Peyton

Wide-open prairie east of the Springs, acreage, horse property, and Falcon District 49 schools

Population
~100,000+ (80831 zip / Falcon-Peyton corridor)
County
El Paso County
From Downtown
~25 mi NE of Colorado Springs via US-24/Meridian Rd
Median Home
$450K–$550K

Peyton sits about 25 miles northeast of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, out where the Falcon-Peyton prairie corridor opens up and the horizon does most of the talking. One quirk worth knowing up front: on real estate sites, 'Peyton' usually means the broader 80831 zip code, which sweeps in Falcon, Meridian Ranch, and Paint Brush Hills, a much larger and faster-growing area than the tiny Peyton CDP itself.

The frame for buyers is land. Acreage, horse property, and Pikes Peak views at prices well below the closer-in communities.

Browse all 10 Peyton neighborhoods

By Jessica Car · Updated August 2026

Loading map…
Life Here

Lifestyle & Culture

The defining amenity is space itself: 5 to 35 acre parcels zoned for horses, with unobstructed Pikes Peak views from virtually every property. Paint Mines Interpretive Park is the local wonder, free to visit and filled with otherworldly hoodoo formations, while the Black Forest trail network threads mountain biking and hiking routes through the Ponderosa pines, and master-planned Meridian Ranch adds community events and a pool complex.

Dining is short-drive local: Coffee Shack Brew and Q covers BBQ and coffee in one stop, with Buck & Blue's Grill and Falcon's Edge nearby. The calendar runs through a summer Falcon Farmers Market, the long-running Falcon Craft Fair, and the Falcon Harvest Festival. Walmart and King Soopers handle groceries in the Falcon corridor, with the full-selection run 25 minutes into Colorado Springs.

Upcoming Events
  • Oct 3–4
    recurring
    17th Annual Falcon Craft Fair
    Falcon High School · More than 80 vendors sell handmade crafts across the school gymnasium and commons area over two days.
  • Oct 10
    recurring
    Creepin' It Real 5K
    Meridian Ranch Fieldhouse · A costumed 5K run and walk starting at the Meridian Ranch Fieldhouse, free to attend with no residency requirement.
Updated August 2026. Event details change; confirm on the linked page. External links open in a new tab.
Community Snapshot

At a Glance

Elevation
~6,800 ft
Founded
1888
Population
~100,000+ (80831 zip / Falcon-Peyton corridor)
Area
2.3 sq mi
Walk Score2
Bike Score24
Transit Score0
Parks & Outdoors
Paint Mines Interpretive Park, colorful hoodoo formations, unique geological site, free
Black Forest, extensive trail network through Ponderosa pine forest
Open prairie and ranch land, horseback riding, rural trails
Falcon Regional Park, developing
The Bottom Line

Who Peyton Fits

Peyton fits buyers who want land, horses, and a Pikes Peak view out the kitchen window, and who treat driving as part of the deal.

The trade-offs are distance and self-reliance. Most services sit 25-plus minutes away, acreage parcels come with well-and-septic responsibilities, internet options run limited, and amenities are still catching up to a population boom. The 'Peyton' label also covers a lot of ground, so the specific sub-community matters: rural Peyton and master-planned Meridian Ranch are different propositions. Buyers who put elbow room first get acreage at accessible prices; buyers who want services at hand will look to Falcon's master-planned pockets or closer-in Colorado Springs.

Updated August 2026

Tools

Cost of Living in Peyton

Estimated monthly cost at the $500,000 median home price and a $500 car payment. Open the calculator to adjust for your situation.

Estimated monthly cost

$4,804 – $4,904/mo

Covers housing, transportation, utilities, and groceries.

See the full breakdown: mortgage at today's rate, property tax at Peyton's mill levy, utilities at local provider rates, and a gas estimate tuned to the commute distance. Adjust sliders to model your own budget.

Education

Schools & Childcare

Compare schools across every metro community in the Schools & Parks guide.

Falcon School District 49 carries most of the corridor with a B-plus rating and the distinction of being one of Colorado's fastest-growing districts, with modern facilities built for the boom at Falcon, Vista Ridge, and Mesa Ridge high schools. Some Peyton addresses fall instead under the small rural Peyton School District 23-JT (a B-minus), so the district line is worth checking early.

District boundaries are complex in Denver. Verify school assignment by address.

