City comparison
Yes. Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 204 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Safety is where Colorado Springs and Cleveland split most clearly. Colorado Springs scores 141 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,648 in Colorado Springs and $1,060 in Cleveland.
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. Cleveland 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. Cleveland at $1,060 average has pockets that run $860 and others at $1,460: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Colorado Springs and Cleveland are 1,231 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $588 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $20,350 (24%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 341 in Cleveland, up 141 points (71%).
The move
Cleveland and Colorado Springs are 1,231 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $588 a month (55%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $20,350 (32%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 200 in Colorado Springs, down 141 points (41%).
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cleveland, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Colorado Springs and Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
36% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 36% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Cleveland is 36% cheaper. That's roughly $588/month back in your pocket ($7,056/year). Over five years that's $35,280 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, Cleveland 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
32% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 32% higher than Cleveland
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Cleveland
$64,468
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Colorado Springs (about $20,350 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. Cleveland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
41% lower crime
Colorado Springs's crime index is 41% lower than Cleveland
Colorado Springs
Winner200 (100 = avg)
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 41% lower in Colorado Springs. 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, Colorado Springs is the easier city. Cleveland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Colorado Springs weather is 9% more comfortable than Cleveland
Colorado Springs
Winner55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Cleveland 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 Cleveland 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 32% 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 41% lower than Cleveland (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 Cleveland
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 36% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Cleveland at $1,060/month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs ($588 apart). Colorado Springs median income is $84,818 against $64,468 in Cleveland, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Cleveland rent at $1,060/month is still below Colorado Springs's $1,648, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $64,468 in Cleveland.
If housing cost drives your move, Cleveland is the stronger match ($1,060/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.
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