Denver Prices, Colorado Springs Views: Why Relocators Keep Choosing the Springs Over Denver

If you're relocating to Colorado from out of state — whether you're a remote worker, a retiree, or moving for a new job — there's a good chance Denver was the first city that came to mind. It's the name most people know. But if you look closely at what you actually get for your money along the Front Range, more and more relocators are landing 60 miles south in Colorado Springs instead. Here's why, with the numbers to back it up.

The Price Gap Is Real

Home prices tell the clearest story. Denver's median home price is running somewhere between $599,000 and $652,000 depending on the source and measurement method, while Colorado Springs sits closer to $460,000–$500,000. That's an 18% or more difference on the home itself, and it shows up in rent too — average rent in Denver runs roughly 27% higher than in Colorado Springs.

Zoom out to overall cost of living and the pattern holds: Colorado Springs runs about 8–12% cheaper than Denver across the board. Denver does offer slightly higher average salaries for comparable roles, but the gap in pay doesn't come close to closing the gap in housing costs. For most relocators, the math favors the Springs.

Same Mountains, Different Pace

Cost isn't the only reason people choose Colorado Springs. Denver offers big-city energy, a deeper restaurant and nightlife scene, and more corporate headquarters. Colorado Springs offers a quieter pace of life, direct access to Pikes Peak and the Front Range without Denver's traffic and sprawl, and a metro area that's still growing fast — now home to more than 750,000 residents, with growth continuing to outpace the national average.

That growth isn't theoretical. Downtown Colorado Springs nearly doubled its residential population in a single year, from about 2,574 residents in 2024 to 4,860 in 2025, with more than 700 new apartment units opening in the downtown core alone. This isn't a sleepy secondary market anymore — it's actively building for the people moving in.

Who's Actually Making the Move

The relocators landing in Colorado Springs aren't one type of buyer. Military families are the obvious group, given Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, and the Air Force Academy. But remote workers who no longer need to live near a Denver office, retirees looking for mountain views without Denver's price tag, and outdoor enthusiasts drawn to hiking, climbing, and skiing access are just as much a part of the story.

Job growth is adding another layer. A new $250 million Space Force operations facility and the relocation of a key acquisition authority to El Paso County are projected to bring more than 5,700 jobs to the region over time — which means more people relocating here specifically for work, not just for lifestyle or affordability.

What This Means If You're Deciding Between the Two

If your decision is purely about proximity to a major airport, corporate density, or the biggest possible selection of restaurants and entertainment, Denver still wins on those fronts. But if your priority list includes affordability, a quieter day-to-day pace, and still-strong access to the mountains, Colorado Springs is worth serious consideration — and the data on home prices, rent, and overall cost of living backs that up.

Every relocation is different, though. Your ideal neighborhood depends on your commute (or lack of one), your school district needs, your proximity preferences to base or downtown, and your budget for the home itself versus ongoing costs.

Relocating from out of state and trying to decide between Denver and Colorado Springs? Reach out and I'll put together a side-by-side comparison tailored to your specific situation — budget, commute, and lifestyle priorities included.

Sources: Denver, CO Housing Market in 2026 (Houzeo), Denver Housing Market: Trends and Forecast 2026 (Norada), Cost of Living: Colorado Springs vs Denver in 2026 (iHaul iMove), Colorado Springs CO vs. Denver CO Cost of Living Comparison (Apartments.com), Who's Actually Moving to Colorado in 2026, and Who's Leaving (North Forty News), Why Colorado Springs is America's #1 Relocation Destination (iHaul iMove), Space Force Bringing Thousands of Jobs to Colorado Springs (SoCo Digest)