What it's like to live in Monument
Monument is a small city in Colorado with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Monument deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and cold, harsh winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- Cold, harsh winters
- Heavy snowfall — 121" per year
How Monument compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Monument
Based on Monument's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,858
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $77,160 a year
- 47% of Monument renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$127,340
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $63,670
- Homes cost 4.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 37% above US
$1,929/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $1,929 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $636,700. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $636,700 · 47% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.1% county unemployment
Unemployment in El Paso County is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
El Paso County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 49% below US
168 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1204/100k · Monument Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 11% above US
29 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 28.8 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 25% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 81°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 14°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 60% above US
58% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
2 public schools inside the boundary
There are 2 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (26 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Monument's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,929/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (25% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Monument
All Colorado guides →Moving to Colorado Springs →
15 mi away · pop. 487,887
Rent $1,648/mo · Income $84,818
Compare with Monument →Moving to Cimarron Hills →
17 mi away · pop. 19,817
Rent $1,664/mo · Income $80,808
Compare with Monument →Moving to Castle Rock →
21 mi away · pop. 79,123
Rent $2,000/mo · Income $145,197
Compare with Monument →Not sure Monument is the one?
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