City comparison
No. Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 204 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
The income gap between Houston and Colorado Springs is significant: $64,813 median household versus $84,818. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,361 in Houston and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Houston 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. Houston at $1,361 average has pockets that run $1,161 and others at $1,761: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Houston and Colorado Springs are 826 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $287 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $20,005 (31%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 200 in Colorado Springs, down 70 points (26%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Houston are 826 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $287 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $64,813 in Houston, down $20,005 (24%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 270 in Houston, up 70 points (35%).
Houston, TX
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 Houston and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Houston rent is 17% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Houston 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 $3,444, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Houston 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 Houston? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
31% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 31% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 31% higher in Colorado Springs (about $20,005 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. Houston can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
26% lower crime
Colorado Springs's crime index is 26% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
Winner200 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% lower in Colorado Springs. 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, Colorado Springs is the easier city. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Houston weather is 25% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Houston
Winner77°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Colorado Springs
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Houston averages about 77°F (85°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Houston sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Colorado Springs averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Houston scores 25% 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
Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,361 a month. Choose Houston if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Houston if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (77°F) beat Colorado Springs on this page's weather index by 25%. Colorado Springs may pay more or cost less, but Houston is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 31% 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 26% lower than Houston (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.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,361/month rent in Houston at 77°F versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs at 58°F. Income runs $64,813 vs $84,818, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Houston rent at $1,361/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 $64,813 in Houston.
Houston wins on climate (77°F vs 58°F); Colorado Springs is the better fit if $1,648 rent and $84,818 pay matter more than daily weather.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Colorado Springs, plus other cities in TX and CO.
