City comparison
Yes. Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 231 in Cincinnati, and its violent crime index is 204 versus 237, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cincinnati is cheaper. Median rent is $1,001 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
The income gap between Colorado Springs and Cincinnati is significant: $84,818 median household versus $52,909. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,648 in Colorado Springs and $1,001 in Cincinnati.
Colorado Springs is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Cincinnati makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Colorado Springs is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Cincinnati at $1,001 average has pockets that run $801 and others at $1,401: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Colorado Springs and Cincinnati are 1,089 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,001 a month in Cincinnati, down $647 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $52,909 in Cincinnati, down $31,909 (38%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 231 in Cincinnati, up 31 points (16%).
The move
Cincinnati and Colorado Springs are 1,089 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,001 a month in Cincinnati to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $647 a month (65%).
Median household income goes from $52,909 in Cincinnati to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $31,909 (60%).
The crime index goes from 231 in Cincinnati to 200 in Colorado Springs, down 31 points (13%).
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cincinnati, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Colorado Springs and Cincinnati? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
39% cheaper
Cincinnati rent is 39% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Cincinnati
Winner$1,001/mo
Typical rent runs $1,001 a month in Cincinnati versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Cincinnati is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $647/month back in your pocket ($7,764/year). Over five years that's $38,820 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 Colorado Springs, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Cincinnati 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
60% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 60% higher than Cincinnati
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Cincinnati
$52,909
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $52,909 in Cincinnati, so typical pay runs 60% higher in Colorado Springs (about $31,909 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, Colorado Springs is the stronger labor market on paper. Cincinnati can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
13% lower crime
Colorado Springs's crime index is 13% lower than Cincinnati
Colorado Springs
Winner200 (100 = avg)
Cincinnati
231 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 231 in Cincinnati (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 13% lower in Colorado Springs. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Colorado Springs, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Cincinnati. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Colorado Springs weather is 9% more comfortable than Cincinnati
Colorado Springs
Winner55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Cincinnati
53°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 66/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Cincinnati averages about 53°F (62°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Cincinnati averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Colorado Springs scores 9% 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 Cincinnati 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 60% higher ($84,818), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 55°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Colorado Springs is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 13% lower than Cincinnati (200 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 Cincinnati
Cincinnati is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 39% cheaper here at about $1,001 a month. Choose Cincinnati if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,001/month in Cincinnati versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs. Median income reads $52,909 in Cincinnati and $84,818 in Colorado Springs, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Cincinnati rent at $1,001/month is still below Colorado Springs's $1,648, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 39/100 in Colorado Springs and 35/100 in Cincinnati.
If housing cost drives your move, Cincinnati is the stronger match ($1,001/month rent against $1,648). If an employer or family tie already points to Colorado Springs, treat $1,648/month rent and $84,818 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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