City comparison
No. Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lexington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,164 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Safety is where Colorado Springs and Lexington split most clearly. Lexington scores 98 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 $1,164 in Lexington.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Lexington costs less and Colorado Springs 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. Lexington at $1,164 average has pockets that run $964 and others at $1,564: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Colorado Springs and Lexington are 1,101 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,164 a month in Lexington, down $484 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $69,479 in Lexington, down $15,339 (18%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 102 in Lexington, down 98 points (49%).
The move
Lexington and Colorado Springs are 1,101 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,164 a month in Lexington to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $484 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $69,479 in Lexington to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $15,339 (22%).
The crime index goes from 102 in Lexington to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 98 points (96%).
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lexington, KY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Colorado Springs and Lexington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
29% cheaper
Lexington rent is 29% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Lexington
Winner$1,164/mo
Typical rent runs $1,164 a month in Lexington versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Lexington is 29% cheaper. That's roughly $484/month back in your pocket ($5,808/year). Over five years that's $29,040 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, Lexington is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Lexington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
22% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 22% higher than Lexington
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Lexington
$69,479
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $69,479 in Lexington, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Colorado Springs (about $15,339 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. Lexington can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
49% lower crime
Lexington's crime index is 49% lower than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Lexington
Winner102 (100 = avg)
Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 49% lower in Lexington. 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, Lexington 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
4% more comfortable
Colorado Springs weather is 4% more comfortable than Lexington
Colorado Springs
Winner55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Lexington
54°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 69/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Lexington averages about 54°F (64°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Lexington averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Colorado Springs scores 4% 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 Lexington 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 22% 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.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Lexington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 29% cheaper here at about $1,164 a month. Choose Lexington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Lexington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 49% lower than Colorado Springs (102 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.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Lexington leads on safety (59/100 vs 39/100 in Colorado Springs). Typical rent is $1,164 in Lexington and $1,648 in Colorado Springs; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Colorado Springs still pays more locally ($84,818 median income vs $69,479), which can offset the lease if your field pays Colorado Springs rates.
Median income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $69,479 in Lexington.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Lexington; Colorado Springs only makes sense when you have walked the Colorado Springs ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,648 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Colorado Springs and Lexington, plus other cities in CO and KY.
