Just 20 miles north of the Springs and 40 miles south of Denver, you can still find a wide range of prices and lot sizes that feel like mountain living—for now. It seems Denver commuters have discovered the Tri-Lakes area.
“Denver buyers are flocking to Northern El Paso County because ‘it’s cheap by comparison’ to Douglas County and points north,” Day says. “But with all these folks spending more time in their cars, this has elevated the importance of easy access to I-25 and commercial conveniences close to home; so once they’re home, they’re home.”
It’s amazing how away-from-it-all you can feel here. The historic downtowns and the trifecta of lakes lend a peaceful, small-town kind of charm. Popular subdivisions include Sanctuary Point and King’s Deer for million-dollar acreages, and Jackson Creek and Promontory Point for denser-built neighborhoods.
Day notes that Tri-Lakes has the third-highest average sales price of any area in the Pikes Peak Region, and in 2018 saw the largest average home price gain in the popular northern county at 11.6 percent.
Average sale price 2018:* $545,107 Tri-Lakes, $494,522 Woodmoor
Average price per square foot: $138 Woodmoor
High Schools: Lewis Palmer 8/10 Great Schools, Palmer Ridge 9/10
What you’ll find in the garage: BMW 3 Series, Jeep Wrangler, fishing boat and SUP for the lake
Hot spots: The Speed Trap is Palmer Lake’s happening coffee cafe. Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts hosts exhibitions and unique concerts. Pikes Peak Brewing Company in Monument crafts excellent beers.
Trailside: Mount Herman Trail is a popular path up the closest and tallest peak on the nearby Front Range. Catch the New Santa Fe Regional Trail to go all the way through downtown Colorado Springs.
