The Town FilesBlack Forest, Colorado
Community in El Paso County · population 15,097 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $856,200
- Household income
- $145,460
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 102 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 48.4
Black Forest is a community of 15,097 people in El Paso County, Colorado. The median home is worth $856,200, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks better for families than 98% of Colorado towns, more upscale than 87% of Colorado towns, easier by car than 77% of Colorado towns.
How Black Forest ranks
Percentile among Colorado towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Colorado towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Black Forest is worth $856,200, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 5.9 times the median household income of $145,460, which is more affordable than 29% of Colorado towns. 95.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Black Forest | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $856,200 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | — | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $145,460 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.9× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 95.8% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Black Forest
| People | Black Forest | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.4 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 56.5% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 16.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 28.6% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.6% | 92.9% |
Weather in Black Forest
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 9.3°F. About 21.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 101.7 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 212 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Black Forest since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 15, 2009 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 5, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 309 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 19, 2018.
Severe weather in El Paso County since 1996
El Paso County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4731: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3436: Covid-19 |
| July 16, 2015 | Flood | DR-4229: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 14, 2013 | Flood | DR-4145: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in El Paso County
El Paso County had 309,483 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,491 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Black Forest itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Black Forest
2 public schools with 1,069 students, about 17.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meridian Ranch Elementary School | PK-5 | 670 | 16.8 |
| Pikes Peak School Expeditionary Learning (charter) | K-8 | 399 | 20.0 |
Towns near Black Forest
- Gleneagle, CO8.0 mi · 6,649 people · home $605,400
- Monument, CO8.9 mi · 10,399 people · home $636,700
- Woodmoor, CO9.2 mi · 9,536 people · home $771,900
- Air Force Academy, CO11.0 mi · 6,608 people · home —
- Palmer Lake, CO12.8 mi · 2,636 people · home $485,700
- Cimarron Hills, CO14.2 mi · 19,311 people · home $368,000
- Colorado Springs, CO14.3 mi · 478,961 people · home $452,600
- Manitou Springs, CO19.0 mi · 4,858 people · home $561,200
Black Forest questions
Is Black Forest, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Black Forest scores better for retirees than 55% of Colorado towns and quieter than 53%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.4).
How much does a house cost in Black Forest?
The median owner-occupied home in Black Forest is valued at $856,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $145,460, so homes cost about 5.9 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Black Forest?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 9.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.6 inches of precipitation a year and 101.7 inches of snow.
Does Black Forest get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Black Forest since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 15, 2009. The typical Colorado town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)