Colorado Springs, CO or Spokane WA: Which is better for retirement? (Seattle: for sale, homes)

[Epiphany61]

I am thinking of retiring in Colorado Springs or Spokane because of the affordability and availability of activities, shopping, healthcare, etc. What would be the better place in your opinion?

[ShadoAngel]

Availability of what specific activities?

The most major differences I can think of off the top of my head are weather and regional population.

Spokane is often colder and has much darker and snowier winters. It's much further north so it has shorter days. Shortest day in the Springs is 9 hours, 26 minutes. In Spokane it's 8 hours, 25 minutes. So a full hour shorter for most of the winter. Average snowfall in Colorado Springs at the airport is 37.8 inches. But your average December/January daytime high is 10 degrees above freezing. Most snow doesn't stick around that long - it's more like a series of strong cold fronts. It can get scary cold and windy and dump a decent amount of snow, but it's rare for it to last for weeks and weeks. Colorado is also *much* sunnier in the winter vs Spokane (or really anywhere NW of Colorado.) Spokane's average snow fall isn't a lot higher, 44.9 inches a year. But it's generally colder and some winters the snow stays on the ground for months at a time.

The second thing I can think of is isolation. Spokane + CDA is more spread out, but roughly the same size as Colorado Springs. They're both what I would consider to be 'medium' sized cities and they're both just at or over 700,000 people. They both have decent airports, multiple healthcare options, pretty much any kind of shopping you could need. But the Springs is on the Front Range and is only an hour or so away from Denver. 3.5 million in Denver-Boulder-Greeley CSA and another 350,000 in Larimer County (Fort Collins.) From Spokane, it's 3ish hours to Missoula (120k), 2 hours and change to the Tri-Cities (280k) and 4+ hours with no traffic or bad weather, to get to Seattle (4.7m in the greater CSA area.) So depending on what kind amenities you're looking for you may feel that Spokane is too small or isolated, or conversely, that Colorado Springs to too crowded and busy.

[Botev1912]

Colorado Springs is way nicer. It's close to Denver and mountains and the weather is 10 times better. I have been to both cities.

[Epiphany61]

Thank you for the answers! I really had no idea. The activities I am looking for are just about anything from hiking, biking, outdoor concerts, farmers markets, museums, a variety of restaurants (I like ethnic), dog parks, cultural activities, community education, parks, arboretums. I am also looking in the Eugene, OR area, but it seems a little bit more expensive, and there seems to be a lack of homes for sale in my price range.

[StealthRabbit]

Your two (3) choices are very different (COS, SPK, Eug)

Fortunately you do not mention WEATHER / CLIMATE!!! (CoS will win, UNLESS you are opposed to snow / cold... then Eugene will win, UNLESS you don't like winter drizzle and valley fog, then Spokane will win, UNLESS you don't like winter gray (and some snow) and being 5 hrs from the coast.

If weather is NOT an issue... (and taxes are not an issue)... then Eugene! or small cities nearby for lower CoL.

If you are eligible for VA medical... Roseburg, OR or CoS.

Many MANY things we do not know...

anything would be helpful (budget, climate, Musts / wants)

[Count David]

My business has operations in all three cities you mentioned OP (including Eugene), I have lived in Spokane (albeit briefly), and I live 90 minutes north of Colorado Springs, and go there no less than monthly.

Out of the three, Eugene comes closest to what you describe. Spokane just isn't "that" kind of city, and Colorado Springs is about as opposite from your description as it gets.

What you describe is simply found in more expensive cities, unfortunately.

[Epiphany61]

Originally Posted by Count David

My business has operations in all three cities you mentioned OP (including Eugene), I have lived in Spokane (albeit briefly), and I live 90 minutes north of Colorado Springs, and go there no less than monthly.

Out of the three, Eugene comes closest to what you describe. Spokane just isn't "that" kind of city, and Colorado Springs is about as opposite from your description as it gets.

What you describe is simply found in more expensive cities, unfortunately.

What do you mean when you say Spokane isn't "that kind of city, and why is Colorado Springs the opposite of what I describe?

