Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Colorado Springs lands on the scale
Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Colorado Springs sits.
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Colorado Springs fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.
16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100
7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100
- Fun factors lift it
- –
- Drawbacks pull it down
- –
- Raw composite
- –
- Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
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Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).
The Fun breakdown
Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.
Colorado Springs's strongest factors are Outdoors, Unique Hangouts and Eats. Its heaviest drawbacks are Weather Extremes, Going-Out Cost and Crime.
On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.
What lifts the score
- Eats –
Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.
Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Drinks –
Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.
Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Coffee –
Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.
Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
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Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.
Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).
- Outdoors –
Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.
Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.
- Culture –
Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.
Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Events –
Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.
- Sports –
Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.
-
Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.
Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.
Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).
- Climate –
How often the weather is good enough to get outside.
Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.
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How well a person without a car can move around the city.
Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.
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Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.
Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).
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Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.
Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.
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Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.
Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.
What weighs it down
- Crime –
Reported violent and property crime rates.
Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.
- Traffic –
Congestion and the time lost to commuting.
Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).
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Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
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Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
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Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
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Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.
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What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.
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Cities like Colorado Springs
The Colorado Springs read Free
A written read on Colorado Springs, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Colorado Springs scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.
Colorado Springs, CO earns a Fun Score of 51 in the Fun category, making it one of two cities tied for #73 nationally out of 134, and a standout for its exceptional outdoor recreation opportunities.
Why it scores high
Colorado Springs shines as a destination for those who love the outdoors, boasting an impressive Outdoors score of 81. This places it at a high national rank of 26 out of 134 cities, indicating a wealth of parks, nature reserves, and federal recreational facilities. Residents and visitors alike can expect abundant opportunities for hiking, exploring, and enjoying nature.
Beyond its natural beauty, Colorado Springs also offers a vibrant array of Unique Hangouts, scoring 80 and tying for the 27th national rank. This suggests a strong presence of engaging and distinctive entertainment options, from escape rooms and arcades to trampoline parks and karaoke venues, providing plenty of options for novel social experiences.
The city's culinary scene is also a notable strength, with Eats scoring 73, ranking it 37th nationally. This indicates a diverse and high-quality selection of restaurants, offering a satisfying experience for food enthusiasts looking for good dining options.
Where it falls short
While Colorado Springs excels in outdoor activities, it faces challenges in its Climate, scoring a low 5 and tying for the 127th national rank. This suggests that the city experiences fewer comfortable days throughout the year compared to many other places. Compounding this, the city also scores very low in Weather Extremes with a score of 7, placing it at the very bottom, #134 out of 134 cities, indicating a high susceptibility to severe weather events.
Another area where the city struggles is Transit Quality, with a score of 12 and a national rank of 118. This suggests that public transportation options may be limited or inefficient, making it less convenient for residents to get around without a personal vehicle. Additionally, the Going-Out Cost is relatively high, scoring 18 and tying for the 87th national rank, implying that expenses for entertainment, dining out, and transportation for leisure activities are on the pricier side.
Who it's for
Colorado Springs is ideal for the outdoor enthusiast who values access to nature and unique entertainment experiences. It's a great fit for individuals or families who prioritize hiking, exploring, and engaging in distinctive social activities, and who are less reliant on public transportation and prepared for varying weather conditions.
Cities like it
- Albuquerque, NM is similar in its blend of outdoor access and unique local character.
- Tulsa, OK shares a comparable balance of entertainment options and community feel.
- Santa Fe, NM offers a similar appeal for those who appreciate culture and unique local experiences.
Sources
- OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality (Eats)
- OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality (Drinks)
- OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality (Coffee)
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues (Live Music)
- SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended) (Star Power)
- OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities (Outdoors)
- OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality (Culture)
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events (Events)
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres (Sports)
- OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality (Unique Hangouts)
- GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged) (City Vibe)
- NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days (Climate)
- GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share (Transit Quality)
- EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city) (Walkability)
- NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data (Higher Education)
- OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog (Bike & Micromobility)
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals (Crime)
- US Census commute-time data (ACS) (Traffic)
- EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average) (Air Quality)
- FEMA National Risk Index (Disaster Risk)
- NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data (Weather Extremes)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate (Economic Strain)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services (Going-Out Cost)
This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.
Go deeper
Use the data
Colorado Springs’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.
Cite this page
Paste-ready credit line for journalists, researchers and bloggers. Carries the score, the algorithm version and the canonical URL so readers can verify it themselves.
CityFunIndex Fun Score for Colorado Springs, CO: 51/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/colorado-springs-co
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.