B+
Falcon School District 49
  • One of the fastest-growing districts in Colorado
  • Modern facilities built for growth
  • Falcon HS
Early Childhood
Daycare Centers
Limited, Falcon Day Care & Pre-K (licensed in-home, 6 mo–5 yr + school age); Falcon Kids Corner programs at Falcon Elementary, Meridian Ranch Elementary, and Woodmen Hills Elementary (capacity 60 each)
Pre-K Availability
Falcon CPCD Child Care Center (12050 Falcon Hwy); La Petite Academy serves Peyton/Falcon area
Getting Around

Commute & Transit

See drive and transit times for the whole metro in the Commute guide.

There is no way around it: this is car country, with Walk Scores of 2 to 4 and no public transit. Downtown Colorado Springs runs 25 to 35 minutes west on US-24 or Meridian Road, and the Schriever and Peterson Space Force bases sit 20 to 30 minutes to the south and west.

Colorado Springs (downtown)
25–35 min
US-24 or Meridian Rd, rural highway driving
Schriever SFB / Peterson SFB
20–30 min
Military installations to the south and west
No public transit, Completely car-dependent. Rural/exurban, nearest transit is Colorado Springs Mountain Metro.
Housing Market

Get A Market Snapshot

Jessica Car
Local Realtor & Lender
Talk to a Local Pro

What Homes Cost

Updated August 2026

Home prices in the Peyton/Falcon corridor run $450K to $550K as of 2026, and the spread tells the story: starter homes near $350K in the Falcon corridor, $800K and up on 5 to 35 acre parcels, with the 80831 zip median around $500K. The money is comparable to Woodland Park, but here it buys land rather than mountain elevation.

Go Deeper

Resources

Property taxes follow El Paso County's unincorporated rates, lower than in the incorporated towns, and the land itself is the value proposition. The rural realities deserve a clear-eyed look: Peyton proper has no municipal water or sewer, so most properties run on wells and septic, and internet can be thin, which is why Starlink is popular out here. Childcare is limited locally and concentrates in the Falcon area.

Common Questions

FAQ, Peyton

What are the school ratings in Peyton?

The Peyton/Falcon corridor is primarily served by Falcon School District 49, rated B+ by Niche. D49 is one of the fastest-growing districts in Colorado with modern facilities built for growth. High schools include Falcon HS, Vista Ridge HS, and Mesa Ridge HS. Some Peyton addresses may zone to Peyton SD 23-JT, a small rural district rated B–. Verify enrollment eligibility by address, as the 80831 zip covers a large area.

How long is the commute from Peyton to Colorado Springs?

Peyton is approximately 25 miles northeast of Colorado Springs. Off-peak drive time to downtown Colorado Springs is 25–35 minutes via US-24 or Meridian Road, involving rural highway driving. Schriever Space Force Base and Peterson Space Force Base are 20–30 minutes to the south and west. There is no public transit. The area is completely car-dependent with a transit score of 0.

What is the median home price in Peyton?

As of 2026, the median home price in the Peyton/Falcon corridor (80831 zip) is approximately $450K–$550K. The range is wide: starter homes in the Falcon corridor begin around $350K, while 5–35 acre parcels can reach $800K or higher. Median household income in the 80831 zip is $118,641.

What outdoor recreation is available in Peyton?

Paint Mines Interpretive Park is the area’s standout attraction, colorful hoodoo formations on the eastern plains, a unique geological site with free admission. Black Forest provides an extensive trail network through Ponderosa pine forest for hiking and mountain biking. The open prairie and ranch land support horseback riding, with 5–35 acre parcels common throughout the corridor. Pikes Peak views are visible from virtually every property.

What is the cost of living in Peyton?

Total cost of living in the Peyton/Falcon area runs approximately $4,800–$5,800 per month. Property taxes follow El Paso County rates, which are generally lower than incorporated areas. Note that Peyton is unincorporated. There are no city services, no municipal water or sewer. Most properties use wells and septic systems.

What dining options are available in Peyton?

Peyton and the Falcon corridor offer a growing selection of local eateries: • Coffee Shack Brew and Q, BBQ and coffee, local favorite • Buck & Blue’s Grill • R & R Coffee Cafe, pastries and hearty lunch • Falcon’s Edge Bar & Grill • Burrito Grande, Mexican cuisine in Falcon Breweries include Black Forest Brewing Company East (4.9 rating) and JAKs Brewing Company. The Falcon Farmers Market runs in summer.

What healthcare facilities are near Peyton?

UCHealth Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs is the nearest major medical center, approximately 25–35 minutes southwest. There are no hospitals in Peyton proper. The drive time to Colorado Springs’ full hospital network should be considered when evaluating the area.