Undoubtedly, Colorado Springs is a city that takes your breath away no matter where you look. This is not just because of the gorgeous landscapes that surround the area, but also because of the way this city’s residents have carved their life.
It’s very well known that the Olympic City (nicknamed thus since it’s the epicenter of Olympic and Paralympic Movements in the US) has an active, involved, and fun social scene. The presence of a strong military community only adds to the reputation. Moreover, it is home to more than a few educational institutions, some of which are outstanding at their services. All of these factors make Colorado Springs very prosperous for people of all ages. To know more, keep on reading our guide on moving to Colorado Springs.
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Small-Town Charm
Colorado Springs is growing at such a high rate that it is predicted to overtake Denver in terms of population within the next decade. However, this city is planned in such a manner that the residents feel like they are living in a small, calm, easy-going town.
Healthy Living
It isn’t surprising that in a city called the Olympic City, a healthy and active lifestyle has become a part of the culture. You can easily find trails for biking and walking, lakes for swimming, and streams for kayaking and paddleboarding. That’s just what summer is like in this city! It’s safe to say that no matter how you choose to stay fit, Colorado Springs will push you toward that goal with a big smile.
Affordable Cost Of Living
In the list of metro cities across the USA, Colorado Springs ranks among those that offer affordable costs of living. This is mostly because of the low housing costs combined with a growing job market and steady professional growth. In fact, a lot of people working in Denver prefer living in Colorado Springs; there’s a one-hour drive to work, but the cheap housing helps them save a lot of money.
See Also: Pros and Cons of Moving to an HOA Community
Traffic Is Worsening
Since Colorado Springs has started gaining cred as the next big city, more and more people have been flocking here to grab a spot. This, added to the fact that the road conditions in and around the area are sub-par, means that you can expect a lot of delays in commuting.
Significant Amount Of Homelessness
Colorado Springs is the big city between Denver and Pueblo. So, it sees a lot of homeless people going in and out. While the number is decreasing, it is doing so at a very slow pace since Social Services just can’t catch up with the entire community.
Really Dry Air
Because of its altitude, the city of Colorado Springs sees a very unique problem. The dryness of the air interferes with skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema. This, in turn, affects the health of the people having these disorders. Even though there are medications available to manage these issues, that just translates to added living costs. Overall, it can be a huge change and might take some getting used to.
Colorado Springs has a dry-winter, semi-arid climate. This translates to warm summers, cold and snowy winters, and about 300 days of sunlight for all of the people living here. When it comes to temperatures, this city averages between 20°F and 84°F. This means you can experience a variety of seasons and the vibes they bring in.
Speaking of seasons, the summer in this area lasts for about three months between June and September. The hottest month in this season is July and the average daily high temperature during this time is 76°F. For the rest of the season, the temperature swings between 58°F and 84°F.
On the other hand, the winter in the city lasts for around 3.5 months between November and March. In this time, the city of Colorado Springs sees temperatures go down to anywhere between 21°F and 44°F. The coldest month in this area is December where the average daily temperature lies below 51°F. The average temperature in the winter season swings between 21°F and 44°F.
Lastly, Colorado Springs sees its fair share of precipitation. You can expect rainfall for the entire year, with the exception of the time between February and March. This is when the city receives snow instead of showers.
See Also: Moving to Colorado – Relocation Guide for 2022
In 2021, US News ranked Colorado Springs 4th in the list of the best cities to live in America. However, this status brought in a high amount of people looking for a place of their own in this city, which turned the housing market here into a seller’s market. As a result, the prices of homes in Colorado Springs are significantly higher than the national average. Here is a table created with data taken from Zillow, to give you a clear idea of the housing market in Colorado Springs.
| Colorado Springs | United States | |
| Median Home Value | $461,668 | $325,666 |
Just like the house-buyer’s market in the city, the renter’s market is also becoming a little difficult to navigate. This is because of the great educational opportunities and job market available here, increasing demand. Unfortunately, this has given the landlords a chance to get away with asking for higher rents, and as a result, the rents in Colorado are also above the national average. Here is a table from Bestplaces.com to give you the specifics of the situation.
