City comparison
Colorado Springs, CO versus Reno, NV is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,735 a month in Colorado Springs and $1,870 in Reno, and median household income lands at $79,026 versus $73,073. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.
Colorado Springs takes affordability, job market, and weather, while Reno takes safety. The widest gap is crime index, where Reno leads by 15% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.
Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Colorado Springs can feel further apart than Colorado Springs and Reno do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Colorado Springs and Reno reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.
Colorado Springs, CO
Reno, NV
Rent
7% cheaper
Colorado Springs rent is 7% cheaper than Reno
Colorado Springs
Winner$1,735/mo
Reno
$1,870/mo
Typical rent runs $1,735 a month in Colorado Springs versus $1,870 in Reno, so Colorado Springs is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $135, or $1,620 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.
Median income
8% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 8% higher than Reno
Colorado Springs
Winner$79,026
Reno
$73,073
Median household income is $79,026 in Colorado Springs versus $73,073 in Reno, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Colorado Springs — about $5,953 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
15% lower crime
Reno's crime index is 15% lower than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
137 (100 = avg)
Reno
Winner117 (100 = avg)
Reno's crime index is 117 versus 137 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% lower in Reno. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Reno, 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.
School scores
Neck and neck
Colorado Springs and Reno are about even on school scores.
Colorado Springs
A- · 84/100
Reno
A- · 84/100
School composites are effectively even (A- in Colorado Springs, A- in Reno). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.
Typical weather
11% more comfortable
Colorado Springs weather is 11% more comfortable than Reno
Colorado Springs
Winner77°F typical
Reno
80°F typical
Colorado Springs scores 11% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 77°F in Colorado Springs and 80°F in Reno. Colorado Springs reads as warm weather most of the year; Reno reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Reno's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Colorado Springs is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
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 $1,735 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 8% higher ($79,026), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 77°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
Reno is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 15% lower than Colorado Springs (117 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
If safety is your priority, Reno is the clear choice.
If weather matters more to you, Colorado Springs pulls ahead.
For most movers comparing these two cities, Colorado Springs offers the better overall package.
Common questions
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