City comparison
No. Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Richmond is cheaper. Median rent is $1,372 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
The income gap between Colorado Springs and Richmond is significant: $84,818 median household versus $64,587. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,648 in Colorado Springs and $1,372 in Richmond.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Richmond 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. Richmond at $1,372 average has pockets that run $1,172 and others at $1,772: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Colorado Springs and Richmond are 1,483 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,372 a month in Richmond, down $276 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $64,587 in Richmond, down $20,231 (24%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 169 in Richmond, down 31 points (16%).
The move
Richmond and Colorado Springs are 1,483 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $276 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $20,231 (31%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 31 points (18%).
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Colorado Springs and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Richmond rent is 17% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Richmond
Winner$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,372 a month in Richmond versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Richmond is 17% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,312, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Richmond still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Colorado Springs.
Planning to buy in Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
31% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 31% higher than Richmond
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Richmond
$64,587
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 31% higher in Colorado Springs (about $20,231 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. Richmond can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
16% lower crime
Richmond's crime index is 16% lower than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Richmond
Winner169 (100 = avg)
Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 16% lower in Richmond. 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, Richmond 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
6% more comfortable
Colorado Springs weather is 6% more comfortable than Richmond
Colorado Springs
Winner59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Richmond
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Colorado Springs averages about 59°F (67°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Colorado Springs scores 6% 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 Richmond 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 31% higher ($84,818), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°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
Richmond is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,372 a month. Choose Richmond if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Richmond is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 16% lower than Colorado Springs (169 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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Colorado Springs at $84,818 median income versus $64,587 in Richmond. Housing ($1,372 in Richmond, $1,648 in Colorado Springs) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Colorado Springs still pays more locally ($84,818 median income vs $64,587), which can offset the lease if your field pays Colorado Springs rates.
Safety scores read 39/100 in Colorado Springs and 44/100 in Richmond.
Colorado Springs clears the bar on local pay in this dataset. Richmond deserves a serious look only when keeping rent near $1,372/month beats chasing $84,818 median income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Colorado Springs and Richmond, plus other cities in CO and VA.
