Is Colorado Springs safer than Arlington?
No. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Arlington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,470 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Colorado Springs and Arlington. Colorado Springs averages 55°F while Arlington averages 67°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,648 versus $1,470.
Arlington is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, 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 Arlington is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Arlington has rougher pockets and Colorado Springs has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.