Housely
Moving to a city comes with many decisions. However, today we’re going to focus on the most important decisions in determining your city of choice, especially if you want to raise children in said city. One of the most popular cities in the nation for families to move to is Denver, Colorado. Beautiful scenery, low crime, and nice suburbs are just a few of the perks of moving near the Mile High City. In terms of the safest areas with the best public schools and good proximity to dining, shopping, and extracurricular activities, here are five Denver neighborhoods that are ideal for raising children.
1. Greenwood Village
Families who prefer to live in affluent areas often move to Greenwood Village. This Denver suburb is excellent if you’re looking for different types of housing options. From well manicured lots that hold large single family homes to modern and sophisticated condos suitable for families, you’ll find it all here.
Greenwood Village’s median household income is $109,681, and the unemployment rate is 4.2 percent. The average commute time for residents is 21 minutes, as it’s close to Denver’s major employers. The schools in Greenwood Village are highly rated, and there’s a seemingly endless number of family amenities and entertainment options. Westlands Park has a beautiful playground, walking trails, and a skating rink, and Cherry Creek State Park isn’t very far away. The 18,000-person capacity Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater, which is the largest outdoor amphitheater in the Denver area, is a popular spot for families to catch a live show or performance.
2. Superior
One of the best Denver neighborhoods for families is Superior. This suburb has tons of outdoor activities, excellent schools, and nice dining options. Youth hockey is a popular extracurricular sport in Superior, and many families choose to enroll their children in Boulder Valley Ice’s leagues. To enjoy the outdoors, families here often head to Pike National Forest. Fishing, winter skiing, hiking, camping, nature watching, and biking are just some of the activities available. Superior Community Park has multiple sports fields for football, soccer, and baseball, as well as large playgrounds.
Residents of Superior have a median household income of $107,619 and an unemployment rate of just 4.5 percent. The average commute time by car is 23 minutes. Some of the state’s highest rated schools are in the area, and the high school graduation rate tops 98 percent. Seeing well-kept townhomes and large craftsman style houses is common in this suburb. There’s also a number of grand and expensive single family homes, but on the more affordable end are reasonably priced ranch style abodes. The Superior community is close knit and holds parades and festivals throughout the year.
3. Centennial
Centennial is one of the newest Denver neighborhoods and was incorporated in 2001. When it was established with a council-manager form, Centennial vowed to keep the city’s taxes at a low 1 percent, which is part of the reason this area is so attractive. The population is approximately 100,000, and Centennial is just south of Cherry Creek State Park.
Centennial’s school districts include high achieving Littleton Public Schools and Cherry Creek School District. Top rated Heritage Elementary School is in Centennial and so is Cherry Creek High School, which is nationally ranked and the largest high school in Colorado. Centennial has a wealth of amenities. Cherry Creek State Park is one of the area’s highlights, and it sports a massive 880 acres. Playgrounds, hiking, and camping are just some of the things you can do there. Centennial Center Park is another nice park in the neighborhood that sits on 11 acres and has a kid’s water playground, traditional playgrounds, an amphitheater, and shaded pavilions for picnics and gatherings. For shopping and dining, The Streets at SouthGlenn offers a nice mix of boutiques and national chains, healthy grocers, major retailers and department stores, cafes, restaurants, and lovely bistros. The Streets at SouthGlenn is also home to one of Centennial’s movie theaters.
There’s a variety of housing options available, from single family homes on large lots to smaller condos with a modern look and feel. Just as the type of homes available in Centennial widely vary, so do the prices: $100,000 to just over $900,000. Centennial’s older and more established areas are close to C-470 and I-25, while many of the newer houses and subdivisions are near Southlands Mall and E-470. The average home sale price in Centennial is $361,160, which is a bargain when you consider the excellent schools, recreation opportunities, and entertainment options nearby. The median rent price in Centennial is $1,316. Crime rates are low, with an average total of 1,274 crimes committed per 100,000 residents.
4. Louisville
Families that enjoy the outdoors and desire the opportunity to spread out a bit will love living in Louisville. Memory Square Park and Pirates Park are great playgrounds, and Heritage Park has an abundance of walking trails and a nice fishing pond. Davidson Mesa is close by and perfect for a good hike or run. Louisville is also one of the more pedestrian friendly and bikeable Denver neighborhoods. The average time to commute by car is 22 minutes.
It’s common to see charming craftsman style homes, large townhouses, and ranch style homes on spacious lots in Louisville, and it’s earned a reputation for being a peaceful suburb. Crime rates are very low, the unemployment rate is only 4.9 percent, and schools in this area are excellent. Louisville’s Public Library is a great resource that offers a range of quality programming throughout the year for children of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers. Family friendly restaurants aren’t hard to find in Louisville, and there are many shops that would appeal to growing families.
5. Lone Tree
Lone Tree adjoins the Highlands Ranch neighborhood and has a population of 11,557. Excellent arts and recreation centers, water parks, medical facilities such as the Skyridge Medical Center, and easy access to I-25 make Lone Tree one of the premier Denver neighborhoods. The schools, from elementary through high school, are all well known for having solid academics — 97 percent of high school students graduate, which is well above average. This suburb is a Home Rule Municipality, and it’s perfect for families who want a larger lot as there are plenty of nice single family homes available. In addition to Lone Tree’s recreation and dining options, The Vistas at Park Meadows, Lone Tree Arts Center, and Lone Tree Golf Club provide ample entertainment. The median household income of Lone Tree residents is $137,945, which is significantly higher than the state’s average, and the median home value for the area is $519,270.
References
https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/police-department/crime-information/crime-statistics-maps.html
http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/co/denver/crime/
http://www.greatschools.org/colorado/denver/
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/colorado/districts/denver-public-schools-112125
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