City comparison
No. Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 204 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Colorado Springs is cheaper. Median rent is $1,648 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
Safety is where Portland and Colorado Springs split most clearly. Colorado Springs scores 65 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,655 in Portland and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Colorado Springs costs less and Portland 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 crime gap is citywide. Colorado Springs has rougher pockets and Portland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Portland and Colorado Springs are 1,021 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, down $7 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, down $6,101 (7%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 200 in Colorado Springs, down 65 points (25%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Portland are 1,021 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $7 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $90,919 in Portland, up $6,101 (7%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 265 in Portland, up 65 points (33%).
Portland, OR
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 Portland and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Colorado Springs rent is 1% cheaper than Portland
Portland
$1,655/mo
Colorado Springs
Winner$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs versus $1,655 in Portland, so Colorado Springs is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $7, or $84 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 Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Portland's median income is 7% higher than Colorado Springs
Portland
Winner$90,919
Colorado Springs
$84,818
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Portland (about $6,101 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
25% lower crime
Colorado Springs's crime index is 25% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
Winner200 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% 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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
19% more comfortable
Portland weather is 19% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Portland
Winner60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Portland scores 19% 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 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 7% higher ($90,919), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Colorado Springs is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% 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.
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 25% lower than Portland (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Colorado Springs: Colorado Springs scores 39/100 versus 30/100 in Portland, with matched rent near $1,648/month. I would vet the exact ZIP in Portland before trading 9 safety points for an identical lease.
Median income is $90,919 in Portland versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Colorado Springs clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Portland deserves a serious look only when you already know the Portland block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Portland and 55°F in Colorado Springs.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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