In fact, Colorado Springs may be one of the most conservative cities in the United States, although it is also home to prestigious, liberal Colorado College and a small University of Colorado campus.   A number of evangelical religious organizations, including Focus on the Family, are headquartered here, and the United States Air Force Academy, Fort Carson, NORAD and Peterson Air Force Base are nearby.   Of the population, 21% is aged 45 to 64, and 10% is 65 years of age or above.  

On red-rock bluffs to the northeast of town are new, 3 to 4 bedroom homes with stunning mountain views; prices here average $350,000.    Black Forest is a wooded area north of town; most homes are on 5-acre parcels, and the average price is $250,000.  The western portion of the city has some bungalows and split-levels in the mid-$100,000 range.

To the east are newer, large (some might say sprawling) subdivisions with 2 to 3 bedroom, single-family homes in the $175,000 range.  Fountain Valley south of the city has older, single-family ranch-style homes starting in the mid-$100,000s.   To the southwest, nestled against Cheyenne Mountain, are upscale neighborhoods with gorgeous custom homes with prices starting in the upper-$400,000s and going as high as the neighboring peaks themselves.  For those with considerable resources, Broadmoor is an exclusive, old-money area with multi-million dollar homes (it is also the name of an upscale hotel and resort).   There also appears to be a good inventory of small, roughly 750 to 950 square feet, 2 bedroom condominiums for sale in the $75,000 to $90,000 range.    

To the west of the city, literally nestled against the foothills, are the older, wonderfully funky towns of Old Colorado City (sections of which are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places) and Manitou Springs, both of which are now rather touristy but full of Old West character.   Old Colorado City (average home price is $180,000) was once a rough and tumble supply stop for gold miners on their way to a major strike a few miles outside of town and has gracious, old homes with a lot of history behind them.  Manitou Springs (average home price is $250,000) is a delightful Victorian town with quaint bungalows (some precariously perched on the sides of hills) and many, many tourist traps....er, attractions, including historic Miramont Castle, claustrophobic Cave of the Winds and some rejuvenating thermal springs.

Colorado Springs has dozens of apartment complexes, and the average rent per month for a one bedroom apartment ranges from $610 to $880, depending on location, size and amenities.  

Medalion Retirement Community (719-381-1000) is a continuing care retirement community located near the Olympic training facility in the southern area of town and the Village at Skyline is an established (1989), small, age-restricted retirement community with single-family homes and apartments for rent.   The average resident age is 75 and the phone number is 800-759-5463.

At least 33 mobile home and/or manufactured communities are here, six of which are age-targeted or age-restricted, including Holiday Village (719-475-2915), which currently has seven homes for sale ranging in price from $10,000 to $149,000, and La Cresta Mobile Estates (719-597-1434), which currently has homes for sale from $13,000 to $42,000.

Property and sales taxes are below the national average, but state income tax rates are slightly higher than the national average.  Real estate prices are below the national average, but food stuffs and health care are roughly 9% to 13% above the national average.

Colorado Springs was founded as a resort town by William Palmer in 1871 and soon became known as "Little London" because so many affluent Englishmen came to enjoy the thermal springs and clean air.  The lovely Antlers Hotel, where Katherine Lee Bates stayed while composing America the Beautiful after visiting the top of Pikes Peak, was built by Palmer and still proudly stands today.    In 1891, W.S. Stratton discovered one of the world's richest gold strikes in nearby Cripple Creek (today a gambling town) and soon poured money into the growing Colorado Springs, building homes for poor children and donating land for city buildings. 

Today, military personnel, college students, high-tech employees, evangelical Christians, old money families and retirees all call the city home, and it makes for an eclectic, generally conservative, population.   Downtown Colorado Springs is clean and marked by wide streets (so designed in the early days to make it easier for horse-drawn wagons to make U-turns), parks, office buildings, banks, coffee shops, bookstores, Palmer High School, Penrose Library and very long traffic lights.  Although there is not much traffic (parking spaces are plentiful), there is plenty of activity.   Pikes Peak Avenue runs east/west through the middle of downtown, and as one stands in the center of the street and looks west, purple and pink Pikes Peak looms above the Antlers Hotel and nearly takes one's breath away.  

