City comparison
No. Scottsdale's crime index is 79 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 48 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Colorado Springs is cheaper. Median rent is $1,648 a month versus $2,013 in Scottsdale.
Safety is where Colorado Springs and Scottsdale split most clearly. Scottsdale scores 121 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 $2,013 in Scottsdale.
Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Colorado Springs at $1,648 average has pockets that run $1,448 and others at $2,048: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Colorado Springs and Scottsdale are 539 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $2,013 a month in Scottsdale, up $365 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $110,886 in Scottsdale, up $26,068 (31%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 79 in Scottsdale, down 121 points (61%).
The move
Scottsdale and Colorado Springs are 539 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,013 a month in Scottsdale to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, down $365 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $110,886 in Scottsdale to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, down $26,068 (24%).
The crime index goes from 79 in Scottsdale to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 121 points (153%).
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Scottsdale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Colorado Springs and Scottsdale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Colorado Springs rent is 18% cheaper than Scottsdale
Colorado Springs
Winner$1,648/mo
Scottsdale
$2,013/mo
Typical rent runs $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs versus $2,013 in Scottsdale, so Colorado Springs is 18% 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 $4,380, 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 Scottsdale.
Planning to buy in Scottsdale? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
31% higher
Scottsdale's median income is 31% higher than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$84,818
Scottsdale
Winner$110,886
Median household income is $110,886 in Scottsdale versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs, so typical pay runs 31% higher in Scottsdale (about $26,068 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, Scottsdale is the stronger labor market on paper. Colorado Springs can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
61% lower crime
Scottsdale's crime index is 61% lower than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Scottsdale
Winner79 (100 = avg)
Scottsdale's crime index is 79 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 61% lower in Scottsdale. 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, Scottsdale 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
Scottsdale weather is 39% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Scottsdale
Winner74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Scottsdale averages about 74°F (80°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Scottsdale sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Scottsdale 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 18% 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 31% higher ($110,886), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 74°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Scottsdale is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 61% lower than Colorado Springs (79 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
Colorado Springs carries the heavier crime signal on this page (39/100 safety vs 67/100 in Scottsdale). That 28-point spread matters more than the $365 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (67/100 in Scottsdale vs 39/100 in Colorado Springs), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $110,886 in Scottsdale versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs.
Scottsdale clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Colorado Springs deserves a serious look only when you already know the Colorado Springs block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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