City comparison
Yes. Boston's crime index is 147 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 175 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Colorado Springs is cheaper. Median rent is $1,648 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Safety is where Boston and Colorado Springs split most clearly. Boston scores 53 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,147 in Boston and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Colorado Springs costs less and Boston pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Colorado Springs at $1,648 average has pockets that run $1,448 and others at $2,048: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Boston and Colorado Springs are 1,776 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, down $499 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, down $12,526 (13%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 53 points (36%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Boston are 1,776 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $499 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $97,344 in Boston, up $12,526 (15%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 147 in Boston, down 53 points (27%).
Boston, MA
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 Boston and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
Colorado Springs rent is 23% cheaper than Boston
Boston
$2,147/mo
Colorado Springs
Winner$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs versus $2,147 in Boston, so Colorado Springs is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $499/month back in your pocket ($5,988/year). Over five years that's $29,940 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Boston, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Colorado Springs is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Boston's median income is 15% higher than Colorado Springs
Boston
Winner$97,344
Colorado Springs
$84,818
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Boston (about $12,526 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Boston is the stronger labor market on paper. Colorado Springs can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
27% lower crime
Boston's crime index is 27% lower than Colorado Springs
Boston
Winner147 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Boston's crime index is 147 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% lower in Boston. 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, Boston 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
24% more comfortable
Colorado Springs weather is 24% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
50°F avg · 56°F highs · comfort 58/100
Colorado Springs
Winner55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Boston averages about 50°F (56°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs). Boston averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Colorado Springs scores 24% 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 Boston 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 and professional growth
Boston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Boston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 27% lower than Colorado Springs (147 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Colorado Springs is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 23% 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.
Pick Colorado Springs if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (55°F) beat Boston on this page's weather index by 24%. Boston may pay more or cost less, but Colorado Springs is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Colorado Springs at $1,648/month versus $2,147 in Boston ($499 apart). Boston median income is $97,344 against $84,818 in Colorado Springs, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Colorado Springs rent at $1,648/month is still below Boston's $2,147, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $97,344 in Boston versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs.
If housing cost drives your move, Colorado Springs is the stronger match ($1,648/month rent against $2,147). If an employer or family tie already points to Boston, treat $2,147/month rent and $97,344 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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