Loved it, but be ready for this in Call Center Spr - 6/20/2006

Col. Spr. is great.....except the job market and pay. I graduated college and moved to the Springs because I really loved it. Still do. But we had to leave due to several issues. One, jobs are murder to come by. You will notice when everyone and their poodle approach you with their "home based business" that is going to guarantee you trillions if you join the pyramid scheme. I was in the title industry and was laid off. Then it was off to the Call Centers which there are a ton of....The average pay is very low. Also, this town was hit very hard by the tech industry downturn. I witnessed software engineers working at the outlet mall part time, because it was all they could find.... Personality wise, Col. Spr. is very upbeat, outdoors friendly, tons of trails (even in the middle of the city) and very dog friendly. My wife and I loved it. As far as crime is concerned, it is very isolated and rare. I have lived in over a dozen cities in the US, some large, some small, and never once felt safe anywhere. Singles have it very good there, I had dates left and right upon arriving, eventually meeting my wife there. Home prices are decent, but not much variety in homes. You can choose from tri levels, bi levels, and ranchers..... Great place otherwise!

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Things to do - 6/19/2006

Haven't lived here long but so far I've found many things to see and do.

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Seems nice enough - 6/6/2006

I'm from Ventura Ca and almost moved to CS 1 1/2 years ago. Beautiful and affordable. Crime? Well, it seems like any place you go there is an element of crime. CS was no exception. look at the online police reports and activity to see where the "bad" areas are. I'd say if you don't mind a"right wing" tpye of communtiy, then CS is a great place...even if you do mind, the people were nice. Home prices are fabulous...except the homes only appreciate 1% a year...very unlike CA. Snow is a definite factor. Good Luck

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Crime in Colorado Springs? - 6/6/2006

How's the crime in Colorado Springs? According to Sperling's (this web site), Colorado Springs receives a ranking of 6 and the rest of the nation receives a 3. I've also disovered that Colorado itself has a high sexual assault rate; this kind of threw me off. I'm from Los Angeles and understand crime and how it can be exaggerated because crime isn't that bad here. I love L.A., just not it's home prices. I'm getting older(coming up on 30) and raising a family. We love the outdoors, spending a lot of time north of Santa Barbara, CA, on the central coast fishing, camping, hiking, kayaking, etc. It seems Colorado Springs is a plethora of outdoor activities. Any response to this would be greatly appreciated.

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Colorado Springs is overrated. - 6/5/2006

The pros: Good place to raise a family, (depending on what part of town you live in), District 20 has excellent schools. Stay away from the south side of town, schools like Harrison, Sierra, and Mitchell have gang problems. Excellent scenery and things to do; Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, Seven Falls, Manitou Springs, Cheyenn Mountain Zoo, etc. Cons: Housing costs compared to wages, high number of retirees, dependence on military, infastructure needs is lacking for city its size (no bypass, two lane crumbling interstate (being widened to three lanes which will take 20 years to complete), a lot of side roads are in need of repairs, city would rather invest into police department and catch speeders that drive 5 miles over speed limit. (City has very high property crime rate, might want to focus on the real issues, but CSPD is known for revenue producers.) The department has a helicopter that flies over city like an annoying mosquito. Night life is seriously lacking, and when you do go out, it's mostly filled with military and thugs, due to the fact that they have nothing else to do. The town is laid back and you will notice when people drive and dress. Beware, a lot of drivers don't pay attention when driving. Driving 5-10 miles under the speed limit is the norm. Drivers don't use turn signals, and can't turn without swerving into someone elses lane. Have fun stopping at every red light. I think the cities lack of planning resulted in a stop light at every intersection. Life for the youth can get very boring, unless you join an after school group at a local church. The Weather is very dry, with constant thunderstorm in the summer, and windy throughout the year.

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One of the nicest places I've lived... - 5/31/2006

I lived in Colorado Springs for 3 years, and it is one of the nicest places I've lived. Beautiful mountains with Pike's Peak to the west and overall nice, four-season weather. I lived there while single and then with a family & found that it was suitable for both. There are plenty of things to do, but Denver is also close enough for a quick trip.

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colorado springs - 5/4/2006

colorado springs is a pleasant place to live, housing seems to be high, but everything else is reasonable

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colo climate - 4/24/2006

is dry, cold in winter hot in summer

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Colorado Springs - 4/18/2006

I would lie to know more about living in Colorado springs.How do you like living there?Are there a lot of families there?What sides of the city is cose to the city but not really crowded?

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sanda9595 - 4/17/2006

We love Colorado Springs for its climate (lack of humidity, lots of sunshine, fresh air), its incredible natural beauty (Pikes Peak rising over the city to the west, the Front Range mountains extending north and south, the Garden of the Gods sandstone formations to the southwest), and its conservative prevailing political values. On the other hand, the Colorado Springs population is growing by leaps and bounds, traffic is becoming more of a problem, and housing costs are rising relatively rapidly. Overall, however, the quality of life in this city is superior to any other in which we've lived.

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Heaven in Summer, Not bad in Winter - 4/17/2006

Colorado Springs is one of the nicest places I've experienced for the summer season. Most folks also enjoy the mild winters, which brings occasional snowstorms, turning the area into a postcardlike winter wonderland. Fortunately the snow and cold don't often linger, and there is lots of sunshine even during the winter months. The beautiful mountains, canyons, red rock formations, and waterfalls are a delight to visit and photograph. The warm days and cool nights don't have a burden of humidity to spoil the fun, so outdoor activities are much more enjoyable than southern or coastal regions.

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Practical Nurse - 4/16/2006

Wages are considerably lower than in Denver which is a 45 minute drive away, but cost of living is not that much lower than in Denver. Many nurses commute to Denver for work.

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Colorado Springs Education - 4/3/2006

Although state financial support for education in the state is not strong, K-12 education and colleges in Colorado are quite good. We've lived several places over the years, and always had kids in school. And we've been very happy with the schools here. There are several top-ranked school districts in Colorado Springs, and the Univ. of Colorado, Colorado School of Mines (Engineering & Science), and Colorado College (private) are all first rate. Funding isn't the whole picture. The Washington DC schools receive more $$'s per capita that almost anywhere else in the country, and their schools are terrible. Dave

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Moving - 3/30/2006

I've looking for a year now where to retire to after the military and Co Springs seems to have it all, including a Whole Foods Market and cheaper than Boulder. Is education for kids the only negative?

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good place to raise a family? - 3/24/2006

Would like to hear from families with kids who live in Colorado Springs...pros, cons of living there?

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Education - 11/11/2005

Not great. Ranked 49th in the state for funding schools

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housing costs - 10/10/2005

for two-bedroom home or condo

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Colorado Springs - 8/6/2005

If you want deep blue skies, changing weather, vistas of mountains and great plains all in the same place then this is the best place! It is lacking a whole foods market downtown and that is probably the main reason I won't be going back to my hometown anytime soon. I like to live downtown and walk to shop. That is my idea of sustainable living.

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scenic beauty - 6/28/2005

The Springs, as we call it, is strikingly beautiful. Sunrise on Pikes Peak is spectacular. Lightening storms over the eastern plains are fun to watch. The Garden of the Gods park is a one of a kind free park.

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