I travel for work but Colorado Springs is home base. The parks system here is underrated.
I'm paying /mo for a 2-bed in Old Colorado City and honestly is getting ridiculous. Crime rate at 585.0/100K residents is something to {crime_feel}.
What I like:
- Diverse neighborhoods
- Strong local businesses
- Good healthcare options
- Strong arts and culture scene
What I don't:
- Summers are brutal
- Water quality concerns
Honestly the biggest downside is the dating scene. People here are friendlier than I expected coming from LA.
What would you do?
33 upvotes
28 Replies
Isabelle N.
My experience has been different actually. I found that The parks system here is underrated.. Maybe it depends on which part of Colorado Springs you're in.
50 upvotes
Willow M.
I walk my dog through Stetson Hills every day and I feel like {city} is becoming more expensive without getting better.. The vibe has really shifted in the past couple years.
49 upvotes
mesa_harper
Same experience here.
47 upvotes
Carter Allen
Just to add another data point - we moved from Raleigh about 12 years ago. I've never felt unsafe walking around {hood} at night.. No regrets so far.
47 upvotes
Nolan T.
Food industry person here. The restaurant scene in Colorado Springs is excellent. Traffic has gotten noticeably worse in the past year..
46 upvotes
Vivian Nelson
Cordera local here. The weather took some getting used to but I actually love it now.. If you need specific recommendations feel free to ask.
46 upvotes
Gabriella
My experience has been different actually. I found that Honestly the biggest downside is {downside}.. Maybe it depends on which part of Colorado Springs you're in.
45 upvotes
Ezekiel Ramirez
Alright, I'm going to write the reply I wish someone had written for me when I was researching Colorado Springs.
Background: 51, family with kids, moved from Raleigh 5 years ago for a fresh start. Currently in Falcon.
**Housing:**
The market is excellent right now. We went with Falcon because great school district. Paid /mo starting out, now at /mo. If I could do it again, I'd look at Black Forest - it's established and the value is better.
**Work:**
healthcare jobs are tough here. I was worried coming from Raleigh but the market is solid. Salary-wise, expect competitive for the cost of living.
**Social Life:**
This was my biggest worry. First 15 months were tough. Then I found my people through a board game night. Now I have a solid group. Colorado Springs people are welcoming once you break through.
**Day to Day:**
- Groceries: manageable
- Traffic: honestly terrible
- Dining out: amazing variety
- Entertainment: solid local scene
**Would I move here again?**
Downtown has improved dramatically since I first moved here.. For singles, I'd give it a 7/10.
Feel free to DM me with specific questions - happy to help fellow newcomers.
45 upvotes
Elizabeth Foster
Great question. Here's my honest take after 12 years:
The good:
- Nice downtown area
- Good schools in certain areas
- Diverse neighborhoods
The not-so-good:
- Hard to date here
- Not much to do late at night
The school system in {hood} is actually {adj}.. I'd say for remote workers, Colorado Springs is hit or miss.
45 upvotes
Austin Jones
Great question. Here's my honest take after 4 years:
The good:
- Growing job market
- Active community events
- Lots of new restaurants opening
The not-so-good:
- Not very walkable
- Water quality concerns
The weather took some getting used to but I actually love it now.. I'd say for students, Colorado Springs is underrated.
44 upvotes
Eleanor Cox
I've lived in both Broadmoor and Gold Hill Mesa. Completely different vibes. Cost of living is {col_feel} compared to where I came from..
43 upvotes
Kai A.
My experience has been different actually. I found that Grocery prices are creeping up but still manageable.. Maybe it depends on which part of Colorado Springs you're in.
38 upvotes
Isabella Hernandez
Homeowner in Gold Hill Mesa since 2024. Honestly the biggest downside is {downside}.. Property values have dipped slightly but recovered which is great for equity.
38 upvotes
benjamin_girl
Gonna share a detailed perspective since most replies are pretty surface-level.
I'm a college grad in Black Forest. Been here since 2023. The weather took some getting used to but I actually love it now..
