Best Places to Live

Colorado Springs, Colorado

| Overall Score 7.4 / 10
| Overall Score 6.8 / 10
Town homes in northeast Colorado Springs
View of Pikes Peak from Monument Valley Creek
Colorado Springs in fall
Rio Grande Village apartments
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What's it like to live in Colorado Springs, CO?

Peter Fecteau

Profile written by local expert:

Peter Fecteau

Colorado Springs might not jump off the map as an economic or cultural hub the way larger metro areas like Denver do. But in a quieter, gentler way, Colorado Springs has much to offer, including a low cost of living, a low unemployment rate and a variety of recreation and entertainment options.

Colorado Springs attracts students, professionals and military personnel to the area with a cache of military bases and nationally ranked colleges. Plus, construction in Colorado Springs is booming, with new residences popping up alongside quality schools, parks and cultural attractions.

This area, which is filled with natural wonders of its own, has the additional allure of proximity to ski resorts like Aspen and Vail without the associated steep costs of living and high levels of traffic. And even though its quaint downtown doesn't have a Bloomingdale's or Lord & Taylor, Denver's lineup of storefronts is just an hour's drive away.

Rankings

U.S. News analyzed 125 metro areas in the United States to find the best places to live based on quality of life and the job market in each metro area, as well as the value of living there and people's desire to live there.

Colorado Springs, Colorado is ranked:

#3 in Best Places to Live

#30 in Best Places to Retire

#2 in Best Places to Live in Colorado

7.4

Overall

Scorecard

Best Places to Live

  • Desirability
    10.0
  • Value
    6.6
  • Job Market
    6.8
  • Quality of Life
    7.0
  • Net Migration
    7.2

Read how we rank places

Colorado Springs, CO Quick Stats

  • 698,595

    Metro Population

  • $50,050

    Average Annual Salary

  • 62.1° / 35.7°

    Avg High/Low Temps

  • 34.4

    Median Age

  • $286,700

    Median Home Price

  • 16.5 inches

    AVG Annual Rainfall

  • 3.7%

    Unemployment Rate

  • $1,070

    Median Monthly Rent

  • 23.3 minutes

    Avg Commute Time

What is there to do in Colorado Springs, CO?

Colorado Springs' scenic mountain landscape lends itself well to outdoor activities. Hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails criss-cross the region's urban and open spaces, while stunning geological features like Garden of the Gods – a public park featuring large formations of red sandstone rocks – and Seven Falls – a set of cascading waterfalls – are tucked between residential areas of town. Meanwhile, the views from Pikes Peak are well worth the drive up the mountain.

Opportunities to ski and snowboard are within a few hours' drive, while the U.S. Olympic Training Center is a great place to go to watch the experts in action.

Those with an interest in the Wild West can tour the Old Colorado City historic district, a neighborhood filled with pioneer-style buildings now housing souvenir shops and art galleries. The area is also home to the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, beautiful Victorian houses in the Old North End and a historic and fun downtown with many restaurants that won't break your budget – and a few restaurants that will.

Find out more about what there is to see and do in Colorado Springs, CO

What's the cost of living in Colorado Springs, CO?

The overall cost of living in Colorado Springs is slightly more expensive compared with the national average, but residents spend slightly less than the average American for groceries, utilities and transportation. Housing costs are also higher in Colorado Springs, and the average income is on par with the national average.

Value Index

Index Score: 6.6 /10

How we calculate this.

Colorado Springs offer a comparable value to similarly sized metro areas when you compare housing costs to median household income.

Housing Costs 2018

Colorado Springs
$286,700

USA
$227,025

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Housing Costs Over Time

Data sourced from Zillow median home sale price data series. Additional data provided by the Austin Board of Realtors, Houston Association of Realtors, Intermountain MLS, Omaha Area Board of Realtors, San Antonio Board of Realtors, and the Salt Lake Board of Realtors.

Buying or selling a home? Find top real estate agents in Colorado Springs, CO.

What's the weather like in Colorado Springs, CO?

Colorado Springs' climate is sunny, dry and generally milder than you might expect. The occasional blizzard has been known to happen (usually in late winter or early spring).

Seasonal Temperature (Avgs)

30.8°F


Winter

47.2°F


Spring

68.2°F


Summer

49.5°F


Fall

Seasonal Rainfall (Avgs)

0.3 in


Winter

2.0 in


Spring

3.3 in


Summer

1.2 in


Fall

Monthly High and Low Temperatures (°F)

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center.

What's the best way to get around Colorado Springs, CO?

You will need a car to get around Colorado Springs. Mountain Metro Transit, the region's public bus system, is prominent in the downtown area and along major thoroughfares, though service is limited in residential neighborhoods.

Colorado Springs is fairly walkable, particularly in the downtown area. It has myriad foot paths and one of the largest and fastest-growing networks of bike lanes/paths in the country.

The metro area has a municipal airport, which makes connections in Denver for other national and international destinations. Greyhound also has a terminal in Colorado Springs.

Commuting in Colorado Springs, CO

Means of Transportation
Driving
88%
Above national average
Bicycling
0%
Equal to national average
Walking
3%
Equal to national average
Public Transit
1%
Below national average
Average Commute Time

23.3 minutes

3.1 minutes less than national average

Average Commute Times by Zip Code

Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Who lives in Colorado Springs, CO?

Colorado Springs is home to a sizable retiree community. More than a tenth of the population is over the age of 65. As the area military members retire, they often stay close to the nearby military bases for medical care, shopping privileges and a fairly low cost of living.

The metro area is also home to a decent number of millennials who help bring the median age of the community down to 34. 

Although almost every major world religion is reflected in Colorado Springs' population, the region has predominantly attracted a large influx of Evangelical Christians.

Age Distribution

Marital Status Breakdown

Fewer single people in Colorado Springs than
national average

Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

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