Are you planning to move to the Denver, Colorado metropolitan area? With so many great neighborhoods to choose from, narrowing down your search can feel overwhelming.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a young professional who’s packing up boxes and heading to the urban cityscape or a parent-of-three who’s searching for a place that suits your family’s needs. We’ll help you identify the best neighborhoods in the Mile-High City (based on your unique needs).
The Best 12 Neighborhoods in Denver
#12: Cherry Creek
Image courtesy of Denver.org
Around the corner from 6th Avenue, east of Downtown Denver, Cherry Creek is a prime location.
- Median household income: $125,634.
- Popular for:
- Art galleries and festivals.
- Families looking for top-rated schools.
- Hotspots include:
- Cherry Creek North and the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, which offer over 300 stores and 75 cafes and restaurants.
- Housing:
- A mix of apartments and homes to rent.
- Median home value: $701,000.
- Median rent: $1,690.
- Potential downsides:
- High cost of living.
#11: Five Points
Image courtesy of Uncover Colorado
The Five Points neighborhood is located northeast of Downtown Denver and includes the sub-neighborhoods Ballpark, River North Art District (aka RiNo), and Curtis Park.
- Average household income: $71,472.
- Popular for:
- Its rich African-American and jazz history.
- Museums, arts, and craft breweries.
- A vibrant dining scene and nightlife with easily walkable streets.
- Hotspots include:
- Welton Street, which is the historical heart of the Five Points neighborhood and is known for its jazz clubs.
- Housing:
- Median home value: $579,365.
- Median rent: $1,292
- Potential downsides:
- A higher-than-average rate of violent and property crime.
- Gentrification is driving up the cost of living,
#10: Sloan Lake
Image courtesy of Visit Denver
Sloan Lake is on the northwest side of Denver, between West 29th Avenue and 19th Avenues.
- Average household income: $136,461.
- Popular for:
- Greenspaces, recreational facilities, and a vibrant suburban lifestyle.
- Eateries, boutiques, and coffee shops.
- Hotspots include:
- Mexican restaurant Chili Verde and Hogshead Brewery for cask-conditioned ales.
- Sloan’s Lake itself for water sports.
- Edgewater Public Market for dining and shopping.
- Housing:
- A combo of single-family homes, condos, duplexes, and apartment buildings.
- Median home value: $671,789.
- Median rent: $1,701.
- Potential downsides:
- It’s a small and exclusive neighborhood, so housing is pricy and competitive.
#9: North Park Hill
Image courtesy of Denverite
North Park Hill is in the northeast part of Denver. It was originally planned as a suburb to help people get out of the city!
- Average household income: $134,467.
- Popular for:
- A diverse collection of architectural styles.
- Drawing young professionals, with the median age of residents being 38.
- Hotspots include:
- A great foodie scene featuring Spinelli’s Market, Em’s Ice Cream, and Bistro Barbès.
- City Park, which is right across Colorado Blvd and home to the City Park Golf Course, Denver Zoo, and Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
- Housing:
- Median home value: $567,434.
- Median rent: $1,987.
- Potential downsides:
- A competitive housing market and high crime rates in some small pockets.
- Overcoming its history of racial segregation is still a work in progress.
#8: Baker
Image courtesy of Denver Architecture Foundation
Baker is a historic Denver neighborhood situated north of 6th Avenue, bordered by Lincoln Ave and I-25.
- Average household income: $96,647.
- Popular for:
- Its Victorian architecture and historic charm.
- Excellent public schools.
- Hotspots include:
- South Broadway, with its mix of clothing shops and second-hand bookstores.
- Antique shops like the Ten Penny Store and Colorado Antique Gallery.
- Housing:
- A mix of old Queen Anne homes, renovated bungalows, and duplexes.
- Median home value: $436,568.
- Median rent: $1,424.
- Potential downsides:
- Some say its popularity as a historic district with plenty to do has made it too expensive for many middle-class families.
- Higher-than-average theft and burglary rates.
#7: Lower Downtown Denver (LoDo)
Image courtesy of Lodo.org
LoDo is a 23-block area in north-central Denver and is the oldest of the Denver neighborhoods.
- Average household income: $154,624.
- Popular for:
- A mix of upscale restaurants, trendy bars, clubs, art galleries, and boutiques.
- Sports fans and lively game days.
- Hotspots include:
- Lots of entertainment options for those moving to Denver, including Coors Field and Union Station, a transportation hub and dining destination
- Housing:
- Potential downsides:
- It tends to skew younger, with a median age of 33.7, who are mostly renters and tend not to have children (making it potentially less family-friendly than other areas).
- LoDo can be noisy and crowded on game days and weekends, and parking can be challenging.
#4: Central Park (formerly known as Stapleton)
Image courtesy of Dwell Denver
Stapleton, rebranded as Central Park, is a planned community known for its family-friendly atmosphere located east of downtown Denver.
- Average household income: $48,993.
- Popular for:
- Being a community-focused and diverse neighborhood.
- Excellent schools make it ideal for families with kids,
- Hotspots include:
- Central Park, the largest park in Denver.
- Stanley Marketplace, a hub for local shopping and dining within walking distance.
- Housing:
- The neighborhood boasts modern homes surrounded by ample green spaces.
- Median home value: $275,000.
