575th pctl | $113,98689th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Colorado Springs, CO $81,735; Denver, CO $113,986; Denver is 39% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $120,15075th pctl | $167,55989th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Colorado Springs, CO $120,150; Denver, CO $167,559; Denver is 39% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Denver needs about
$93,800
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 140 vs 175). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 4.1%70th pctl | 4.3%78th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +0.7%38th pctl | -0.6%11th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Colorado Springs, CO +0.7%; Denver, CO -0.6%; Colorado Springs is 1.3 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $44,89368th pctl | $61,20288th pctl | Per-capita income: Colorado Springs, CO $44,893; Denver, CO $61,202; Denver is 36% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 9.3%38th pctl | 11.2%48th pctl | Poverty rate: Colorado Springs, CO 9.3%; Denver, CO 11.2%; Denver is 1.9 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 22.8 min46th pctl | 25.4 min64th pctl | Average commute: Colorado Springs, CO 22.8 min; Denver, CO 25.4 min; Denver is 3 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 16.1%74th pctl | 24.4%90th pctl | Work from home: Colorado Springs, CO 16.1%; Denver, CO 24.4%; Denver is 8.3 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Stable | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 67992nd pctl | 87597th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Colorado Springs, CO 679; Denver, CO 875; Denver is 29% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,02092nd pctl | 4,12698th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Colorado Springs, CO 3,020; Denver, CO 4,126; Denver is 37% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Dangerous | About the same |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Dry | Dry | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Healthcare access: Colorado Springs, CO A-; Denver, CO A+; Denver is graded higher. |
| Tap water | Poor | Clean | Tap water: Colorado Springs, CO D-; Denver, CO A-; Denver is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Workable | Workable | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Colorado, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Colorado →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 4 mi3rd pctl | 0 mi0th pctl | Nearest large city: Colorado Springs, CO 4 mi; Denver, CO 0 mi; Colorado Springs is higher (Denver: 0 mi). |
| Target proximity | Poor | Poor | Target proximity: Colorado Springs, CO D-; Denver, CO F; Colorado Springs is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 499 mi69th pctl | 556 mi77th pctl | Distance to international border: Colorado Springs, CO 499 mi; Denver, CO 556 mi; Denver is 11% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 652 mi80th pctl | 701 mi83rd pctl | Distance to coastline: Colorado Springs, CO 652 mi; Denver, CO 701 mi; Denver is 8% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Denver, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 483,09998th pctl | 713,73499th pctl | Population: Colorado Springs, CO 483,099; Denver, CO 713,734; Denver is 48% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,38968th pctl | 4,66390th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Colorado Springs, CO 2,389; Denver, CO 4,663; Denver is 95% higher. |
| Median age | 35.630th pctl | 35.227th pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.9%70th pctl | 55.6%85th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Colorado Springs, CO 41.9%; Denver, CO 55.6%; Denver is 13.7 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.443rd pctl | 2.112th pctl | Average household size: Colorado Springs, CO 2.4; Denver, CO 2.1; Colorado Springs is 13% larger. |
More about Colorado Springs's residents · Denver's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | Colorado SpringsColorado Springs, CO | DenverDenver, CO |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | R+5 | D+29 |
| 2024 presidential | R +9.0 pts | D +56.0 pts |
Full politics data: Colorado Springs · Denver
Moving between Colorado Springs and Denver
- Median rent: $1,562 in Colorado Springs, $1,770 in Denver
- Median home value: $420,700 in Colorado Springs, $586,700 in Denver
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 140 in Colorado Springs, 175 in Denver
- Median household income: $83,198 in Colorado Springs, $91,681 in Denver
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $120,150 in Colorado Springs, $167,559 in Denver
- Unemployment: 4.1% in Colorado Springs, 4.3% in Denver
- Average commute: 22.8 min in Colorado Springs, 25.4 min in Denver
- Violent crime per 100k: 679 in Colorado Springs, 875 in Denver
Weigh these by what matters to you
ReloMaps in ChatGPT can look at Colorado Springs and Denver against your own priorities, like budget, commute or climate.
Use ReloMaps in ChatGPT →Found a home in Colorado Springs or Denver?
A property report covers the address itself: the block, the neighbourhood data, risks and more, beyond these city-wide figures.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Compare a different pair
People also compare
More places like Colorado Springs and Denver
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
ReloMaps may earn a commission from affiliate links at no extra cost to you.