If you are considering a move to Denver and have young kids or are planning to start a family soon, you will want to think about the lifestyle you want them to lead. Do you want your kids to grow up in the heart of downtown? Is what surrounds your neighborhood important - parks, shopping, schools, etc.? As a rapidly growing metropolitan area, Denver has a lot of great things to offer young professionals, families, retirees, and everyone in between. Families, however, often have the most specific needs when it comes to relocating to a new city. From price per square foot to the school district they move to, the more people you are moving the more moving parts you must consider. Because the Denver area has changed so dramatically over the last decade, we’d like to share our expertise of the Metro area and surrounding communities to give you some insider insight into the best neighborhoods in Denver for families.

Littleton, CO

Ask just about anyone in the area and they will tell you that Littleton is definitely one of the best neighborhoods in Denver for families. Littleton sits just south of downtown Denver on the north side of 470. While densely populated, like much of central Colorado, more than 40% of Littleton residents have children under the age of 18, so your family won’t want for peers with similar demographics. Nearly 80% of kids in Littleton are school aged, so established families will fit right into the city.

The majority of Littleton residents have a household income of more than $60,000 at salaried jobs, so an established career will make the housing prospects in Littleton much more favorable. The cost of housing in Littleton is about 53% higher than the national average, however, the total cost of living is comparable to the rest of the state. The average cost of a house in Littleton is just over $300,000 and these homes average more than five bedrooms. The majority of residents are homeowners, which indicates what a great neighborhood Littleton is for families who are ready to plant roots.

We included Littleton first as one of the best neighborhoods in Denver for families not only because of the well-rounded demographics and cost of living but also for the award-winning school district. Ranked number 5 in the entire state and number 1 in the Denver area, Littleton Public Schools boast a 90% graduation rate with exemplary standardized testing performance in math and reading. Slightly smaller than some of the surrounding school districts, Littleton has a 19:1 student to teacher ratio across the 23 schools included in the district.

Greenwood Village, CO

To the east of Littleton is our second contender for the best neighborhoods in Denver for families. Greenwood Village is significantly smaller than some of the surrounding communities with just over 15,000 residents. Nearly 85% of the families in Greenwood Village have school-aged children so, as you may have guessed, the district is a little larger than that of Littleton. We see a slightly older average population in Greenwood Village, more than half of which are transplants to the area.

Cost of living in Greenwood Village is significantly higher than the national average, which can be seen by the near third of residents whose average household income exceeds $200,000. The housing market in this area is 274% higher than the national average, so moving to this area will require a hefty property investment. The average home in Greenwood Village is valued at nearly $1 million. The median household rooms are between 7 and 8, so large families will feel comfortable in Greenwood Village.

If it fits your budget, Greenwood Village is certainly one of the best neighborhoods in Denver for families, especially with multiple children who need their own space in a home. Greenwood Village residents attend school in the Cherry Creek School District, which is something to brag about, too, with test scores averaging 25% higher than the national average. The Cherry Creek School District ranks number 7 in the state of Colorado, also ranking number 5 for the best places to teach in Colorado, showing that the teachers at the 64 schools are passionate about their jobs. Cherry Creek has an 18:1 student to teacher ratio.

Castle Rock, CO

About 30 miles south of Denver Metro, we consider Castle Rock one of the better known of the best neighborhoods in Denver for families. The median age in Castle Rock is about 7.5 years younger than that of Greenwood Village and Littleton residents, so younger families will fit in here. Nearly 60% of Castle Rock residents have children under the age of 18. We do see a wider range of ages in children in Castle Rock with approximately a 50/50 split between school-aged kids and those not old enough for kindergarten yet.

More than 70% of residents in Castle Rock have an average household income between $60,000 and $200,000 with nearly 90% of that income coming from salary jobs. The housing index is about 75% higher than the national average with a 7-bedroom home averaging at just over $450,000. The cost of living in Castle Rock, however, is not at quite as steep of an increase from the national average.

Castle Rock residents attend the Douglas County School District No. RE-1, which is one of Colorado’s larger school districts. With a 20:1 student to teacher ratio and a 90% graduation rate, this leg of the Douglas County School District affords Castle Rock a place on our list of the best neighborhoods in Denver for families.

Golden, CO

Though nestled right in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, it is more than the idyllic scenery that brings us to number 4 on our list of the best neighborhoods in Denver for families: Golden, CO. Golden has about 20,000 residents, making it a comfortable, quaint place for young families to call home. We see a well-rounded display of different age groups, ensuring that every family can find a peer in Golden.

The household income distribution skews more dominantly toward the lower end, however, the cost of living in Golden is on par with the rest of the Denver metro area, sitting at about 25% higher than the national average. A 5- bedroom home in Golden will run you about $425,000, but we see a significantly larger proportion of residents renting here than we do in some of our other more family-friendly neighborhoods.

Golden residents attend school in Jefferson County School District No. R-1, one of the largest school districts in the state. The 165 schools have a 19:1 student to teacher ratio, as well as exemplary ACT and SAT performance.

Moving To One Of The Best Neighborhoods In Denver For Families

You really can’t go wrong when you are moving to Denver. With more than 300 days of sunshine every year and an unbeatable view of the Rockies from exactly a mile high, wherever you choose to move will most certainly be one of the best neighborhoods in Denver for your family.

If you need help with your Denver move, contact Amazing Moves today.

Stats are the courtesy of AreaVibes.