Shopping is more than adequate, although downtown does not have a lot of shops and no grocery stores.  There are several malls, including The Citadel, beyond downtown that have almost anything one might want.   In the early days, when gold was being discovered just west of the city, some shady characters set up shop here, and it seems as though some are still here operating tourist attractions, of which there are many because Colorado Springs is still a tourist destination to this day.  Some of these are good fun, but some are rip-offs, plain and simple.   A few of the attractions include the Cog Railway, which is enjoyable (if one is not afraid of heights) and takes very brave people to the top of Pikes Peak; the Flying W Ranch, a dude ranch; the Manitou Cliff Dwellings, a phony representation of the homes of the ancient Anasazi; and Seven Falls, a privately-owned tourist trap showcasing seven "amazing" waterfalls along a canyon wall (they are indeed along a canyon wall, but they are not amazing by any known standard).   

Those with more sophisticated tastes enjoy attending musical events at the Pikes Peak Center and listening to the Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra.  The U.S. Air Force Academy Band, playing just north of town, presents free concerts.  Senior also enjoy the Colorado Opera Festival, the Colorado Dance Theatre and the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, as well as attending theatrical events at the Broadmoor International Center, plays at Colorado College and dinner theater at the fun Iron Springs Chateau.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is on the side of the mountain that houses NORAD and is only for those in good shape.   A real jewel of the area is awe-inspiring Garden of the Gods Park, home to gorgeous scenery and beautiful, somewhat mystical, red sandstone rock formations.   Nearby Pike National Forest provides opportunities for hiking, camping, fishing and cross-country skiing.    The city has a handful of 18 hole golf courses.  And, of course, one can always hike along the Barr National Recreation Trail to the top of 14,115 foot tall Pikes Peak.  Or one can be realistic and just drive to the top.  

Health care is not outstanding but is adequate.  The primary, full-service  medical facilities are Memorial Hospital and Penrose Hospital, both with critical and emergency care, oncology and cardiac care.  Denver is located roughly 65 miles north along I-25 and offers an extensive array of medical care if needed.

The 17,000 square foot Colorado Springs Senior Center (719-385-5933) provides programs and services to those 55 or older and features an art gallery, a ceramics room, a computer lab, an exercise room and more.   The Center publishes a 32-page guide outlining the programs available and is a great place to volunteer.   The Colorado Senior Network User's Group helps seniors learn about computers.   Meals on Wheels is active as well.

This part of the country has a four season climate.  Winters bring a mixture of stunningly beautiful days with sparkling blue skies and occasionally cloudy, snowy days.  Most snow melts within a day or two, although heavy blizzards are not uncommon.  Summers are usually not too hot (the elevation helps keep the temperature cool) and are dry.   Colorado Springs is currently in a drought, as is much of the West, and water restrictions often occur.   Springs can be stormy but not always, and autumns are spectacular.  The sun shines roughly 75% of the time.   

The city has a few drawbacks.  It can become crowded with tourists in the summer, although it is large enough not to be overwhelmed by them.  The overall crime rate is about average, but property crimes are above the national average.  Local authorities say much of this crime takes place around the Fort Carson army base south of town.  Public transportation is very limited.  Although downtown traffic is not a problem, in other parts of the city, particularly along the edges and along I-25, traffic can be terrible.  On the highway to Denver, a section of the road called Monument Hill can present truly nightmarish driving conditions if even the slightest snowstorm hits.  And the worst drawback, in our opinion, is that a mining company years ago opened a large quarry pit half way up Pikes Peak and created a very visible, very unattractive, beige-colored "scar on the mountain" that can be seen for miles.    Zebulon Pike would cry if he saw it.

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