[Epiphany61]

StealthRabbit, Weather doesn't affect me that much, but I would rather not have 6 months of snow on the ground and below freezing weather for months. I really don't want to go over $325000.00 for a home and I need a place with at least 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Also a garage. Ideally I would like to be within walking distance to a coffee shop or grocery store. Originally, I was looking for a mid-century modern house, but I don't know if I can find it in my price range. Anything that has some character, like a Tudor, Victorian or anything out of the ordinary. I don't want to be isolated and I want to be close to shopping. That is my wish list.

[grega94]

Originally Posted by Epiphany61

StealthRabbit, Weather doesn't affect me that much, but I would rather not have 6 months of snow on the ground and below freezing weather for months. I really don't want to go over $325000.00 for a home and I need a place with at least 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Also a garage. Ideally I would like to be within walking distance to a coffee shop or grocery store. Originally, I was looking for a mid-century modern house, but I don't know if I can find it in my price range. Anything that has some character, like a Tudor, Victorian or anything out of the ordinary. I don't want to be isolated and I want to be close to shopping. That is my wish list.

Well Spokane is the older city which means that you will have a better chance of finding that. Spokane reached 100,000 people in 1910, in comparison Colorado Springs reache 100k in 1970 and Eugene not until 1980.

[Count David]

Originally Posted by Epiphany61

What do you mean when you say Spokane isn't "that kind of city, and why is Colorado Springs the opposite of what I describe?

What you described here:

is a more happening, thriving, progressive type city; which these two are not.

Sure, you'd be able to find most of those things in Spokane and Colorado Springs, but some of the offerings could be pretty disappointing IMO.

The hiking and biking in/around Colorado Springs is pretty darn world class, but in Spokane anything on the same level would be found a bit further out (even with all of the nature IN the city).

For outdoor concerts, in Spokane you have Northern Quest Casino (which doesn't get many top acts), or you'd have to drive 2.5 hours west to the Gorge. You may get something you've probably never heard of at Riverfront Park a few times a year. Colorado Springs has a bit more of the amateur-level stuff going on, but Red Rocks near Denver gets top acts all the time, and there are AWESOME outdoor concerts at Civic Center Park in Denver several times a year (but many of the same level (or lower) acts you'd find at Northern Quest in Spokane TBH).

Spokane has had trouble keeping farmers markets going. Colorado Springs it seems, has several.

Spokane is severely lacking when it comes to museums. Colorado Springs has its share; with all of its offerings you get more of the sense that it is a vacation destination.

Both cities are lacking in restaurant variety. Spokane wins on fast food, Colorado Springs wins on chains. Spokane has CA style Mexican food, Colorado Springs has NM style (aside: Mexican food in Pueblo is VERY Americanized and may disappoint you if you ever make the trip).

Colorado Springs is likely more dog friendly; I lived right by one of the dog parks in Spokane and rarely recall seeing any dogs, let alone people there...but who knows, it could be good for them.

Spokane has a pretty good 4th of July celebration, Bloomsday (huge running event), and Hoopfest (huge 3 on 3 basketball tournament, takes over downtown). Colorado Springs presumably has its share, but the only thing ringing my bell right now is the rodeo.

Spokane has A-level baseball (Indians), Gonzaga basketball (which is HUGE there), NCAA FB at WSU, U of I, and EWU, and junior hockey (Chiefs). Seahawks country.

Colorado Springs has AAA baseball for the rest of this year (Sky Sox), but they will be replaced by a Rookie-level team thereafter. Air Force football. Colorado College hockey. Broncos country.

Spokane has two community colleges, Gonzaga, branches of both WSU and EWU (along with the full EWU in Cheney), and Whitworth. North Idaho college isn't far. Colorado Springs has UCCS, Colorado College, and Pikes Peak CC; and several more in Denver and Pueblo.

Both cities have great city parks and parks that cross the urban/rural interface. Garden of the Gods (COS) is about as good as it gets; and there's even creeks/waterfalls not too far outside of the city limits. Seriously, if you like the outdoors, Colorado Springs is very hard to beat IMO....if not severely underrated in comparison to Denver which gets much more attention for some reason. Spokane has waterfalls IN downtown, and is surrounded by forest/tall trees, hills, mountains, etc. Both cities are very attractive/pleasing to the eye (except when you look towards the east in COS ).

All of this being said, I think you're looking for Boulder, Fort Collins, Olympia, Bellingham, type cities....but you may be able to make these two or Eugene work.