14 Pros and Cons of Moving to Colorado Springs [2024]
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I’ll be honest. This post may be a little biased towards the good parts of Colorado Springs. Prior to our move there in winter of 2022, I had always dreamed of moving there. My imagination would run wild with thoughts of mountain views, Saturday afternoon hikes through aspens and pines and cold winter nights drinking coffee watching a blizzard. All of those dreams came true and so much more for us. It was truly a magical time. While it was, in fact, the most difficult season of life for our family, Colorado Springs provided the natural medicine only Colorado can provide. In this post, I want to outline the pros and cons of moving to Colorado Springs as told from our point of view.
The Centennial State is a haven for tourists from all across the world. From Rocky Mountain National park and Fort Collins to the numerous ski towns down south to Ouray, Telluride and Durango, Colorado is a magnificent state. Colorado Springs is near the top of the list for many people./ The normally dry climate of Colorado Springs is a main draw for Colorado Springs residents. Who knows? Maybe our next big move will be back to the Springs!
My Honest Opinion
I’ll get straight to the point. I absolutely would move my family back there in a heartbeat. Colorado Springs is one of the best places to raise a family. Not only is it a great place to enjoy winter sports like skiing and snowboarding, its 300 days of sunshine on average per year lends itself to numerous year-round activities like hiking, mountain climbing and biking. The sunny days can make any temperature feel manageable. As the second largest city in Colorado, next to Denver, the Springs offers a small-ish city feel while providing amenities of larger cities. In recent years, Colorado Springs has experienced explosive growth. This had led to an affordable housing problem as well as unsettling traffic along its major byways.
We experienced a very high quality of life while living in the Springs. Situated along the front range, the mountain views are epic. Pike’s Peak can be seen from anywhere in the city. Residents of Colorado Springs are typically very outdoorsy even in the winter months. For this reason, Colorado Springs is a very health city which was endearing to us. As much as we love Texas food, it does not lend itself to health and fitness. Colorado, on the other hand, provides plenty of activities to stay engaged in a healthy lifestyle. Rock climbing at City Rock, hiking Garden of the Gods and letting the kids run around at the numerous parks throughout the city gave us plenty of options for staying healthy.
All in all, Colorado Springs is one of the most beautiful cities we’ve ever experienced. It’s a hub for outdoor enthusiasts, technology workers and military.
Pros
Haven for Outdoor Recreation
Being at a higher altitude, Colorado Springs offer plenty of mountain fun. While there are not any national parks near Colorado Springs, you can still get your fill with the Southern portion of the majestic Rocky Mountains. Great Sand Dunes National Park is about a 2.5 hour drive from the Springs. Manitou Springs offers the Manitou Incline which is a 1 mile ascent up hundred of stairs virtually straight up toward the heavens. There is an abundance of outdoor activities in the city as well. From pickleball courts to city parks, there is always somewhere to go when you get bored.
Garden of the Gods
Our favorite spot every Saturday morning was Garden of the Gods. It is absolutely breathtaking and will leave you speechless. Garden of the Gods is a good place to take the kids or the dogs for a walk. One of the best things about the Garden is that you can venture off into tons of trails throughout the park or just stay on the main trail through the tall red rock formations jutting from the ground.
Pikes Peak & State Parks
As stated previously, Pikes Peak is the most popular tourist destination in the city. Named “America’s mountain”, Pike’s Peak can be climbed, driven or even escorted via rail on the Cog Railway. Of course, altitude sickness may prevent some people from partaking in this adventure. However, if you have a chance to reach the summit of Pikes, it’s well worth it. For us, the view was enough. We were fortunate enough to have a fantastic view of Pikes Peak from our backyard.
The natural beauty of Colorado Springs really shines through when you see the city from above. Whether you’re at the Colorado Springs Zoo or at one of the privately owned Broadmoor properties like Seven Falls, nature is seemingly everywhere you look. There are several state parks close by as well. Cheyenne Mountain, Mueller, Eleven Mile, Spinney Mountain, and Lake Pueblo are all state parks within an hour’s drive.
