Colorado
Peterson Space Force Base
📍 Colorado Springs, Colorado
A key Space Force installation housing the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command headquarters.
BAH Rates
MHA: CO008 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$2,076/mo
E-5 with Dependents$2,412/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,794/mo
O-3 with Dependents$3,036/mo
O-3 without Dependents$2,475/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Privatized housing managed by Tierra Vista Communities — multiple neighborhoods on and near Peterson with single-family homes, townhomes, and duplexes; 600+ units; newer construction in Ridgeview and Tierra Vista neighborhoods
- Off-base: Most families live in Colorado Springs, Fountain, or Security-Widefield; BAH is strong ($1,900-$2,600/month) relative to Colorado Springs cost of living
- Wait times: On-base wait lists vary by neighborhood and rank, typically 2-5 months; family-size homes have longer waits
- Top pick: Briargate, Cordera, and Wolf Ranch in northern Colorado Springs — 20-25 min commute via Powers Blvd, excellent D-20 schools, newer construction with mountain views
- Note: Colorado Springs has seen rapid growth; housing prices have risen ~40% since 2020; plan for competitive bidding on off-base purchases
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Briargate / Cordera — North Colorado Springs, 20-25 min commute on Powers Blvd, top-rated Academy D-20 schools, master-planned with trails and community centers, popular with officer families
- Stetson Hills / Ridgeview — East Colorado Springs, 10-15 min, more affordable than north side, Falcon D-49 schools, newer subdivisions with parks, strong military population
- Security-Widefield — South of base, 10-15 min, the most affordable corridor, Widefield D-3 schools (improving ratings), older established neighborhoods with large lots
- Fountain / Mesa Ridge — 15-20 min south, rapidly growing area with newer construction, D-3 and D-8 schools, more house for the money, popular with junior enlisted and first-time buyers
- Downtown Colorado Springs — 15-20 min west, historic district with Old North End and Patty Jewett neighborhoods, urban amenities, eclectic dining and arts, older homes with character
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Evans Elementary (D49)⭐ 6/10
District 49, near Peterson
Scott Elementary (D11)⭐ 5/10
District 11, near base
Chinook Trail Elementary (D20)⭐ 8/10
District 20, top-rated, ~15 min drive
Discovery Canyon Campus Elementary (D20)⭐ 8/10
District 20, K-12 campus
🏫 Middle Schools
Horizon Middle School (D49)⭐ 6/10
District 49, close to Peterson
Challenger Middle School (D20)⭐ 8/10
District 20, strong academics
Eagleview Middle School (D20)⭐ 8/10
District 20, excellent reputation
🏫 High Schools
Sand Creek High School (D49)⭐ 6/10
District 49, close to base
Pine Creek High School (D20)⭐ 8/10
District 20, top-rated in Colorado Springs
Air Academy High School (D20)⭐ 8/10
District 20, near USAFA, military families
Gates & Commute
- West Gate (Peterson Blvd/Academy Blvd) — Primary entry from Academy Blvd/I-25, 5-15 min peak waits (6:30-8:30 AM), 24/7, most direct access for north/west commuters
- East Gate (Stewart Ave/Marksheffel Rd) — Secondary entry from Marksheffel Blvd, 5-10 min peak waits, shorter lines, best for Stetson Hills/Falcon commuters, 0500-2100
- Tip: Powers Blvd (CO-21) is the north-south artery for east-side commuters; Academy Blvd is the west-side corridor; I-25 connects to downtown and USAFA
- Tip: Peterson is co-located with Colorado Springs Airport (COS) — the East Gate is directly across from the terminal; convenient for TDY travel but expect some aircraft noise
Internet Providers
- Xfinity (Comcast) — Dominant cable provider across Colorado Springs; speeds up to 1.2 Gbps; reliable and widely available
- CenturyLink / Quantum Fiber — DSL and expanding fiber; up to 940 Mbps fiber in select neighborhoods (Briargate, newer subdivisions)
- Ting / Metronet — Fiber providers expanding in Colorado Springs; check per-address availability for newest subdivisions
- Starlink — Available for rural properties east of Colorado Springs (Falcon, Peyton, Calhan)
