City comparison
No. Reno's crime index is 151 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Reno is cheaper. Median rent is $1,556 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Safety is where Colorado Springs and Reno split most clearly. Reno scores 49 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 $1,556 in Reno.
Reno 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 Reno is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Reno has rougher pockets and Colorado Springs has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Colorado Springs and Reno are 803 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,556 a month in Reno, down $92 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $80,760 in Reno, down $4,058 (5%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 151 in Reno, down 49 points (25%).
The move
Reno and Colorado Springs are 803 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $92 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $4,058 (5%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 49 points (32%).
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Reno, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Colorado Springs and Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Reno rent is 6% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Reno
Winner$1,556/mo
Typical rent runs $1,556 a month in Reno versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Reno is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $92, or $1,104 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 Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 5% higher than Reno
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Reno
$80,760
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $80,760 in Reno, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Colorado Springs (about $4,058 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
25% lower crime
Reno's crime index is 25% lower than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Reno
Winner151 (100 = avg)
Reno's crime index is 151 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% lower in Reno. 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, Reno 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
28% more comfortable
Reno weather is 28% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Reno
Winner62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Reno averages about 62°F (71°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Reno averages around 62°F. Reno scores 28% 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 Colorado Springs 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 and professional growth
Colorado Springs is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 5% higher here ($84,818). Start with Colorado Springs if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Reno is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,556 a month. Choose Reno if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Reno if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (62°F) beat Colorado Springs on this page's weather index by 28%. Colorado Springs may pay more or cost less, but Reno is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Reno is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 25% lower than Colorado Springs (151 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
On weather alone, Reno is the warmer market (62°F) and Colorado Springs the cooler (55°F). Typical leases run $1,556 and $1,648; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Reno rent at $1,556/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 $80,760 in Reno.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Reno; Colorado Springs only makes sense when 55°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Colorado Springs and Reno, plus other cities in CO and NV.
