$327,030Average Value$202Average Price per Sq Ft67Homes For Sale
Corrections-focused community that is home to 11 prison facilities
The county seat of Fremont County, Cañon City is a sleepy southern Colorado community of about 17,000 residents. Situated 40 miles south of Colorado Springs and 40 miles west of Pueblo, the city has a decidedly small-town feel despite being a reasonable driving distance to major urban centers — Denver is only 115 miles north. “This is a nice, quiet area. The people are friendly, the community is helpful, and we have unbelievable outdoor amenities,” says Realtor/broker John Liese of Pikes Peak Dream Homes Realty, who has been listing and selling in the area for nearly a decade and made it his home in 2020. Home to the Museum of Colorado Prisons, Cañon City is a corrections-focused community famously home to 11 correctional facilities — seven state and four federal prisons. “A lot of people that live around here work at the prison facilities, but we do get people from all over moving to this area for different reasons,” Liese says.
Cañon City is home to 11 prisons, 4 federal and 7 state, making the Department of Corrections one of the cities biggest employers.
Visiting the Museum of Colorado Prisons is uniquely a Cañon City experience.
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Discounted home prices compared to the Colorado median
In early 2025, the median home price in Cañon City was around $425,000, compared to $400,000 nationally and over $600,000 in Colorado. "A four-bedroom, three-bath home here may be around $360,000, but in Colorado Springs, it's going to be $100,000 more," Liese says. Some of the oldest real estate around the downtown historic district was built in the late 1800s, but there is a mix of housing from different eras, including new housing developments like the one at Four Mile Ranch Golf Club. "New housing developments have started to take off. It's not like we have 400 homes on a sprawling development, though, it's more like 20 homes at a time," Liese says. "This is a high-desert area, so the vast majority of the newer stuff will be the stucco ranch-style home." Some of the most expensive properties are off Forge Road and Tanner Parkway in the city's southwest section, while the majority of homes are around the downtown area.
Home sizes and styles vary widely in Cañon City.
These Cañon City craftsman style homes are very similar, you completely different.
As Cañon City grows, new homes are popping up northeast of downtown.
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Eating and shopping in and around Canon City
There are commercial stretches along Main Street and Fremont Drive around downtown Cañon City. “Downtown, you’ve got something like eight restaurants in four blocks, everything from pizza to Mexican or fast food. And there are a few dining spots next door in Florence, so you don’t have to drive to Colorado Springs or Pueblo for a meal,” Liese says. There is a Safeway and Walmart for stocking up on groceries and essentials, as well as a couple of shopping plazas, but residents have to travel for a more robust retail experience. “You are 35 minutes from the mall and Pueblo and less than an hour from shopping in Colorado Springs,” Liese says.
The Owl Cigar Store is a Cañon City legend that serves up some scrumptious burgers and milkshakes.
Stepping into Cañon City's Owl Cigar Store is like taking a trip back in time.
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Playgrounds and pavilions at Centennial Park
Cañon City has a handful of community parks that feature sports facilities, playgrounds and pavilions. Centennial Park is the city’s crown jewel and home to annual events like the Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival and Arbor Day. Situated in a mountain bowl along the Arkansas River, the city has boundless outdoor recreation, from hiking and biking to fishing and hunting. “There is a ton of fishing, camping and whitewater rafting in the area. You can follow the river all the way into the mountains for some of the most gorgeous scenic fishing you can imagine,” Liese says. It’s under 5 miles from downtown to hiking at the trailhead in Temple Canyon Park.
Centennial Park is one of the more popular parks in Cañon City.
Let the kiddos run off some energy on the playground at Centennial Park.
Centennial Park has many areas to enjoy a picnic.
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Art in the Park is held each summer
Cañon City has a full calendar of seasonal events for a town of its size. "From May until October, there is literally always something to do," Liese says. In the spring, there is the Antique and Classic Car Show at the Abbey and the Music & Blossom Festival. Summer brings Art in the Park and the annual Fourth of July Celebration. Boo at the Bridge and the Turkey Trot are highlights of the fall, and the Christmas Parade of Lights and tree lighting ceremony occur in November and December.
Cañon City celebrates Halloween with the "Boo on the Bridge" event.
There are local events throughout the year in Cañon City, few bigger than the Music & Blossom Festival.
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Easy drives to nearby Pueblo and Colorado Springs
Cañon City has direct access to U.S. Route 50, which connects to Pueblo to the east. Colorado Springs is about 45 miles north via State Route 115. “They just widened 115 over the last few years, so now there are enough passing lanes where you don’t get stuck behind big trucks the whole way. It’s a much easier drive to get there,” Liese says. There isn't much in the way of public transportation, but Fremont County Transit operates limited bus service in the city, and other curb-to-curb options are available. The closest major airport is Colorado Springs. CommonSpirit — St. Thomas More Hospital is the city’s primary medical facility.
Cañon City schools
The Cañon City School District is graded B-minus by Niche. The district has 11 schools and serves approximately 3,500 students.
Washington Elementary School of the Cañon City School District RE-1.
Most students in the area will complete their public education at Cañon City High School.
Cañon City Middle School serves grades 6 through 8.
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High-mountain desert climate with less snow than areas nearby
Cañon City has a semi-arid high-mountain desert climate with four distinct seasons categorized by warm summers in the mid-to-upper 80s and winters in the 40s. Drastic temperature swings from day to night, and moderate precipitation is typical throughout the year. “In terms of snow, we don’t get a lot here because we’re at a lower elevation. We might get five inches of snow here, which would be a lot, but 15 minutes south, they might have three feet,” Liese says. “The climate here is interesting. We don’t get as hot or cold as Pueblo and Colorado Springs; temperatures are milder, and when it snows, it melts quickly.”
Wildfire is the predominant environmental concern in Cañon City, which encourages fire mitigation efforts and education among homeowners. The landscape is known to be dry and packed with vegetation that can erupt under certain conditions. Some insurers are leaving the state due to wildfires and rising costs, which means higher rates. For those at extreme risk, the Colorado FAIR Plan is in place for buyers otherwise rejected for coverage. FAIR Plan policies are known to be particularly expensive and have more limited coverage.
Crime statistics for Cañon City were not immediately available.
Written By
Amber Steinmetz-Cole
Photography Contributed By
Karl Brewick
Video By
Pasha Chichagov
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Bryan Vail,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Canon City, CO sell after 87 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Canon City, CO over the last 12 months is $320,000, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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