Unable to connect locally? Contact Military OneSource via secure live chat or call 800-342-9647.
Colorado is one of the fastest-growing states in the U.S. in terms of population. The cost of living there is very much situationally dependent, with factors like exact location, career and household size having a significant impact. It can be expensive.
Average Apartment Prices:
Median House Prices:
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is 2.1% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Colorado Springs is 10.1% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,139 to $2,032. You can expect to pay 2.5% more for groceries, 23.5% less for utilities and 4.0% less for transportation.
Housing
The Colorado Springs metropolitan area is undergoing a period of exceptional regional development. Notably, all five military installations within the local area have transitioned to privatized housing operations. Personnel are advised to contact their current station’s government Housing Operations Office immediately upon receipt of posting orders to Colorado Springs. The government housing team will provide the latest intelligence regarding privatized estates, application procedures, and private rental market options, alongside any installation-specific housing directives. For further inquiries, please contact the centralized helpline on 888-718-7234.
The Tierra Vista estate management office may be contacted directly on 719-597-7200.
The government housing representative is available on 719-556-7946.
Dorm Occupancy
Peterson SFB experiences consistently high occupancy rates across all single living accommodation. It is imperative that you or your designated unit sponsor contact the accommodation warden at least three weeks prior to your scheduled arrival. The Accommodation Manager and supporting staff can be reached on 719-556-3832.
School Tips for Parents
A wealth of information is available regarding educational institutions within the Colorado Springs catchment area. The School Liaison Officer is available to assist families on 719-556-3152 or via DSN 834-3152. Comprehensive guidance and documentation can be accessed electronically at the 21st Force Support Squadron School Liaison Portal.
Vehicle Registration, New Resident Requirements, Voting, and Driver's Licenses
Personnel should consult the El Paso County Portal to review the statutory requirements for vehicle registration, obtain taxation estimates, complete residency declarations, and register for electoral purposes. Alternatively, you may speak directly with a civic representative on 719-520-6243.
Please note: Registering to vote at the El Paso Department of Motor Vehicles, or DMV, legally revokes your prior state of residency and establishes you as a permanent Colorado resident. Personnel wishing to preserve their original state residency and vote via absentee ballot should instead consult the Federal Voting Assistance Program, or FVAP.
Passports and Visas
It is a mandatory command requirement that personnel and their dependents secure all necessary passports and visas prior to final out-processing. Personnel will not be permitted to complete their final departure clearance without presenting these official travel documents in hand. This directive applies strictly to all personnel, including those electing accompanied tours.
These measures are strictly enforced to prevent administrative complications or personal hardship upon arrival. Consequently, it is reiterated that clearing the station is strictly prohibited until all appropriate passports and visas have been secured for the service member and their dependents.
21 Force Support Marketing Department
The 21st FSS Marketing Department provides a comprehensive suite of recreational services designed to promote welfare, morale, and operational work-life balance. Offerings include Outdoor Recreation programs, golf courses, aquatics facilities, bowling centers, Information, Tickets, and Travel services, the Aero Club (incorporating the Rocky Mountain USAF Flight Training Center), the Officers' and Enlisted Club, and a diverse calendar of special events. For a complete directory of services, please visit the 21st Force Support Squadron website.
Living in Colorado offers an unparalleled spectrum of recreational pursuits. Personnel can access world-class skiing and snowboarding at premier alpine resorts, alongside rock climbing, ice climbing and mountaineering amongst the region's famous "14ers" (mountain peaks exceeding 14,000 feet in elevation). Further opportunities include angling, structured swimming programs, wilderness camping, whitewater rafting on the Arkansas River, snowmobiling, skydiving and snowshoeing, as well as organized weekend excursions to Aspen, Crested Butte, and Moab, Utah.
The ITT office secures highly competitive, discounted tickets for professional sporting events — including the Denver Broncos and Colorado Avalanche — as well as theatrical performances at the Pikes Peak Center and world-class entertainment, such as Cirque du Soleil, at the Colorado Springs World Arena.