| Apartment Size | Colorado Springs Average Monthly Rent | US Average Monthly Rent |
| Studio apartment | $826 | $949 |
| 1-Bedroom Home | $965 | $1,048 |
| 2-Bedroom Home | $1,216 | $1,278 |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,727 | $1,681 |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,081 | $1,950 |
See Also: Tips for Moving in Spring
Colorado Springs is considered to be a very low-taxed area of the country. In fact, this city is one of the best places to retire because of the incentives and deductions in taxes it offers to retirees. However, as long as you’re working, you have to bear the brunt of property, sales, and income taxes. Here’s a breakdown of all three so that you know what to look out for.
Starting with income tax, the city of Colorado Springs levies a rate of 4.63% from its residents as income tax. This consists of the taxes on your federal taxable income. When it comes to sales taxes, the tax rate in Colorado Springs is 8.25%.
Lastly, Colorado has some of the lowest residential property tax rates. The average effective rate in the entire state is 0.49%. However, this can differ between counties and even cities. So, research the tax rate for your specific area before making a purchase.
Also Read: Moving from Texas to Colorado – A Detailed Guide
When moving to a new place, the overall cost of living can be one of the biggest concerns. Fortunately, the average overall cost of living in Colorado Springs is about 6% lower than the national average. There are a lot of metrics that can alter your expenses every month, so keep on reading to know the ins and outs of the cost of living in Colorado Springs.
In the city of Colorado Springs, the cost of basic utilities like electricity, water, heating, and garbage disposal, according to Numbeo, is $160 per month. Adding an internet connection to the list of bills will make it go up by $71.25.
If you’re the kind to prefer cooking for yourself, you’ll find yourself paying about 3% less than the national average in Colorado Springs for groceries. To give you the specifics, a loaf of bread costs $3.25, a carton of eggs costs $1.76, and a gallon of milk costs $1.88. If you’re the kind to go out more than cook in, a meal for 2 people in a mid-range restaurant will cost $62.
Lastly, the cost of healthcare in Colorado Springs is 2% lower than the national average. So, you might not have to worry about that part of living very much. On average, a visit to the doctor’s office will cost you $113, while the same for your pet would cost around $48.55.
See Also: Moving From Florida To Colorado – A Detailed Guide
Since Colorado Springs has a rather visible influx of homeless people, this city also sees a total crime rate that is significantly more than the national average. According to NeighborhoodScout, the total crime rate in Colorado Springs is 40.37.
Speaking of the total crime rate, it’s the sum total of the violent and property crime rates in any area. In Colorado Springs, the rate of violent crimes is 6.05, which is much higher than the national average of 4. This brings the chances of becoming a victim of violent crimes to 1 in 165.
Property crimes follow a similar theme in this area and are consistently higher than the national average. The property crime rate in Colorado Springs is 34.32, while the national median for the same is 19. This brings the chances of becoming a victim of property crimes to 1 in 29.
Colorado Springs is home to a strong and growing economy. While it is primarily based on the military installations in the area, industries like tourism, aerospace, and electronics have made their own mark on the city. All of these industries have pushed the Olympic City to have a GDP of $39,502 million, as recorded in December of 2021. The credit for this belongs to the employers in the area, and here’s a list of them to give you a good idea of who they are!
These organizations have given the city of Colorado Springs an economy that pays the residents an average annual salary of $67,352. However, if you want to earn a ‘good’ salary, you will have to make more than $114,152 per year. This happens to be the amount that is considered a good salary in this area.
The Olympic City has 51 public schools, along with 29 private schools and 12 colleges. Some of these educational institutions rank phenomenally when compared to the institutions in the country. To give you a clear idea of the education system in this city, here’s a list of the best schools and colleges in and around Colorado Springs.
The roads in Colorado Springs switch from six-lane highways to country roads, depending on which part of the city you’re in. While the absolute best way to get around town would be to drive yourself, you can mostly get by with commuting only using public transportation in the city, especially the areas around Downtown.
