City comparison
No. Riverside's crime index is 158 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Colorado Springs is cheaper. Median rent is $1,648 a month versus $1,914 in Riverside.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Colorado Springs and Riverside. Colorado Springs averages 55°F while Riverside averages 77°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,648 versus $1,914.
Riverside is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, 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 Riverside is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Riverside has rougher pockets and Colorado Springs has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Colorado Springs and Riverside are 775 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,914 a month in Riverside, up $266 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $91,045 in Riverside, up $6,227 (7%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 158 in Riverside, down 42 points (21%).
The move
Riverside and Colorado Springs are 775 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,914 a month in Riverside to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, down $266 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $91,045 in Riverside to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, down $6,227 (7%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Riverside to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 42 points (27%).
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Riverside, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Colorado Springs and Riverside? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Colorado Springs rent is 14% cheaper than Riverside
Colorado Springs
Winner$1,648/mo
Riverside
$1,914/mo
Typical rent runs $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs versus $1,914 in Riverside, so Colorado Springs is 14% 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 $3,192, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Colorado Springs still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Riverside.
Planning to buy in Riverside? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Riverside's median income is 7% higher than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$84,818
Riverside
Winner$91,045
Median household income is $91,045 in Riverside versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Riverside (about $6,227 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
21% lower crime
Riverside's crime index is 21% lower than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Riverside
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Riverside's crime index is 158 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% lower in Riverside. 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, Riverside 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
39% more comfortable
Riverside weather is 39% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Riverside
Winner77°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Riverside averages about 77°F (84°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Riverside sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Riverside scores 39% 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,648 a month. Choose Colorado Springs if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
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 7% higher ($91,045), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Riverside is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than Colorado Springs (158 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
Riverside runs 77°F typical weather against 55°F in Colorado Springs (comfort scores 100 vs 72). Housing is $1,914/month versus $1,648/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
Riverside still pays more locally ($91,045 median income vs $84,818), which can offset the lease if your field pays Riverside rates.
Typical rent stays $1,648 in Colorado Springs and $1,914 in Riverside.
Colorado Springs clears the bar on climate in this dataset. Riverside deserves a serious look only when you would rather tolerate 77°F than optimize for Colorado Springs's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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