Additionally, Peterson Space Force Base boasts the only full-service, professional military leisure travel office in the Colorado region. Uniquely dedicated to securing military travel concessions, this facility is unmatched by any other installation in the Pikes Peak area. Staffed by two full-time travel professionals, the Leisure Travel office ensures optimal pricing and continuous administrative support throughout your journey.
Temporary Accommodation & Settling-In Administration
Defense Service Network, or DSN, Telecommunications Directives
The DSN serves as the principal long-distance telecommunications provider for the Department of War. Each military installation is assigned a unique DSN prefix, which varies depending on the geographical theatre. To utilise the DSN, calls must be placed from a secure military landline terminal located on an active installation; commercial mobile devices cannot dial DSN numbers directly. When placing a DSN call between two installations within the continental United States, dialing the 312 area code is unnecessary. However, the appropriate DSN area code must be included for all transoceanic and overseas connections. For commercial operator assistance, please dial 719-556-4555; please be advised that long-distance toll charges may apply.
Adverse Weather & Base Closure Notification Protocols:
To monitor active snow delays, late reporting directives, or early release alerts, personnel should utilise the following approved information channels:
Space Base Delta 1 enables U.S. Space Force operations for 4 of the USSF Space Deltas and more than 114 other mission partners across 17 world-wide operating locations by providing integrated Base Operating Support, Combat Service Support, and Delta Staff Agency services.
Peterson Space Force Base is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at an altitude of 6,035 feet and shares runways with the Colorado Springs Airport. Space Base Delta 1, headquartered at Peterson SFB, supports 114 mission partners.
Peterson SFB traces its roots to the Colorado Springs Army Air Base, established on Apr. 28, 1942, at the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, which had been in operation since 1926. The base renamed to Peterson Army Air Base, also known as Peterson Field, Dec. 13, 1942, in honor of the late 1st Lt. Edward J. Peterson.
On Dec. 31, 1945, shortly after the end of World War II, the Army inactivated the base returning the property to the city of Colorado Springs. In 1947, after the birth of the U.S. Air Force, the base reactivated from Sept. 29, 1947, to Jan. 15, 1948, and again from Sept. 22, 1948, into 1949.
The Air Force reactivated Peterson Field once more following the Jan. 1951 establishment of Air Defense Command at Ent AFB in Colorado Springs – now where the USA Olympic Training Center is located. The 4600th Air Base Group was designated as the 4600th Air Base Wing in 1958 and then predesignated as the 46th Aerospace Defense Wing April 1, 1975. On March 1, 1976, Peterson Field was renamed Peterson AFB.
1st Space Wing was activated Jan. 1, 1983, and the 46th Aerospace Defense Wing deactivated on Apr. 1, the same year. The 3rd Space Support Wing activated Oct. 15, 1986. These two wings deactivated May 15, 1992, and transferred to the newly activated 21st Space Wing.
On July 22, 2020, the 21st Space Wing was reorganized as part of Space Base Delta 1. Peterson AFB was renamed Peterson Space Force Base in July 2021.
Peterson Space Force Base, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, serves as a critical national defense hub supporting a robust daily military footprint. The base has a total on-duty workforce of 9,843 personnel. This population is composed of 4,401 active-duty military members, 1,300 Reserve and Guard personnel, and 4,142 civilian workers and contractors. Together with their families and associated personnel, the installation supports a total community population of nearly 17,000 people. Operating on approximately 1,600 leased acres in partnership with the Colorado Springs Airport, the base hosts major joint commands including North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD; U.S. Northern Command, or USNORTHCOM; and U.S. Space Command, or USSPACECOM, all supported by the host unit, Space Base Delta 1.
To verify this workforce data, you can access the information directly on the Official Peterson-Schriever Space Base Delta 1 Fact Sheet.
