The Town FilesManitou Springs, Colorado
City in El Paso County · population 4,858 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $561,200
- Household income
- $85,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 74°
- Snow a year
- 134 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 47.3
Manitou Springs is a city of 4,858 people in El Paso County, Colorado. The median home is worth $561,200, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks hipper than 95% of Colorado towns, more walkable than 94% of Colorado towns, better for young professionals than 83% of Colorado towns.
How Manitou Springs 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 Manitou Springs is worth $561,200, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 6.6 times the median household income of $85,000, which is more affordable than 21% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $1,283 a month. 61.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manitou Springs | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $561,200 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $1,283 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $85,000 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.6× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 61.6% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.5% | — |
Who lives in Manitou Springs
| People | Manitou Springs | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.2% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.2% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.1% | — |
| Work from home | 28.1% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 92.9% |
Weather in Manitou Springs
July highs average 74.0°F and January lows 12.6°F. About 23.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 133.5 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 240 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manitou Springs since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 24, 1979 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 20, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 424 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 12, 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 Manitou Springs itself the ACS puts it at 11.8%.
Public schools in Manitou Springs
3 public schools with 1,038 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manitou Springs High School | 9-12 | 400 | 12.1 |
| Manitou Springs Elementary School | PK-5 | 350 | 12.1 |
| Manitou Springs Middle School | 6-8 | 288 | 12.0 |
Towns near Manitou Springs
- Colorado Springs, CO8.2 mi · 478,961 people · home $452,600
- Stratmoor, CO9.4 mi · 6,518 people · home $310,000
- Air Force Academy, CO9.8 mi · 6,608 people · home —
- Cimarron Hills, CO11.4 mi · 19,311 people · home $368,000
- Woodland Park, CO12.5 mi · 7,920 people · home $549,200
- Security-Widefield, CO12.9 mi · 38,639 people · home $387,500
- Gleneagle, CO13.4 mi · 6,649 people · home $605,400
- Fort Carson, CO14.7 mi · 17,693 people · home —
Manitou Springs questions
Is Manitou Springs, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manitou Springs scores better for retirees than 66% of Colorado towns and quieter than 40%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.3).
How much does a house cost in Manitou Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Manitou Springs is valued at $561,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,000, so homes cost about 6.6 times income. Median rent is $1,283 a month.
What is the weather like in Manitou Springs?
July highs average 74.0°F and January lows 12.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.9 inches of precipitation a year and 133.5 inches of snow.
Does Manitou Springs get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manitou Springs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 24, 1979. 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)