City comparison
Yes. Mesa's crime index is 108 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 131 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Mesa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,620 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Safety is where Mesa and Colorado Springs split most clearly. Mesa scores 92 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,620 in Mesa and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Mesa 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 Mesa is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Mesa has rougher pockets and Colorado Springs has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Mesa and Colorado Springs are 540 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,620 a month in Mesa to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $28 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $82,752 in Mesa to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $2,066 (2%).
The crime index goes from 108 in Mesa to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 92 points (85%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Mesa are 540 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,620 a month in Mesa, down $28 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $82,752 in Mesa, down $2,066 (2%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 108 in Mesa, down 92 points (46%).
Mesa, AZ
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 Mesa and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Mesa rent is 2% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Mesa
Winner$1,620/mo
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,620 a month in Mesa versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Mesa is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $28, or $336 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 Mesa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 2% higher than Mesa
Mesa
$82,752
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $82,752 in Mesa, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Colorado Springs (about $2,066 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
46% lower crime
Mesa's crime index is 46% lower than Colorado Springs
Mesa
Winner108 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Mesa's crime index is 108 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% lower in Mesa. 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, Mesa 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
Mesa weather is 39% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Mesa
Winner79°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Mesa averages about 79°F (87°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs). Mesa sits near 79°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Mesa 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Mesa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,620 a month. Choose Mesa if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Mesa if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (79°F) beat Colorado Springs on this page's weather index by 39%. Colorado Springs may pay more or cost less, but Mesa is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Mesa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 46% lower than Colorado Springs (108 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 2% 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
Colorado Springs carries the heavier crime signal on this page (39/100 safety vs 58/100 in Mesa). That 19-point spread matters more than the $28 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (58/100 in Mesa vs 39/100 in Colorado Springs), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $82,752 in Mesa.
Mesa 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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Nearby research
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