City comparison
Yes. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Safety is where Raleigh and Colorado Springs split most clearly. Raleigh scores 58 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Raleigh is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, 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 Raleigh is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Raleigh has rougher pockets and Colorado Springs has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Raleigh and Colorado Springs are 1,449 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $76 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, down $577 (1%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 58 points (41%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Raleigh are 1,449 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $76 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $577 (1%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 142 in Raleigh, down 58 points (29%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 5% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Raleigh is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $76, or $912 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 Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Raleigh's median income is 1% higher than Colorado Springs
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Colorado Springs
$84,818
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Raleigh (about $577 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
29% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 29% lower than Colorado Springs
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 29% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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
19% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 19% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh 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
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 1% higher ($85,395), 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.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 29% lower than Colorado Springs (142 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Colorado Springs
On these five categories Raleigh takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Colorado Springs because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Colorado Springs only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Raleigh: Raleigh scores 49/100 versus 39/100 in Colorado Springs, with typical rent at $1,572 versus $1,648. I would vet the exact ZIP in Colorado Springs before trading 10 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (49/100 in Raleigh vs 39/100 in Colorado Springs), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Pick Raleigh when you want the stronger safety signal (49/100). Otherwise, Colorado Springs's case rests on a Colorado Springs ZIP you trust at $1,648 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Raleigh and Colorado Springs, plus other cities in NC and CO.