Neighborhood-wise, Black Forest has really transformed in the past few years. Flying Horse is the up-and-coming spot right now. Rockrimmon is where I'd look if budget is a concern.
Job market for retail: pretty good. For marketing: affordable.
I've never felt unsafe walking around {hood} at night.
DM me if you want more details.
35 upvotes
Zoey Cook
TIL.
32 upvotes
Kai Moore
Noted.
32 upvotes
Emmett
Weekend warrior here - Colorado Springs is solid for kayaking. Public transit is {transit_feel} - you'll want a car.
31 upvotes
Ellie Diaz
Parent of two in Downtown. Schools are solid here. The airport connections are {adj} which matters if you travel.. Would recommend visiting before deciding.
31 upvotes
Julian Edwards
OK since this keeps coming up, here's my definitive Colorado Springs guide from someone who's been here way too long.
**Neighborhoods ranked (my opinion):**
Tier 1 (if you can afford it):
- Gold Hill Mesa: walkable, great restaurants, young crowd
- Manitou Springs: affordable with character
Tier 2 (best value):
- Briargate: hidden gem, locals only know
- Rockrimmon: newer development, modern amenities
Avoid (unless you know what you're doing):
- I won't name names but do your research on anything significantly below market rate
**Cost Reality Check:**
- 1-bed decent area: /mo
- 2-bed decent area: /mo
- Groceries for 2: /mo
- Car insurance: solid compared to national avg
- Utilities: /mo average
**The Honest Truth:**
The weather took some getting used to but I actually love it now.. Colorado Springs is growing but it's not for everyone. If you value nature over career growth, you'll love it. If it's the other way around, maybe consider Raleigh.
29 upvotes
Aiden Rodriguez
We pay /mo in Manitou Springs for a 2-bed and I could find cheaper but love the neighborhood. I keep discovering new spots even after {yr} years.
24 upvotes
Isabelle Bennett
Same experience here.
20 upvotes
mountain_elijah38
Worked in legal here for 9 years. The school system in {hood} is actually {adj}.. The market is hit or miss right now if you're in that field.
17 upvotes
Piper Turner
I'll give you a thorough answer since I've been through this exact situation.
I moved to Cheyenne Mountain from Detroit about 12 years ago. Initially I was excited but nervous. But after settling in, Nightlife is decent if you know where to go..
A few things I'd recommend:
- Check out Cheyenne Mountain and Old Colorado City for housing
- Give it at least 6 months before deciding if it's for you
- Explore beyond the popular neighborhoods
The biggest adjustment was weather. The food scene in {hood} is honestly incredible.. Overall I'd give Colorado Springs a 6/10 for remote workers.
17 upvotes
Stella Parker
Gonna share a detailed perspective since most replies are pretty surface-level.
I'm a single mom in Northgate. Been here since 2018. Cost of living is {col_feel} compared to where I came from..
Neighborhood-wise, Northgate has really evolved in the past few years. Rockrimmon is the up-and-coming spot right now. Cheyenne Mountain is where I'd look if budget is a concern.
Job market for nonprofit: improving. For education: lively.
The parks system here is underrated.
15 upvotes
Jace Peterson
OK let me break this down from someone who's been here a while.
Manitou Springs vs Flying Horse: completely different vibes. Manitou Springs is more improving with trendy restaurants and coffee shops. Flying Horse is quiet and better for families.
Cost-wise, expect /mo minimum for anything decent in Manitou Springs. In Flying Horse you can find stuff for /mo.
The weather took some getting used to but I actually love it now.. The parks system here is underrated.
10 upvotes
Alexander Castillo
I've lived in both Old Colorado City and Cordera. Completely different vibes. Traffic has gotten noticeably worse in the past year..
7 upvotes
Alexa Walker
Homeowner in Old Colorado City since 2021. Traffic has gotten noticeably worse in the past year.. Property values have dipped slightly but recovered which is concerning for affordability.
3 upvotes
Wesley Taylor
Moved here from Portland and I'd say The airport connections are {adj} which matters if you travel.. The weather here is hit or miss compared to what I'm used to.
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