City comparison
Yes. Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 213 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Colorado Springs is cheaper. Median rent is $1,648 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Sacramento and Colorado Springs. Sacramento averages 66°F while Colorado Springs averages 55°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,779 versus $1,648.
Sacramento is not a close call here. It leads on 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 Sacramento is the stronger move.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Colorado Springs in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Sacramento and Colorado Springs are 898 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, down $131 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, down $2,503 (3%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 19 points (10%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Sacramento are 898 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $131 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $2,503 (3%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 181 in Sacramento, down 19 points (10%).
Sacramento, 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 Sacramento and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Colorado Springs rent is 7% cheaper than Sacramento
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
Colorado Springs
Winner$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so Colorado Springs is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $131, or $1,572 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 Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Sacramento's median income is 3% higher than Colorado Springs
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
Colorado Springs
$84,818
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Sacramento (about $2,503 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
10% lower crime
Sacramento's crime index is 10% lower than Colorado Springs
Sacramento
Winner181 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 10% lower in Sacramento. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Sacramento, 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
39% more comfortable
Sacramento weather is 39% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Sacramento
Winner66°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Sacramento averages about 66°F (77°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs). Sacramento sits near 66°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. Sacramento 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
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 3% higher ($87,321), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Sacramento is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 10% lower than Colorado Springs (181 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
Colorado Springs is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% 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.
Bottom line
Sacramento runs 66°F typical weather against 55°F in Colorado Springs (comfort scores 100 vs 72). Housing is $1,779/month versus $1,648/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
With only $131 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,648 in Colorado Springs and $1,779 in Sacramento.
If climate drives your move, Colorado Springs is the stronger match (55°F typical weather versus 66°F). If an employer or family tie already points to Sacramento, treat $1,779/month rent and $87,321 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Sacramento and Colorado Springs, plus other cities in CA and CO.