- Top pick: Xfinity cable for most neighborhoods; Quantum/Ting fiber where built out
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: AAFES Exchange and commissary — well-stocked with groceries, household goods, and a food court
- The Promenade Shops at Briargate — 15 min north; outdoor lifestyle center with national retailers, restaurants, and movie theater
- First & Main Town Center — 10 min east on Powers Blvd; cinema, restaurants (Biaggi's, Ted's Montana Grill), and big-box stores
- Chapel Hills Mall — 15 min north; traditional enclosed mall with Macy's, Dillard's, and food court
- Groceries: On-base commissary; off-base King Soopers (Kroger), Safeway, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Costco, and Trader Joe's all within 10-20 min
Gyms & Recreation
- Peterson SFB Fitness Center — Large, well-equipped gym with indoor track, pools, basketball/racquetball courts, and extensive group fitness classes
- Outdoor Recreation — Equipment rental (ski/snowboard, camping, bikes), discounted lift tickets (Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail), and guided adventure trips into the Rockies
- On-base: 24/7 fitness annex for shift workers, bowling alley, sports fields, outdoor running trails, and the Silver Spruce Golf Course (18-hole championship course)
- Garden of the Gods — 20 min west; free, iconic red rock formations with hiking, climbing, biking, and a visitor center — Colorado Springs' crown jewel
- Pikes Peak — 'America's Mountain' at 14,115 ft; summit via the Pikes Peak Highway (30 min to toll road) or the Manitou Cog Railway; inspiration for 'America the Beautiful'
- Skiing/snowboarding: Breckenridge (2 hrs), Keystone (2 hrs), Monarch Mountain (2.5 hrs), and Arapahoe Basin (2.25 hrs) — world-class skiing with military discount tickets through ODR
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: Extensive GS and NAF positions through USAJobs; NORTHCOM, NORAD, USSPACECOM, SpOC, and multiple tenant units create hundreds of civilian and contractor positions
- Colorado Springs defense: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, Booz Allen, SAIC, Raytheon, and Parsons all have major operations supporting Peterson-Schriever missions
- Aerospace/cyber: Colorado Springs has the nation's highest concentration of space and cyber jobs outside the Beltway; cleared professionals are in constant demand
- Tech: Progressive Insurance, Oracle, Keysight Technologies, and a growing startup scene in downtown Colorado Springs
- Remote work: Strong broadband throughout the area; Mountain Time Zone with good overlap for both East and West Coast remote roles
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center provides federal resume workshops, job fairs, and career counseling — the Colorado Springs defense job market is one of the strongest in the DoD
Local Attractions
- Garden of the Gods — Free, breathtaking red rock formations with accessible trails, rock climbing, and a world-class visitor center; 20 min west
- Pikes Peak — Summit America's Mountain via highway, cog railway, or Barr Trail; stunning 360-degree views from 14,115 ft
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo — 20 min southwest; mountainside zoo with giraffe feeding, grizzly bears, and the Mountaineer Sky Ride with city views
- U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum — Downtown Colorado Springs, 15 min; interactive, state-of-the-art museum honoring Team USA athletes
- Manitou Springs — Quirky historic town at the base of Pikes Peak with mineral springs, art galleries, the Penny Arcade, and the Manitou Incline (extreme thigh-burning hike)
- Weekend trips: Denver (1 hr), Rocky Mountain National Park (2.5 hrs), Great Sand Dunes National Park (2.5 hrs), Royal Gorge Bridge (1 hr), Bishop Castle (1.5 hrs), Crested Butte wildflower season (3.5 hrs)
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
Peterson Space Force Base headquarters in Colorado Springs
neighborhood
Briargate neighborhood, popular with Peterson families
housing
On-base family housing at Peterson Space Force Base
nature
Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs
downtown
Downtown Colorado Springs near Peterson SFB
restaurant
Dining in downtown Colorado Springs