Moving to Colorado Springs, CO in 2026

Colorado Springs is the second-largest city in Colorado, about seventy miles south of Denver along I-25, and it draws relocating buyers for one main reason: more house for less money than Denver metro, with the same mountain access and 300 days of Colorado sun. Here's what a 2026 move to Colorado Springs actually costs and how the city stacks up against Denver.

Why Are People Moving to Colorado Springs in 2026?

Colorado Springs has grown steadily for years on a mix of military relocations, aerospace and defense employers, and remote workers priced out of Denver's tightest neighborhoods. The city sits at the base of Pikes Peak with Garden of the Gods inside city limits, giving residents mountain and red-rock scenery without a Denver metro price tag.

How Does Colorado Springs Compare to Denver on Cost?

Colorado Springs single-family homes run $400,000 to $525,000, roughly $75,000 to $125,000 below comparable Denver metro listings, with El Paso County property tax rates running close to the statewide average. Apartment rent in Colorado Springs runs $1,300 to $1,700 for a one-bedroom, a meaningful gap below Denver's $1,500 to $1,900 range. The trade-off is a smaller downtown job market outside the military and aerospace sectors, so confirm your remote-work setup or your employer's local presence before you commit to a neighborhood.

What Is the Median Home Price in Colorado Springs?

Prices vary by area: older neighborhoods close to downtown and the Broadmoor sit above the city median, while newer construction in Banning Lewis Ranch, Falcon, and the northern part of the metro lists below it. Compare current listings with search every home for sale in Colorado before you set a target price.

What Is Colorado Springs' Job Market Like?

The local economy centers on five military installations, including Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, and the Air Force Academy, alongside a growing aerospace and defense contractor base and a smaller but expanding tech and health care sector. Military relocations and PCS orders drive a steady share of the city's home sales every year.

Is Colorado Springs Growing Faster Than Denver?

El Paso County has added residents every year for the past decade, and Colorado Springs now competes with Denver metro for the state's fastest-growing suburbs on its northern edge. The pace hasn't matched Denver's total population, but the growth rate on new construction and net migration has run close behind it.

What Is the Climate Like in Colorado Springs?

Colorado Springs sits at about 6,035 feet, roughly 750 feet higher than Denver, with a similar pattern of 300-plus sunny days, low humidity, and hail season running spring through September. Winters bring more frequent snow events than Denver but the same fast melt-off most years. New residents from lower elevations should expect the same adjustment period for altitude as anywhere on the Front Range.

What Neighborhoods Should a Newcomer Look At in Colorado Springs?

• Downtown and Old North End: walkable, historic homes, close to Colorado College.
• Broadmoor and Cheyenne Cañon: foothill lots, higher price point, mountain views.
• Banning Lewis Ranch and Wolf Ranch: newer construction, planned communities, several with 55-plus and golf-course sections.
• Falcon and northern El Paso County: newer, larger lots, lower price per square foot, longer commute into the city core.

See Explore Colorado Springs for a full area breakdown, and compare it directly with Colorado Springs vs Denver: Best Downsizing Cities if you're weighing the two metros.

Is Colorado Springs a Good Fit for Military Households Relocating?

With five installations in and around the city, Colorado Springs has a deep base of real estate agents, lenders, and property managers experienced with VA loans and PCS timelines. Ask any agent you work with about their VA loan volume and their track record closing around a fixed report date.

What Outdoor Recreation Is Near Colorado Springs?

Garden of the Gods, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the Manitou Incline, and the Waldo Canyon and North Cheyenne Cañon trail systems all sit inside or just outside city limits. Breckenridge and the I-70 mountain corridor run about ninety minutes north.

How Is the Colorado Springs Housing Market for Buyers Right Now?

Inventory has loosened compared to the tight years of 2021 and 2022, giving buyers more time to complete inspections and negotiate repairs. New construction remains a larger share of the market in Colorado Springs than in built-out Denver neighborhoods, which gives buyers more choice on floor plan and finish level at the cost of a longer close on to-be-built homes. Resale homes in established neighborhoods still move quickly when priced correctly, so a buyer relocating from out of state should get pre-approved before scheduling tours rather than after finding a home they like.

What Should a Buyer Coming From a Bigger City Expect?

Buyers relocating from larger metros find Colorado Springs' pace slower and its price-per-square-foot noticeably lower, which changes what a given budget can buy. A $500,000 budget that covered a small condo in a coastal city can cover a four-bedroom home with a yard in several Colorado Springs neighborhoods. The trade-off is a smaller downtown core and fewer walkable, transit-connected neighborhoods than a larger city offers, so weigh commute distance and daily errands against the extra square footage before you commit to an area.

What Are Property Taxes and HOA Fees Like in Colorado Springs?

El Paso County property tax rates run close to the Colorado average. Newer planned communities frequently carry an HOA fee covering common-area landscaping and, in some neighborhoods, a recreation center; confirm the fee and what it covers before you write an offer.

Should I Rent or Buy First When Moving to Colorado Springs?

Military households on PCS orders frequently buy sight-unseen with a local agent sending video walkthroughs, timed to a report date. Civilian relocations without a fixed deadline benefit from a short rental first if the target neighborhoods haven't been seen in person. Either way, get pre-approved before touring; see the Colorado Mortgage Pre-Approval Guide.

How Far Is Colorado Springs from Denver?

About seventy miles, roughly seventy-five minutes to ninety minutes by I-25 depending on traffic, with no direct light rail connection between the two cities today.

What Utility Providers Serve a Colorado Springs Home?

Colorado Springs Utilities is the primary provider for electric, gas, water, and wastewater inside city limits, a different setup than Denver metro's mix of Xcel Energy and separate water districts. Confirm which utility serves a specific address before you close, since surrounding El Paso County areas use different providers.

What Colorado-Specific Costs Should New Residents Budget For?

Budget the same Front Range basics as anywhere on the I-25 corridor: a higher homeowners insurance deductible for hail, a radon test, and winter mag chloride residue on vehicles from treated roads. If you're relocating from Greenville, South Carolina, get quotes in writing from MoveCrew - Greenville SC Movers for the pickup end of a long-distance move, then compare against a Colorado-based carrier for the delivery leg.

Where to go next

• Explore Colorado Springs
• Colorado Front Range relocation checklist
• Colorado 55+ Communities by Area
• The 10 most common mistakes people make when moving to Colorado
• Top 5 Reasons Why You Have to Move to Colorado
• Kenna Real Estate Group agents

Talk to the Kenna Real Estate Group

The Kenna Real Estate Group helps buyers relocating from Greenville and across the country compare Colorado Springs and Denver metro, line up financing, and close on a PCS or work start date. Call or text 303-955-4220. A live person answers. Not a robot, not a phone tree. Start by browsing to search every home for sale in Colorado.