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Living in
Fort Carson.
About
Life in Fort Carson
Living at Fort Carson means being part of a tight-knit military community where stability and job security are genuine advantages—the post employs thousands directly and indirectly supports the broader Colorado Springs economy through the 4th Infantry Division, Special Forces Group, and numerous other military units. The cost of living here is moderate for Colorado, with median rent around $2,180 and household income at $66,237, making it more affordable than many Front Range communities, though you'll want a car since everything's spread out across El Paso and Pueblo counties. The unemployment rate sits at just 4.1%, reflecting the strong military-anchored job market, but job diversity beyond defense contracting and military support roles can feel limited depending on your field.
Fort Carson at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
22.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.3%
Foreign-Born
4.8%
Broadband Internet
98.8%
of households
Median household income
Demographics4.8% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Fort Carson: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Fort Carson, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (12.9%), and 11.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.6%
of residents
65 and Older
0.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
76.2%
anyone under 18
Married Couples
81.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.30
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 24% above CO average
Rent, home values, and income in Fort Carson
In Fort Carson, rent runs 24% above the CO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
59.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
0.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2002
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.7%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CO
Unemployment in Fort Carson and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in El Paso County, which includes Fort Carson, is close to the CO average.
Unemployment rate
Fort Carson: El Paso County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
El Paso County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Fort Carson is about 2% of El Paso County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Fort Carson Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Colorado Springs, CO metro area
Commute11 min avg
How Fort Carson residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Fort Carson, most residents drive alone to work (54%), and 94% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS)
Small hub1.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 77 mi
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Major hub40.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, which covers Fort Carson, is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
320
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
969.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by El Paso County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersHail most common — 37 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
94.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
El Paso County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In El Paso County, which includes Fort Carson, the most common type is hail, with 37 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | Hail | None reported |
| 2024 | 47 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2023 | 60 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2022 | 40 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 34 | Hail | None reported |
| 2020 | 45 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 53 | Hail | $100,000 |
| 2018 | 43 | Hail | $343.1M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
5 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
El Paso County, county-wide
Fort Carson is about 2% of El Paso County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality46 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in El Paso County, which includes Fort Carson, is typically good — 249 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
46
Good Days
249
per year
Moderate Days
116
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
El Paso County, county-wide
Fort Carson is about 2% of El Paso County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate84°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Fort Carson has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
18.1"
Annual Snowfall
32.5"
Hot Days/Year
23
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
160
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
87
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 19°F | 0.29" |
| Feb | 47°F | 20°F | 0.32" |
| Mar | 55°F | 27°F | 0.79" |
| Apr | 61°F | 34°F | 1.45" |
| May | 71°F | 44°F | 1.99" |
| Jun | 82°F | 53°F | 2.27" |
| Jul | 87°F | 58°F | 3.12" |
| Aug | 84°F | 57°F | 2.96" |
| Sep | 77°F | 49°F | 1.35" |
| Oct | 65°F | 37°F | 0.77" |
| Nov | 53°F | 26°F | 0.37" |
| Dec | 45°F | 19°F | 0.23" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Fort Carson
Fort Carson has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
1.5%
of residents
Evans Ach (ft Carson)
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Cedar Springs Hospital
Psychiatric · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Colorado Springs
Uch-memorial Health System
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.9 mi away · Colorado Springs
Centura Health-penrose St Francis Health Services
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.9 mi away · Colorado Springs
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Fort Carson
Fort Carson's student/teacher ratio is 16.2:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 25.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Fort Carson (within 15 miles)
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
11.4 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 28,086 students · in-state tuition $12,752 · 26% graduate · median earnings $44,720 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
10.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 8,697 students · in-state tuition $10,345 · 48% graduate · median earnings $61,386 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,014 students · in-state tuition $73,566 · 87% graduate · median earnings $70,914 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 284 students · in-state tuition $10,482 · 28% graduate · median earnings $44,955 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, 29 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Fort Carson
Fort Carson has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (29 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
29 mi awayGreat Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
National Park & Preserve
79 mi awayBent's Old Fort National Historic Site
National Historic Site
88 mi awayCities Near Fort Carson
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Fort Carson?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Fort Carson FAQ
Is Fort Carson, Colorado affordable?⌄
Fort Carson's median rent is $2,180/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $66,237/year.
Is Fort Carson, Colorado safe?⌄
Fort Carson is policed by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 320 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 969 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Fort Carson, Colorado?⌄
El Paso County, which includes Fort Carson, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Fort Carson, Colorado?⌄
The cost of living in Fort Carson is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,180/month and median household income is $66,237/year. About 60% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Fort Carson, Colorado?⌄
The average commute in Fort Carson is 11 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from