Eleven Mile is famous for its world-class fly fishing. If you fish with a guide, ask them to take you to Dream Stream. You won’t be disappointed. Actually, if I’m being honest, you probably will be disappointed because the fish are insanely smart. It’s very difficult to actually catch anything.
Military Bases
This may be a turn off for some people, but not for us. The sight of a fighter jet in training or United States military cargo plans flying overhead never got old. We happened to live in a neighborhood full of military service members. Not only did we get to experience patriotism like we have never seen before, we also felt safe anywhere we went for the most part.
USAFA (United States Air Force Academy) along with Peterson Air Force Base, Fort Carson Army Base, Schriever Air Force Base and the US Space Force are all located in Colorado Springs.
NORAD
Ok, I’ll admit it. I’m a bit of a conspiracy theorist. So, the mysteries surrounding NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) is one of the most intriguing aspects of the Springs. The red blinking lights at the top of Cheyenne Mountain signal to the rest of Colorado Springs that whatever is happening inside that mountain is more important than whatever it is we do on a day to day basis.
NORAD is a combined organization of the United States and Canada responsible for aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and defense for North America. NORAD was established during the Cold War era in 1958 as a response to the perceived threat of Soviet nuclear attack. Its primary mission is to monitor and defend North American airspace from any potential airborne threats, including missiles, aircraft, and space vehicles.
NORAD operates a network of radars, satellites, and other sensors to detect and track potential threats approaching North America. It also maintains a system of fighter aircraft, ground-based missile interceptors, and other defense mechanisms to respond to any hostile actions.
Pretty cool, huh?
Access to Ski Resorts
Celeste is a fantastic skier. I’m pretty good myself. So when we moved, we knew skiing was going to be in our present and our future. While most mountains are about 2 to 2.5 hours away, that’s still close enough to arrive in the early morning and head back to the Springs in the evening. While we were only able to ski Loveland, we were able to spend time in Breckenridge, Keystone, Silverthorne and Frisco. We had previously made a trip to Vail as well.
I’m not sure if you could call the rental vans public transit or not, but there are numerous ways to get to the resorts from the Springs or Denver area if you are not comfortable driving. Rocky Mountain Ride is happy to pick up and drop off at any location in the Colorado Springs area and take you to your favorite ski resort. Rides are provided to Monarch, Ski Cooper, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone, Vail, or Arapahoe Basin. Day trips are up to 12 hours long, from pick up to drop off.
Cultural and Recreational Activities
Residents of Colorado Springs have access to a variety of cultural institutions, museums, theaters, and recreational opportunities. The city hosts numerous events and festivals celebrating arts, culture, and outdoor activities. From the Territory Days of Memorial Weekend in Old Colorado City to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb to the Labor Day Liftoff, the Springs offers tons of fun annual events for the family to enjoy.
Further, the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and the Broadmoor World Arena are fantastic places to enjoy an upscale outing.
One of the more controversial aspects of Colorado Springs, and Colorado in general, is the use of recreational marijuana. While you can’t purchase it in the city or enjoy its affects in public, it’s fair game in the privacy of your own home! To each their own.
Thoughts on the Pros
As I’ve stated Colorado Springs is one of my favorite places I’ve ever been. Some of the best schools are in the Springs. The growing population is fun to experience having come out of a much smaller city. From a low unemployment rate, booming job market and a local government that actually doesn’t suck, Coloardo Springs provided an unforgettable experiences. However, there were some downsides to living there.
Cons
Colorado Springs does have some negative aspects to it. From the current housing situation to the general cost of living to its colder winters, there are some things about the Springs that will drive people away. Let’s start with housing.
Not So Affordable Housing
The real estate market in Colorado Springs has gone absolutely bananas over the past decade. With such a rapid population growth, Colorado’s second-largest city continues to grow and grow and grow. With that level of growth comes greater demand. When supply is limited, property prices rise. That’s what is happening to the Springs’ housing market.
