City comparison
Yes. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Colorado Springs is cheaper. Median rent is $1,648 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Austin and Colorado Springs. Austin averages 68°F while Colorado Springs averages 55°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,729 versus $1,648.
Austin is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Colorado Springs makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Austin is the stronger move.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Colorado Springs in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Austin and Colorado Springs are 715 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, down $81 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, down $8,840 (9%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 38 points (23%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Austin are 715 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $81 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $93,658 in Austin, up $8,840 (10%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 162 in Austin, down 38 points (19%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Colorado Springs rent is 5% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Colorado Springs
Winner$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs versus $1,729 in Austin, so Colorado Springs is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $81, or $972 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Austin's median income is 10% higher than Colorado Springs
Austin
Winner$93,658
Colorado Springs
$84,818
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Austin (about $8,840 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
19% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 19% lower than Colorado Springs
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 19% lower in Austin. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Austin is the easier city. Colorado Springs can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Austin weather is 39% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Austin scores 39% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Colorado Springs if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 10% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 19% lower than Colorado Springs (162 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,648 a month. Choose Colorado Springs if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
On weather alone, Austin is the warmer market (68°F) and Colorado Springs the cooler (55°F). Typical leases run $1,729 and $1,648; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Colorado Springs rent at $1,648/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $93,658 in Austin versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs.
Austin wins on climate (68°F vs 55°F); Colorado Springs is the better fit if $1,648 rent and $84,818 pay matter more than daily weather.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Colorado Springs, plus other cities in TX and CO.