- Median rent: $1,094.
- Potential downsides:
- It may lack the historic charm of older neighborhoods since some areas are still developing.
- Theft rates are higher than average.
#4: Berkeley
Image courtesy of Homes.com
The Berkeley neighborhood in Northwest Denver, west of Interstate 25.
- Average household income: $114,038
- Popular for:
- Two large lakes–the aptly named Berkeley Lake and Lkae Rhonda– and charming parks.
- Its cultural district, lined with art galleries, boutiques, and trendy eateries.
- Hotspots include:
- Tennyson Street, a hub for local art and boutiques.
- Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe and Brewery, offering over 50 sandwich options.
- The tennis courts at Rocky Mountain Lake Park tennis courts and the kid-friendly Cesar E. Chavez Park and its playground
- Lakeside Amusement Park for family fun.
- Housing:
- A mix of townhomes, duplexes, and Victorian historical homes.
- Median home value: $640,886.
- Median rent: $1,864.
- Potential downsides:
- The neighborhood’s rapid development may be a concern for those seeking an established community feel.
#4: Capitol Hill
Image courtesy of Uncover Colorado
The Capitol Hill neighborhood, aka “Cap Hill,” is located north of South Park Hill, extending from the Capitol building to Cheesman Park.
- Average household income: $63,496.
- Popular for:
- Its cultural scene, which includes art galleries, museums, concert venues, and restaurants.
- Walkability and public transportation, which offer residents convenient access to downtown.
- Hotspots include:
- Civic Center Park for summer events like concerts and food festivals
- 16th Street Mall for a range of shopping and dining options.
- Housing:
- A mix of historic mansions and contemporary apartments and condos.
- Median home value: $342,024.
- Median rent: $1,244.
- Potential downsides:
- This densely populated neighborhood makes finding parking a challenge for residents without driveways.
- Crime is a bit higher than the Denver average, especially for thefts.
#3: Highland
Image courtesy of Visit Denver
The Highland neighborhood is located immediately northwest of downtown Denver and Highlands Square, Tennyson Street, and Lower Highland (LoHi).
- Average household income: $96,753.
- Popular for:
- Being walkabout and bikeable.
- The Victorian-era architecture, parks, independent shops, and art galleries, which attract young professionals and singles.
- Hotspots include:
- Highland Square at 32nd Avenue or Tennyson Street, for its clusters of lively bars and restaurants.
- Tennyson Street Cultural District’s boutique stores and art galleries.
- Lower Highland (LoHi)-area favorites like Avanti Food and Beverage and Little Man Ice Cream.
- Housing:
- Median home value: $544,717.
- Median rent: $2,231.
- Potential downsides:
- High cost of living.
- Motor vehicle theft is higher than average.
#2: Washington Park (aka Wash Park)
Image courtesy of USA Today
Washington Park is a very active neighborhood with copious greenspace in south-central Denver.
- Average household income: $169,878.
- Popular for:
- Its parks, lakes, and tree-lined streets that encourage residents to get outside (whether to exercise or embark on an outdoor adventure)
- Great schools and low crime rates that make it family-friendly.
- Easy light rail transport via the E Line from Union Station.
- Hotspots include:
- Devil’s Food Bakery for pastries.
- Historic South Gaylord Street for local restaurants, galleries, and shops.
- Smith Lake for paddleboat renting.
- Housing:
- Homes span the eras from Victorian to high-end new builds.
- Median home value: $862,606.
- Median rent: $2,578.
- Potential downsides:
- People complain about tourists driving slowly through the area to enjoy the scenery.
#1: Hale
Image courtesy of Denverite
Hale is a small neighborhood bounded by Colfax Ave., Colorado Blvd., E 6th S Ave Pkwy., and Holly St.
- Average household income: $104,755.
- Popular for:
- Stellar public schools (including the national-ranked East High School and Denver School of the Arts).
- Average or lower-than-average crime rates (other than auto theft).
- Rose Medical Center and tree-lined residential neighborhoods in the center with plenty to do in terms of restaurants and shops on the boundary roads.
- Hotspots include:
- Snooze A.M. Eatery for pancakes and The Kochi Cafe for tea.
- Henry S. Lindsley Park for tennis and dog-walking.
- Housing:
- Median home value: $638,180.
- Median Rent $1,082.
- Potential downsides:
- Parking is a real problem for residents without their own driveways, but the neighborhood makes biking and walking safe and easy,
Final Thoughts
As you plan your move to one of Denver’s top neighborhoods, you might find that transitioning between homes can require temporary storage solutions. When you need a safe, clean, and accessible place to store your belongings, consider the peer-to-peer storage solution Neighbor.
Offering a variety of storage options across all 50 states, Neighbor provides an ideal solution for keeping your possessions secure and close by during your relocation. Explore your options and find the perfect storage unit near you with Neighbor’s Self-Storage Near Me.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Is the Best Area to Live in Denver?
The best Denver neighborhoods offer great amenities and a high quality of life. While everyone’s parameters are different, Highland, Capitol Hill, and Hale stand amongst Denver’s highest-rated neighborhoods.
Where Can I Find Unique Shopping Experiences in Denver?
Shops along South Broadway, the Cherry Park Mall, and Denver Pavillions all have a wide range of shopping opportunities, from luxury to funky finds.
