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Quality of Life in Monument, CO
A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.
What does Quality of Life tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
What does this tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
Cost of Living
84% above national average
The Real Cost of Living in Monument, CO for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $31k | $58k |
| Comfortable | $111k | $164k |
| Luxury | $163k+ | $253k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $192k+ | $297k+ |
70%
The Area Signal
A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.
Hobbies
Explore the areaGroceries
7 within 10 miles
Gas
20 within 10 miles
Hospital
11 within 20 miles
Airport
DEN — Denver International
Post Office
USPS — Monument, CO
Critical Amenities
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Monument, Colorado, is an affluent, family-oriented community in northern El Paso County, positioned along the I-25 corridor roughly 15 miles north of Colorado Springs. With a cost of living index of 184 (nearly double the U.S. average), the town attracts professionals, military-affiliated families from nearby Fort Carson and Peterson Space Force Base, and remote workers who prioritize space, safety, and access to outdoor recreation over urban affordability. The population skews heavily toward married couples with children, and the median household income significantly exceeds state and national averages, reinforcing Monument’s reputation as a high-end bedroom community.
Cost of living, housing affordability, and how Monument compares to Colorado Springs and Denver
Monument’s cost of living index of 184 is driven primarily by housing, with the median home value at $586,400 — roughly 40% higher than the Colorado Springs metro median and about 15% below the Denver metro median. The median rent of $1,947 is comparable to suburban Denver but notably higher than Colorado Springs’ average of around $1,600. For buyers, this means a typical mortgage payment (at 2026 rates) on a median-priced home would exceed $3,800 per month before taxes and insurance, placing Monument out of reach for many first-time buyers. However, compared to Douglas County communities like Castle Rock (median home value ~$650,000) or Parker (~$620,000), Monument offers slightly more square footage per dollar and larger lots. The trade-off is a longer average commute: 30.5 minutes, which is about 5 minutes longer than the Colorado Springs average but 10 minutes shorter than a typical Denver suburb commute. Most residents commute south to Colorado Springs or north to Denver via I-25, a route prone to congestion during peak hours.
Schools, amenities, and what daily life feels like in Monument
Daily life in Monument revolves around Lewis-Palmer School District 38, which consistently ranks among the top 10% of Colorado districts for academic performance. Lewis-Palmer High School and Palmer Ridge High School both boast graduation rates above 95% and strong Advanced Placement participation. The town itself lacks a traditional downtown core; instead, amenities are clustered along Highway 105 and the Monument Village shopping center, anchored by a King Soopers, local restaurants, and boutique retail. For outdoor recreation, residents have immediate access to the Monument Rock Trail System (over 15 miles of multi-use trails) and the nearby Pike National Forest, which offers hiking, mountain biking, and camping within a 10-minute drive. The town hosts a weekly farmers market from June through October and a popular Fourth of July parade, but nightlife and cultural venues are minimal — most residents drive 20 minutes to Colorado Springs for dining, concerts, or museums. The overall rhythm is quiet, suburban, and heavily oriented toward school events, youth sports, and weekend trail use.
Monument is best suited for families and professionals who value top-rated schools, low crime rates, and immediate access to outdoor recreation, and who can comfortably absorb the high housing costs. Remote workers with stable incomes above $150,000, dual-income households, and military retirees will find the trade-offs — a long commute, limited nightlife, and high cost of living — acceptable for the space, safety, and school quality. Singles, renters on a budget, or those seeking an urban walkable lifestyle will likely find Monument isolating and expensive relative to what it offers.
Crime in Monument, CO
Generally safer than 68% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Monument, Colorado, presents a mixed safety profile. While its violent crime rate of 168 per 100,000 residents is significantly lower than both the state and national averages, its property crime rate of 1,204.1 per 100,000 is notably higher than the national median. This combination means residents generally feel safe from violent threats but face a tangible risk of theft and burglary, a pattern common in suburban communities near a major metro area.
Crime in context
Monument’s violent crime rate is roughly 55% lower than the national average and well below Colorado’s state rate, placing it among the safer small towns in El Paso County for personal safety. However, the property crime rate is about 25% higher than the national median, driven largely by vehicle break-ins, package theft, and residential burglaries. This elevated property crime is a concern for prospective residents, particularly given that Monument sits within commuting distance of Colorado Springs and Denver. Large metro areas, even when their suburbs are relatively insulated, can export crime pressure. Furthermore, the broader judicial environment in Colorado—including progressive district attorneys in nearby jurisdictions who emphasize diversion and reduced sentencing—can result in repeat property offenders cycling back onto the street more quickly, undermining deterrence and increasing the likelihood of victimization for Monument homeowners.
What residents experience
In daily life, Monument residents report feeling safe walking their neighborhoods and using local parks, especially during daylight hours. The town’s low violent crime rate means incidents like assault or robbery are rare. However, property crime is a persistent annoyance. Unlocked vehicles are a frequent target, and garages or sheds left open invite theft of tools and recreational gear. The town’s police department is responsive but small, and its jurisdiction is limited; many outlying subdivisions rely on the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, which has a larger area to cover. Residents often supplement official patrols with neighborhood watch programs and home security systems. The proximity to Interstate 25 also means transient property criminals can pass through quickly, making prevention a shared responsibility between law enforcement and homeowners.
Neighborhood-level variation is modest but worth noting. Newer subdivisions on the town’s west side, such as those near Woodmoor, tend to have lower reported crime due to higher property values, gated entries, and active homeowners associations. Older areas closer to the historic downtown core and along the Highway 105 corridor see slightly more property incidents, particularly vehicle break-ins. The town’s overall safety reputation remains strong, but the elevated property crime rate—combined with the regional justice system’s lenient approach to non-violent offenders—means that proactive security measures are a practical necessity rather than an optional precaution.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-29T00:40:10.000Z
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