Colorado Springs metro: 777,635 as of 2024; median household income is $90,760 as of 2024; Transportation to work Mean Travel Time is 24.8 minutes; median value of owner-occupied housing units is $487,900 as of 2024.
Peterson SFB is located adjacent to and east of Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, off U.S. Highway 24. Colorado Springs is the second largest city in Colorado and has a population of approximately 770,000+ people. Colorado Springs also hosts the United States Air Force Academy to the north, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Base to the west, Fort Carson Army Post to the South, and Schriever SFB to the east.
Have your personal credentials or primary base permit poised for inspection.
Every motor vehicle is strictly mandated to carry active vehicle licensing and valid insurance coverage within the glovebox at all times.
One may secure short-term entry passes at the Welcome/visitor center prior to entry at the West Gate.
Should you require further guidance, the reception office may be contacted by dialing 719-556-6660.
The Primary Portal itself is situated on the western flank of Peterson Space Force Base on Airport Road just off Powers Boulevard, operating continuously twenty-four hours a day.
Directions from Airport
The Municipal Airport of Colorado Springs lies to the south of the installation. Upon exiting the airport terminal, one should execute a right turn onto Powers Boulevard and proceed northbound for approximately six miles.
As you approach the newly constructed Diverging Diamond Interchange at Airport Road, filter into the far right lane to transition onto the exit ramp, bypassing the main overpass.
Bear right at the base of the ramp to merge onto Airport Road heading east, then negotiate a right turn at the subsequent signalized junction onto the dedicated approach road.
This access road leads directly to the West Gate, alternatively designated as the Main Gate, which operates continuously and welcomes arrivals at all hours of the day and night.
Please exercise due caution, as alternative entry points to the installation do not maintain continuous nocturnal operations; thus, utilize this primary gateway for all after-hours arrivals.
Transportation Options
Transportation from Colorado Springs Airport is available by POV, Rental Car (available at Airport), Uber, Lift or city taxi.
Entering Colorado Springs from the south via Interstate 25, exit onto Academy Boulevard and proceed right. Follow Academy Boulevard until you reach Fountain Boulevard, executing a right turn. Continue along Fountain Boulevard until it intersects with Powers Boulevard, making a left turn. Filter into the far right lane as you approach the newly constructed junction at Airport Road, exit onto the slip road, and merge right onto Airport Road to follow its winding path directly into the West Gate, which serves as the sole twenty-four-hour portal.
Entering Colorado Springs from the north via Interstate 25, exit onto Interquest Parkway. Follow this parkway until it intersects with Powers Boulevard (designated as Highway 21), and turn right. Continue southbound along Powers Boulevard; as you approach the Airport Road interchange, navigate the dedicated left-turn slip lanes of the new diverging interchange to cross over the highway onto Airport Road, following its path into the West Gate.
Should you approach from the east on Highway 24, execute a left turn onto Powers Boulevard. As you travel southbound, utilize the dedicated left-turn slip lanes at the new diverging interchange to cross onto Airport Road, following the winding approach directly into the West Gate.
Approaching from the west, follow the Highway 24 signage through the city center where it transitions into Platte Avenue. Proceed east along Platte Avenue, turning right onto Powers Boulevard. As you approach the Airport Road interchange, utilize the dedicated left turn slip lanes of the new diverging interchange to cross over onto Airport Road, winding directly into the West Gate.
Taxi service is provided on base for those needing transportation from work to an official appointment. To request this type of transportation, please call the dispatch desk at 719-556-4307.
COLORADO SPRINGS REGIONAL COMMAND POST — Emergency situations (non-medical) are handled on a continuous 24/7 basis. To establish immediate contact with the watch officer, personnel can dial 719-556-4555 or contact the duty operator via DSN 312-834-4555.
For information and referral services, you can visit Peterson SFB's Military & Family Readiness Center. Standard operating hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For telephone enquiries, the center can be reached directly at 719-556-6141.