Is Manitou Springs, CO a Good Place to Live?
Manitou Springs is a small town of 4,848 in Colorado, with a median household income of $72,775 and a 11.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.
Strengths: Manitou Springs stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Manitou Springs is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Manitou Springs city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 97.4Manitou Springs's overall cost of living index is 97.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Manitou Springs costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Manitou Springs, CO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $498,700 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,170 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.9% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $72,775 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeManitou Springs's violent crime rate is 132.2 per 100,000 residents — 65% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Manitou Springs is served primarily by Manitou Springs School District No. 14 in the county of El. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Manitou Springs, CO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Manitou Springs School District No. 14 in the county of El | — |
| Elementary Schools | 2 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 12.2:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 96.2% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Manitou Springs sees average highs of 38.7°F in January and 74.0°F in July, with 17.8 inches of annual precipitation and 133.5 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Manitou Springs, CO |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 38.7°F |
| Average High — July | 74.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 133.5" |
Demographics
| Metric | Manitou Springs, CO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,848 | — |
| Median Age | 44.1 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.8% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 27.1 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 90.4% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.6% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3.7% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 1.9% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 15.4% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 17.1% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Manitou Springs
Manitou Springs, CO is covered by 1 ZIP code: