Lakewood Area vs Colorado Springs: Where To?

Choosing between the Lakewood area vs Colorado Springs comes down to what you want close by. Lakewood is a large Jefferson County suburb on Denver’s west side, with RTD light rail into downtown and the foothills a short drive away. Colorado Springs is El Paso County’s main city, about three times Lakewood’s size, with a strong military and aerospace presence and Pikes Peak on the horizon. Below you will find a side-by-side comparison of cost of living, jobs, schools and recreation, plus the drive between the two. Once you decide, Spyder Moving and Storage CO can help from either side, with offices in Denver and in Colorado Springs.

Lakewood area vs Colorado Springs at a glance

The table below sums up the main differences. Population figures come from the 2020 Census; for the latest estimates, home values and rents, check the U.S. Census Bureau’s QuickFacts pages for each city, which are updated every year.

Whichever city you pick, booking packers and movers early gives you more choice of moving dates. The sections below go through each factor in more detail:

1. Distance and commute
2. Cost of living
3. Job market and economy
4. Education and schools
5. Entertainment and recreation

How far is Lakewood from Colorado Springs?

Lakewood and Colorado Springs are roughly 60 miles apart in a straight line, and the drive is longer because the main routes curve around the metro. From Lakewood, most drivers take C-470 or US-285 east to I-25, then head south through Castle Rock and Monument into Colorado Springs. Plan on at least an hour of driving, and more at rush hour, on weekends with heavy I-25 traffic, or in snow over Monument Hill.

This matters if you are deciding where to live and where to work. Some people live in Colorado Springs and commute to the Denver area a few days a week, or the reverse, but a daily round trip on I-25 adds up quickly. If you are moving from Lakewood to Colorado Springs or from Colorado Springs to Lakewood, the trip is short enough for one moving day, and Spyder’s offices at each end mean the crew does not have to travel far to start the job.

Is Lakewood or Colorado Springs cheaper to live in?

If you are moving with the help of movers in Colorado, housing is usually the biggest cost difference. Census Bureau survey data put the median value of owner-occupied homes in Lakewood above the Colorado Springs median, so the same budget generally buys more house in Colorado Springs. Exact medians change every year, so check the latest figures on Census QuickFacts and recent sales with a local agent rather than relying on a number from an older article.

Other costs are closer, since both cities pay the same Colorado state income tax. Commuting is the wild card: living in Lakewood and working in Denver can be done by light rail, while most Colorado Springs residents drive. Overall, Colorado Springs is usually the more affordable choice for buyers, while Lakewood trades higher housing costs for direct access to Denver’s job market.

Which city has the better job market?

Both cities have diverse job markets, but the anchors are different. Lakewood has a strong federal presence: the Denver Federal Center, a General Services Administration campus in Lakewood, hosts more than two dozen federal agencies. St. Anthony Hospital and the Jefferson County school district add jobs in healthcare and education, and the rest of metro Denver is within commuting distance by car or light rail.

Colorado Springs has a strong military presence, with Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station and the U.S. Air Force Academy. Aerospace and defense companies, healthcare and education add many more jobs. If you take a job in Jefferson County, Movers Lakewood CO residents rely on can help with your relocation there.

How do schools compare in Lakewood and Colorado Springs?

Both cities offer public, charter and private school options, but the systems are organized differently, and that affects how you choose a home.

Lakewood schools

Lakewood is served by Jeffco Public Schools, the single district that covers all of Jefferson County. One district means one enrollment system, one school calendar and shared programs across the city. Families can also use Colorado’s open enrollment to apply to schools outside their neighborhood boundary.

Colorado Springs schools

In contrast, Colorado Springs is split among several school districts. Colorado Springs School District 11 covers much of the central city, Academy District 20 serves the north end, Cheyenne Mountain District 12 covers the southwest, and Harrison District 2 serves the southeast. Because the district depends on your address, check which district a home belongs to before you make an offer. If you decide on moving to Colorado Springs, movers Colorado Springs CO has to offer can provide all the moving services you may need. For tips on the school switch itself, see how to settle kids into a new Colorado school district.

What is there to do in Lakewood and Colorado Springs?

Lakewood and Colorado Springs both offer plenty of entertainment and time outdoors, but the scale is different.

Things to do in Lakewood, CO

Lakewood’s biggest outdoor draw is Bear Creek Lake Park, a city park of more than 2,600 acres with trails, fishing, boating, camping and a swim beach. William F. Hayden Park on Green Mountain adds more than 2,400 acres of open space and a summit with views of Denver to the east and the mountains to the west. For culture and shopping, the Lakewood Cultural Center hosts performances and exhibits, and Belmar offers shopping and dining. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is just outside Lakewood in Morrison; it is owned by the City and County of Denver and draws concertgoers from all over the state.

Things to do in Colorado Springs

In Colorado Springs, outdoor recreation is the main draw. Garden of the Gods, a city park with towering red rock formations, is free to enter, and Pikes Peak rises just west of town. Hiking, mountain biking and climbing are minutes from most neighborhoods. For culture, the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College combines an art museum, a theater and art classes. Overall, both locations offer a good mix, but Colorado Springs puts bigger mountain scenery closer to home, while Lakewood gives you the foothills plus all of Denver’s venues. If you are coming from another state, our guide on what to know before moving to Colorado from out of state covers the practical steps.

So, will it be the Lakewood area or Colorado Springs?

Choose Lakewood if you want suburban living with light rail to Denver, a single countywide school district and the foothills nearby. Choose Colorado Springs if you want more house for the money, a job tied to the military or aerospace, and Pikes Peak in your backyard. Either way, compare the Lakewood area vs Colorado Springs on the factors that matter most to you, visit both, and check current road conditions on CDOT’s COtrip traveler site before a test commute.

Spyder Moving and Storage has offices in Denver (4777 Leyden St., 720-545-3187) and Colorado Springs (1826 E Platte Ave., 719-370-4250), with its own crews and trucks for local and long-distance moves in both directions. Request a free estimate for your move between Lakewood and Colorado Springs.