City comparison
Fresno and Colorado Springs are about equally safe. Fresno's crime index is 195 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 211 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fresno is cheaper. Median rent is $1,421 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
The income gap between Fresno and Colorado Springs is significant: $70,991 median household versus $84,818. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,421 in Fresno and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Fresno 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 Fresno is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Fresno and Colorado Springs are 828 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,421 a month in Fresno to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $227 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $70,991 in Fresno to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $13,827 (19%).
The crime index goes from 195 in Fresno to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 5 points (3%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Fresno are 828 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,421 a month in Fresno, down $227 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $70,991 in Fresno, down $13,827 (16%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 195 in Fresno, down 5 points (3%).
Fresno, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fresno and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Fresno rent is 14% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Fresno
Winner$1,421/mo
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,421 a month in Fresno versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Fresno 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 $2,724, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Fresno 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 Fresno? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
19% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 19% higher than Fresno
Fresno
$70,991
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $70,991 in Fresno, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Colorado Springs (about $13,827 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. Fresno can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
3% lower crime
Fresno's crime index is 3% lower than Colorado Springs
Fresno
Winner195 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Fresno's crime index is 195 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 3% lower in Fresno. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Fresno, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Colorado Springs. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Fresno weather is 20% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Fresno
Winner73°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Colorado Springs
59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Fresno averages about 73°F (84°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 59°F (67°F highs). Fresno sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Colorado Springs averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Fresno scores 20% 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Fresno is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,421 a month. Choose Fresno if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Fresno if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Colorado Springs on this page's weather index by 20%. Colorado Springs may pay more or cost less, but Fresno is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fresno is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 3% lower than Colorado Springs (195 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
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 19% higher here ($84,818). Start with Colorado Springs if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Fresno at $1,421/month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs ($227 apart). Colorado Springs median income is $84,818 against $70,991 in Fresno, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Fresno rent at $1,421/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 $70,991 in Fresno.
If housing cost drives your move, Fresno is the stronger match ($1,421/month rent against $1,648). If an employer or family tie already points to Colorado Springs, treat $1,648/month rent and $84,818 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fresno and Colorado Springs, plus other cities in CA and CO.
