Denver, the capital and largest city of Colorado, and Colorado Springs, the second largest city in the state, are two of the locations that you’re most likely to consider when you decide to move to Colorado. Both areas offer gorgeous views, strong economic growth, and plenty of experiences, but which one is best for you? Here are a few components to consider when deciding between them.
Cost of living in Denver vs. Colorado Springs
If you’re looking for affordability, Colorado Springs is likely going to be a better option than Denver.
Colorado Springs does have a higher cost of living than the United States average, about 8% higher. However, if you’re choosing between Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado Springs still takes the cake. Utilities and groceries are about at the national average.
Denver, on the other hand, has a cost of living around 14% higher than the national average, with the highest percentage due to housing. Denver actually has lower utilities and groceries on average than Colorado Springs.
Housing prices of Denver vs. Colorado Springs
Most of the reason that Colorado Springs is less expensive than Denver is due to housing prices.
Housing in Colorado Springs is about 16% higher than the national average. The median home price in Colorado Springs is around $465,000, and the median rent is about $1,200 per month. Whether you’re renting or owning, you should expect to pay more than other areas in the United States.
However, housing in Denver is even more expensive, resting at about 38% higher than the national average. Median home prices in Denver are significantly higher than in the rest of the United States, at around $550,000. The average rent is also higher, at around $1,709 per month, so both homeowners and renters should be aware of a potential price hike when moving here.
Public schools and education in Denver vs. Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is known for its top-quality education options, although Denver does have a number of options for schooling in every area.
The University of Colorado and the University of Northern Colorado, two top colleges in the state, have campuses in Colorado Springs. You can also find other schools, like Colorado College. Plus, for younger school attendees, Colorado Springs has three school districts listed in the top 10 for the state as a whole.
On the other hand, Denver does have an advantage in certain areas, such as a slightly higher education expenditure per student and a lower student/teacher ratio than Colorado Springs. You can also find a University of Colorado campus in Denver, as well as the University of Denver.
Climate and elevation
As you might expect from two cities very similar in location, Denver and Colorado Springs have similar climates, although they do differ slightly due to elevation.
Colorado Springs has an elevation of 6,000-6,370 feet, around 1830-1940 meters, which is at a 200-400 meters higher elevation than Denver. In Colorado Springs you can see Pikes Peak, which is the highest point of the Rockies’ Southern Front Range. The area also gets significantly less snow during the winter months than Denver, with only about 39 inches per year. It’s very rare for the area to ever see a 100-degree Fahrenheit day.
Denver is known as the Mile-High City, and it lives up to its name at an impressive elevation of 5,280-5,315 feet, or 1610-1620 meters. Mountain life creates a fairly mild weather pattern, and this city tends to have a dry climate, although it averages over 57 inches of snow every year. It’s also fairly common to have a few days in July that reach up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Nightlife and entertainment
There are entertainment options available in both Colorado Springs and Denver, but the nightlife is definitely in Denver.
Colorado Springs has much more of a small-town feel, which means that if you want locally owned entertainment, Colorado Springs is definitely a great option. Downtown Colorado Springs especially offers bars, pubs, restaurants, and coffee houses aplenty, although you likely won’t see much when it comes to the nightlife here.
Denver, on the other hand, is much better for those looking for urban life. Denver is a very large city, and it’s easy to find just about anything you’re looking for in the area. The Colorado Convention Center is also in Denver and the site of numerous concerts and activities. Whether you want a unique bar, a great comedy club, or even a live music venue, Denver really has it all.
Skiing and outdoor activities
Colorado Springs definitely provides easier access to outdoor activities, although opportunities are available in both of these beautiful cities.
Many of the residents of Colorado Springs are outdoor enthusiasts, and this beautiful city offers easy access to parks, hiking trails, and more. You may even be able to get into some more unique outdoor activities, like horseback riding. The Western Slope, which is a short drive up Highway 24, offers skiing, kayaking, mountain biking, and more.
While Denver is still a great place for incredible views, it will likely take you a bit more time to get to the mountains surrounding this urban city. As with any major metropolitan city, population growth can be both a benefit and a curse. One of the downsides is that it can take a bit more time to find outdoor adventures nearby.
Public transit and walkability
Because it’s a larger town, Denver offers more public transit than Colorado Springs, and neither is especially walkable.
If you don’t have a car, Colorado Springs may not be for you. Public transportation is extremely limited, and if you want to visit any of the local parks or Pikes Peak, you’ll need a vehicle. The downtown area of Colorado Springs is walkable. But if you’re trying to explore areas outside of town, you’ll need your own car or a friend who can provide one.
Denver does offer significantly more public transit than Colorado Springs, and the area’s light rail and bus systems offer effective access to much of Denver. Similarly to Colorado Springs, however, Denver’s sprawling city streets are not incredibly walkable, so it’s still best to have a vehicle if you want to completely access what Denver has to offer.
For families
Both Colorado Springs and Denver are incredibly family-friendly, both for visits and for living.
In Colorado Springs, you’ll find fewer experiences overall, but public schools, as noted earlier, are very strong. With the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and Dinosaur Resource Center, as well as many experiences that speak to adults and children who love the outdoors, Colorado Springs is a great place to live for families.
The more urban Denver definitely offers a variety of activities for families. Whether you’re interested in going outdoors for winter sports, you want to stay indoors at a museum, or you’re interested in going out to eat, there are endless opportunities for families. Denver is great for families who always want to be doing something new, whether that’s visiting the Downtown Aquarium or Denver Zoo.
Job market
Both Denver and Colorado Springs have very strong job markets, although Colorado Springs has a slightly stronger job market overall.
The unemployment rate in Colorado Springs is consistently a bit lower than the national average, at about 8% in 2021, and it has a slightly healthier job market than most metro areas its size. Major employers are military contractors and the U.S. Army, and employers like Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Olympic Committee are two of the larger employers nearby.
In a similar showing, Denver had an 8.4% unemployment rate in 2021, still a bit lower than the national average, although slightly more than Colorado Springs. The hospitality sector is by far one of the most thriving areas in the job market, as more than 17 million people visit every year.
Finding a home anywhere you land
Whether you end up choosing Denver or Colorado Springs, Zumper is a great place to look for the perfect home for you. With Zumper, you can find a rental in Denver or a rental in Colorado Springs that fulfills all of your needs.
Frequently asked questions: Denver vs. Colorado Springs
Is Denver or Colorado Springs larger?
Denver has significantly more people than Colorado Springs. Denver had 715,878 people in the 2020 census, while Colorado Springs had 471,686 people. However, Colorado Springs is indeed larger geographically. It is 195.8 square miles in comparison to Denver’s 154.7 square miles. If you’re looking for more people and a significantly lower population density, Colorado Springs is the way to go.
Is it safer to live in Colorado Springs or Denver?
By the numbers, Colorado Springs is much safer than Denver. In fact, in 2019, Colorado Springs was named one of the safest cities in the United States by WalletHub, with Denver significantly lower on the list. However, while Denver has a lower safety rating, safety is also steadily improving, with violent crime going down 2.1% and property crime going down 1.7% from 2018-2019.
Is it possible to live in one of these cities and vacation in the other?
One of the ways that you might choose to take advantage of the opportunities in both Colorado Springs and Denver is to live in one of them, then visit the other on the weekends. The good news is this is absolutely an option. The two cities are only about an hour apart from each other, which means you can easily take a day trip to either.
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