The best places to live in Denver

The best areas and suburbs in Denver run the full spectrum. Luxurious Cherry Creek and historic Capitol Hill each draw their own followings, while family-friendly Central Park appeals to a different crowd entirely. Housing stock varies wildly. Luxury condominiums dominate certain postcodes, while you’ll find trendy loft conversions, historic Victorians and modern townhomes elsewhere.

House hunters will need to be fairly flexible in their requirements and shouldn’t set their heart on finding a home in one particular neighbourhood, as the demand is high. Instead, they should make a list of suitable neighbourhoods and then start searching for accommodation within their budget.

Here is a list of popular neighbourhoods in Denver.

Young and trendy neighbourhoods in Denver

Neighbourhoods for young professionals in Denver

Cheesman Park

This picturesque area is located close to the Capitol Hill district and is especially popular among young professionals in Denver. There is a wide array of accommodation and price points in Cheesman Park, including historic Victorian homes, modern condominiums, townhouses and apartments.

For those who want spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains, the best option is a towering condo. Loft apartments are also popular in this area. You’ll have good access to restaurants, bars, clubs and the park itself – a magnet for joggers, picnickers and the annual Cheesman Park Art Fest.

Cherry Creek

An upscale neighbourhood in Denver, Cherry Creek is one of the city’s most sought-after addresses. While it is somewhat popular with older couples looking to downsize, it’s also a common spot for new arrivals moving to Denver for an active lifestyle. The area is a self-contained oasis for its residents, who have art galleries, coffee shops, retail outlets, bars and restaurants right on their doorstep.

In the summer, Cherry Creek comes alive with activity on Fillmore Plaza, which hosts regular concerts, art festivals, and a popular holiday market running from November through Christmas Eve. Accommodation in this neighbourhood mainly consists of modern housing and apartments.

Lower Downtown

Lower Downtown, known among Denver’s residents as LoDo, is the perfect neighbourhood for newcomers looking to have all of what Denver has to offer right on their doorstep. It’s the ideal area for those with an active social life who don’t have a car.

LoDo concentrates much of Denver’s bar, restaurant and nightlife scene in a walkable grid, alongside cultural draws like the Museum of Contemporary Art and green spaces like Commons Park. New arrivals will be close to work but far from the city’s best schools, making this area ideal for young professionals without children.

Moving to Denver 
Work in Denver

Family-friendly neighbourhoods in Denver

Family-freidnly neighbourhoods in Denver

Central Park

Central Park is a popular area among families in Denver. The neighbourhood was renamed from Stapleton in 2020 after residents voted to shed the name of Benjamin Stapleton, a former Denver mayor and KKK member. Built on the site of the former Stapleton International Airport (closed in 1995), the neighbourhood now features residential properties, retail buildings, parks and more than 10 schools serving roughly 30,000 residents. Public murals and interactive artwork dot the streetscape, remnants of the neighbourhood’s early vision as an arts-friendly development. New arrivals will find a range of housing options in Central Park, including lofts, condominiums, townhomes and larger single-family homes.

Littleton

With its quintessential small-town feel, this family-friendly neighbourhood is a great place to raise children. Littleton is home to several good restaurants, shops and plenty of green spaces to relax and play with the kids.

Littleton Public Schools has earned Colorado’s highest academic accreditation eight times – more than any other metro area district. You’ll be near some of the best public schools in the state. With good RTD light rail access, the 12-minute commute to the city centre has never been easier. Craftsman-style houses are scattered throughout the neighbourhood amid some gorgeous new builds.

Mayfair

Mayfair is an excellent place for those on a budget. The predominant type of architecture that can be found in the area is 1950s ranch-style homes. Alongside these modest properties, new arrivals can also find some more contemporary homes. The area is particularly popular with students and medical professionals working at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (formerly the Health Sciences Center) and National Jewish Health.

Mayfair sits close to Lindsley Park, a seven-acre green space with tennis courts, playgrounds and picnic areas – ideal for families or anyone who likes to move. While there are just a handful of restaurants and shops in the area, Mayfair is only a 15-minute commute from downtown Denver and a few minutes away from Cherry Creek.

Accommodation in Denver 
Public Schools in Denver

Areas to avoid in Denver

Denver’s overall crime rate sits higher than the national average, although this varies dramatically by neighbourhood. Most areas are perfectly safe, and the city has reported overall decreases in both violent and property crime since 2023. Most neighbourhoods outside the central core report crime rates at or below the national average.

Civic Center posts the highest violent crime rate at over 48 incidents per 1,000 residents. Just remember that heavy foot traffic from people visiting museums and government buildings skews the per capita numbers higher than residential risk would suggest. There are simply more people per resident on the street than in many other parts of Denver.

Five Points, once known as the ‘Harlem of the West,’ has logged the highest total number of violent crimes in recent years. Capitol Hill, with its bars and music venues, draws crowds, but visitors should stay alert, particularly after dark. Crime rates, primarily property crime, are well above the city average.

Sun Valley, west of Downtown, consistently ranks among the areas with elevated crime rates. The neighbourhood has faced longtime economic challenges despite some city investment and community programmes aimed at shifting the trajectory.

What areas in Denver do expats recommend?

"Close to the centre of town, Highlands, City Park, Congress Park, Wash Park, Sloan’s Lake and LoDo are popular. To the South, Parker and Highlands Ranch provide good options with good views of the mountains. To the north, Longmont and Lafayette (near the university town of Boulder) are growing."

Hendrik, a South African expat, shares his experience of life in Denver. Read what he has to say in his expat interview on living in Denver.

Further reading

►Learn about Denver's property market in Accommodation in Denver.

Photo credits: Downtown, Denver by Andrew Coop. Family home by Yaroslav Muzychenko. Images sourced from Unsplash.

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