City comparison
Yes. Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 233 in Stockton, and its violent crime index is 204 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Stockton is cheaper. Median rent is $1,577 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Colorado Springs and Stockton. Colorado Springs averages 55°F while Stockton averages 71°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,648 versus $1,577.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Stockton 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Colorado Springs in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Colorado Springs and Stockton are 893 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,577 a month in Stockton, down $71 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $79,907 in Stockton, down $4,911 (6%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 233 in Stockton, up 33 points (17%).
The move
Stockton and Colorado Springs are 893 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $71 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $4,911 (6%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 200 in Colorado Springs, down 33 points (14%).
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Stockton, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Colorado Springs and Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Stockton rent is 4% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Stockton
Winner$1,577/mo
Typical rent runs $1,577 a month in Stockton versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Stockton is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $71, or $852 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 Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 6% higher than Stockton
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Stockton
$79,907
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $79,907 in Stockton, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Colorado Springs (about $4,911 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
14% lower crime
Colorado Springs's crime index is 14% lower than Stockton
Colorado Springs
Winner200 (100 = avg)
Stockton
233 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 233 in Stockton (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 14% lower in Colorado Springs. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Colorado Springs, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Stockton. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Stockton weather is 39% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Stockton
Winner71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Stockton averages about 71°F (83°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Stockton sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Stockton 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
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 6% higher here ($84,818). Start with Colorado Springs if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Colorado Springs is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 14% lower than Stockton (200 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.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Stockton is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $1,577 a month. Choose Stockton if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Stockton if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat Colorado Springs on this page's weather index by 39%. Colorado Springs may pay more or cost less, but Stockton is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Stockton runs 71°F typical weather against 55°F in Colorado Springs (comfort scores 100 vs 72). Housing is $1,577/month versus $1,648/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
Stockton rent at $1,577/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 $79,907 in Stockton.
If climate drives your move, Colorado Springs is the stronger match (55°F typical weather versus 71°F). If an employer or family tie already points to Stockton, treat $1,577/month rent and $79,907 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Colorado Springs and Stockton, plus other cities in CO and CA.
