Authentic, touristy and a little eccentric, Manitou has a mellow, gentle vibe.  It is only five miles from conservative Colorado Springs (population 405,000) but feels a world away.  The road from Colorado Springs is a city road; there really is no physical separation, except for a sign, between the two communities, but there is no mistaking the moment one arrives in Manitou.  The mountains close in (elevation is 6,320 feet), and quaint tourist shops and delightful bed and breakfasts pop up along the main road.  Many homes date from the late nineteenth-century, and residences are close together.  A good number are wonderfully restored, but some are not and could use a little sprucing up.   Roads that meander off the main road are quite narrow and steep.  

Manitou's cost of living meets the national average, except for home prices.  The median Manitou price for a single family home is $280,000, well above the national average (the median Manitou price for a one bedroom home is $220,000 and for a two bedroom, it is $240,000).   Developers have not made their way here yet, and there are not many planned subdivisions, but homes spread out from the town center and nestled on mountain acreage tend to be expensive.   While many homes in town are Victorian, those outside of town vary from high-end log cabins to mountain chalets to elaborate ranch-style homes to spectacular mini-mansions.    Apartments are not plentiful, but there are some single family homes for rent.

 This is an interactive map.  Click on the arrows in the upper left hand corner to move the map to the East, West, North or South, and click on the +/- signs to zoom in and out.

Manitou Springs property tax is low, roughly .05% of a home's fair market value, depending on exemptions. A 50% homestead exemption (up to $200,000) in actual value is available for those at least age 65.  The person must have owned and lived in the home for at least 10 years.  Full-year Colorado residents age 65 or older, disabled, or a surviving spouse age 58 or older, may also qualify for the Property Tax/Rent/Heat Rebate and/or the Property Tax Deferral.  Qualified applicants can receive a rebate of up to $600 of the property tax and $192 of their heating expenses paid during the year, either directly or as part of their rent payments.

Taxpayers 55-64 years old can exclude a total of $20,000 for Social Security and qualified retirement income.  Those 65 and over can exclude up to $24,000.  All out-of-state government pensions qualify for the pension exemption.

Manitou Springs, Colorado, Continued...