City comparison
Safety is where Chicago and Colorado Springs split most clearly. Chicago scores 52 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,781 in Chicago and $1,735 in Colorado Springs.
This is a genuine split. Chicago wins on safety and Colorado Springs wins on cost of living and the job market. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Chicago has rougher pockets and Colorado Springs has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
Chicago, IL
Colorado Springs, CO
Rent
3% cheaper
Colorado Springs rent is 3% cheaper than Chicago
Chicago
$1,781/mo
Colorado Springs
Winner$1,735/mo
Typical rent runs $1,735 a month in Colorado Springs versus $1,781 in Chicago, so Colorado Springs is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $46, or $552 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 Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 10% higher than Chicago
Chicago
$71,673
Colorado Springs
Winner$79,026
Median household income is $79,026 in Colorado Springs versus $71,673 in Chicago, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Colorado Springs (about $7,353 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
28% lower crime
Chicago's crime index is 28% lower than Colorado Springs
Chicago
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
186 (100 = avg)
Chicago's crime index is 134 versus 186 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 28% lower in Chicago. 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, Chicago is the easier city. Colorado Springs can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
School scores
Neck and neck
Chicago and Colorado Springs are about even on school scores.
Chicago
A- · 84/100
Colorado Springs
A- · 84/100
School composites are effectively even (A- in Chicago, A- in Colorado Springs). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better. At this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Chicago and Colorado Springs are about even on typical weather.
Chicago
74°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Colorado Springs
76°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chicago averages about 74°F (81°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 76°F (86°F highs). Chicago sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Colorado Springs sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Chicago is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 28% lower than Colorado Springs (134 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Colorado Springs is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,735 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.
Colorado Springs is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 10% higher here ($79,026). Start with Colorado Springs if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Colorado Springs wins overall, but the margin is thinner than the category headlines suggest (2 wins to 1).
Colorado Springs's typical rent runs 3% lower than Chicago ($1,735/month vs $1,781/month), which is real money over a lease.
The main trade-off: Chicago posts a 28% lower crime index (134 vs 186, where 100 is the national average).
The decision comes down to whether you value cost of living more than safety. For most middle-income movers, Colorado Springs is the stronger choice.
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Nearby research
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