According to data from the National Association of Realtors, the median price for an existing home — one that’s already standing, not new construction — was $387,600 as of November 2023. The median home price in the state of Coloardo? $586,100. That’s almost $200,000 than the national median. To get into a new home means you likely have to have tens of thousands of dollars just to afford the down payment. Home prices continue to rise, but they have risen at a lower rate recently compared to previous years.
So what about rent? Rent is just as intense. The national average to rent an apartment according to RentCafe is $1,713. The state of Colorado has an average rent of $1,887 according to the same study. The good news is that it could be worse. You could live in California.
State Income Tax
Ok, I get it. You may live in a state with a higher state income tax than Colorado’s 4.5%. Fine. You win. I came from Texas where the state income tax is a whopping 0%. So forgive me if I get a little frustrated at having to pay an additional 4.5% of income to the state. While it is a relatively small number compared to other states’ income tax rates, it’s still not fun to pay. That being said, property taxes are quite a lower in Colorado that other states as well so it evens out a little bit.
Cost of Living
In addition to housing, the general cost of living is higher than a lot of other cities. Whether you’re going to the grocery store or the gas station, prices are just a little bit higher. Insurance rates are higher than many other states. The cost of a meal at a restaurant is generally higher, more in line with major cities around the country. Colorado Springs is relatively spread out as well so a “short drive” may be 30 minutes to get across town even without any traffic.
One of the things we noticed while we were there is that there wasn’t a huge discrepancy in prices from other cities and states. Everything was just a few percentage points higher in cost which led to our total lifestyle budget having to decrease in order to continue the same standard of living we had previously enjoyed.
Bitterly Cold Winters
High altitude equals cold winters. You can take that to the bank. With the higher elevations of Colorado Springs, the winters were bitterly cold. There were nights that got down to -16 degrees with a wind chill of -25. Pair that with Colorado’s wind, and you have an almost unbearable combination. We had to endure blizzard conditions multiple times as well as 12 or more inches of snow multiple times. Fortunately, when the sunny weather reappeared, the snow would melt in just a day or two. We found these conditions to be a good reason to upgrade our vehicle from a 2 wheel drive to an All wheel drive vehicle during our time there.
Limited Public Transportation
The city’s public transportation system is not as extensive as in larger metropolitan areas, making owning a car necessary for most residents. This can be a downside for those accustomed to relying on public transit. While Uber is readily available, there is not a robust public transportation system like we see in a major metro area like New York or Chicago. There are public buses, but there aren’t near as many as you would need in order to solely rely on public transportation. For this reason, most people do own cars to get around.
Tourist Crowds
Colorado Springs is a popular tourist destination, especially during the peak summer months and around major holidays. This influx of visitors can lead to crowded attractions, increased traffic, and higher prices for accommodations and activities. Colorado Springs and the surrounding area are huge hits with tourists, particularly on major holiday like Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. We noticed that during these times, the average commute time often doubled due to the amount of tourist traffic we encountered.
So, if you don’t like tourists, you may want to venture outside of the city on major holidays.
Traffic Congestion
Finally, traffic was a problem. Although not as severe as in some larger cities, Colorado Springs does experience traffic congestion, particularly during rush hours and peak tourist seasons. This certainly frustrated residents of the city. Add tourist congestion to the copious amounts of construction and you pretty much never end the traffic problem. Due to its immense population growth, the Springs infrastructure is struggling to keep up. For this reason, traffic jams are common and delays happen multiple times every day.
Conclusion
All in all, Colorado Springs is a beautiful place to live. If you enjoy the great outdoors, this is a great hub. While there may be some negative aspects of the moving to the Springs, all in all, we would absolutely recommend considering the Springs as your destination of choice if one of those long-distance moves is in your future.
About the Author
John Claborn
Hi! I’m John. Author of the post you just read. I like to write about all things adventure. Mostly things to help people live more adventurous lives and care for their families in a more meaningful way. By day, I’m a COO. By night, I’m a rad dad of 4 kids that I don’t deserve and a husband to a woman I can’t understand how I got. My goal is to show freedom to people through adventure and experiences.