Speaking of public transportation, you can hop on one of the city-run buses that go by the name of Mountain Metropolitan Transit. These buses run on 40 fixed routes in the city with many stops. You can buy a one-way ticket, a seven-day pass, or a twenty-day pass online and track your bus as well. It is safe to say that the public transportation system in Colorado Springs is efficient and extensive.
Lastly, if you plan on flying a lot, you can use the Colorado Springs Airport, which is just seven miles away from the city. However, if you want to fly internationally, you will have to travel to Denver before you can do so–the Denver International Airport is the closest international airport to Colorado Springs.
See Also: Best Moving Companies In Colorado Springs
If you’re moving to Colorado Springs in hopes of finding a home with a lot of space and quiet, Black Forest is a great neighborhood for you. Most houses in the area are built on at least one acre of land. However, it is pretty common to find 5-acre properties as well. The best part is, you still have access to a lot of big-city amenities like restaurants, shopping venues, and pubs.
Population: 14.080
Median Home Value: $547,001
Monthly Median Rent: $2,065
Annual Median Household Income: $119,745
Located in the northeastern part of Colorado Springs, Briargate is a planned community that offers its residents all the amenities that they might be looking for. This neighborhood is in close proximity to amazing schools, an Air Force Academy, and a plethora of social venues, including the local YMCA. If you are a young professional, this neighborhood has the perfect starter homes for you.
Population: 29,000
Median Home Value: $434,950
Monthly Median Rent: $1,629
Annual Median Household Income: $99,005
Rockrimmon is known to be a welcoming community in the Northwestern part of the city. A majority of the residents of this area are small-business owners, white-collar employees, and military personnel. The best part is, a majority of the houses in the area were built in the 1970s. So, every time you walk down the neighborhood, you can actually feel like you’ve walked back into time!
Population: 10,000
Median Home Value: $628,444
Monthly Median Rent: $1,395
Annual Median Household Income: $92,835
Broadmoor is one of the more affluent neighborhoods in this city. It is located in Southwest Colorado Springs and a majority of the houses have architecture that dates back to the 1920s-1940s. Most of the houses are extravagant, million-dollar estates that put you in one of the most exclusive communities in the city. This community mostly comprises upper-middle-class families, meaning you’ll find great recommendations for everything that you might need as a resident.
Population: 6,000
Median Home Value: $1,799,475
Monthly Median Rent: $1,770
Annual Median Household Income: $103,210
Summing Up
Well, if you’ve reached this part of the blog, you already know everything you need to know about Colorado Springs. So, the one thing we would suggest you remember before taking the decision of moving here is that Colorado Springs is growing fast. So, if you don’t move fast, you might lose out on the best deals in the area. It wouldn’t be hard to imagine people rushing to buy a house in a big city that feels like a small one, and treats you like a bigger one, eh?
See Also: What Salary Do You Need to Live in Colorado Springs?
No. In fact, Colorado Springs ranks below the national average when it comes to the overall cost of living. According to PayScale, housing expenses in this area are about 2% lower than the national average.
If you are standing in the exact center of the city, the closest mountains are about 30 miles west of you. Once you get there, you have about 5,000 acres of jagged mountain peaks and immeasurable miles of trails for you to enjoy.
See Also: Largest Cities in Colorado
In the city of Colorado Springs, any salary that pays you above $40,000 per year is considered to be a good salary. The fact that the average salary in this city is around $47,000 speaks volumes about the economy of Colorado Springs.
The weather in Colorado Springs changes drastically throughout the year. Even though the city gets more than 300 days of sunlight, it does get painted a very different shade in the winter. Mostly, Colorado Springs’ winters are snowy, cold, and very cloudy.
Alex Sherr is the founder of My Long Distance Movers, a blog that provides moving information and resources for people who are relocating. He has more than two decades of experience in the moving and relocation industry, and he is passionate about helping people relocate smoothly and efficiently. When he's not writing or blogging, Alex enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children.
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