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sUBURBAN
Colorado areas
Deciding where to live in Colorado is a hard decision - not just because it's a large one but because Colorado is home to so many amazing spaces. Your unique story, lifestyle, goals, and interests are the determining factor in which area is right for you. Take our Colorado Profile Quiz below and learn about the different areas of Colorado - Urban, Suburban, Mountains, and Rural - and more specifics on all they have to offer.
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Below you have a curated breakdown of the Top 3 Locations in each Colorado area, comparable across the board by everything from cost of living to population density and snow level - always supported by the experienced voice of Tiffany Hughes, the CO Mortgage Gal.
suburban Colorado
Denver has been growing exponentially in the last 10 years in every direction. For the family that wants to move to a more family -centric location, the suburbs might be the ideal location. Depending on job location and cost of homes, you can find the pefect community that fits your growing family lifestyle or just a more laid back lifestyle. There are suburban communities with historical backgrounds and new communities that offer newer homes and planned communities.
The CO Mortgage Gal's Top 3 Suburban Areas to Consider are:
highlands ranch
population
105,631 (2020)
Elevation
5,817 FT
Average Home price
$642,000
Schools
Douglas County
School District
Climate
Moderate to Extreme
Highlands Ranch is a large neighborhood community South of Denver, known for its open spaces and many miles of trails. With 4 recreation centers, 70 miles of trails, 26 parks and over 2600 acres of open space, it is the ideal place to raise a family. Residents pay a minimal quarterly HOA dues to have access to all four, state of the art, recreation centers. This is a covenant-controlled community so you do have to abide by some minor covenants. But, hey, that is what makes this neighborhood community so clean and attractive to families of all ages.
The heartbeat of the community is in Town Center, host to many community events including the Farmer’s Market, concerts in the park, July 4th parade and movies on the green.
Highlands Ranch is the ideal community for families with kids of all ages because of the many miles of trails and a community association that offers activities for every member of the family.
If you are a runner and all things outdoors, this is an ideal place to live. In addition to its many miles of trails for biking and running, it is near Chatfield Reservoir for all your water activities. With it being such a mild climate area for Colorado, many outdoor activities can be done year-round. However, be sure to take layers and plan ahead.
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Climate: Mild to extreme – At 5800 ft, Highlands Ranch sees an average of 78 inches of precipitation and an average temperature in the summer of 80-85 degrees and in the winter 40-45 degrees. However, with Colorado being true to its strange weather patterns, it is not unusual to have a 40 degree day in June and a 70 degree day in January. 246 average days of sunshine.
Average Snowfall: 78 inches per year
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Learn More About Highlands Ranch:
Why the colorado mortgage gal loves highlands ranch:
“The reason people talk about Highlands Ranch all the time as a great place for families is because it is. The school district is top in the state, the Rec Centers are state of the art, the open spaces for family-friendly biking and hiking are everywhere. Their activities and programs are for all ages, everything from art, to sports, to special events.”
— Tiffany Hughes, Mortgage Professional
Castle Rock
population
62,471
Elevation
6,224 FT
Average Home price
$591,469 (May 2021)
Schools
Douglas County
School District
Climate
Moderate to Extreme
Located 24 miles South of Denver, this little town has grown up so much in the last 20 years since they added the Castle Rock Outlet Mall and The Meadows neighborhood. The town of Castle Rock has the small town western feel, but still boasts all the modern conveniences of day to day living with great shopping and planned communities like the Meadows just west of downtown Castle Rock.
Summertime in downtown Castle Rock finds you with small town shopping and events in Festival Park such as the farmer’s market, First Fridays concerts in the park and Movie nights.
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Just West of downtown Castle Rock is The Meadows neighborhood. This area is ideal for families because of its Recreation Center, 24 miles of trails and 1100 acres of parks and open space and Douglas County School district, known as one of the best School Districts in the state. There is so much to do to keep kids busy and kick back in this safe suburban neighborhood.
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Climate: At 6200 ft, the weather tends to be a tad cooler and a bit more extreme then Denver proper. The high temperature in July is 86 and the typical low in January is 19. However, it is not uncommon to see 70 degrees in January and 45 degrees in June. This is Colorado, so the weather can change very quickly. It can be sunny and warm in the morning and snowing in the afternoon. But, it is very sunny with 243 days of sunshine per year.
Average Snowfall: 78 inches/yr
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Learn More About Castle Rock:
Why the colorado mortgage Gal loves Castle Rock:
“What I love about Castle Rock is the small town feel even though it's expanding rapidly in terms of everyday conveniences. The year around seasonal events are incredible and also make Castle Rock great for families. Their parks even include high ropes courses, zip lining, and adventure playgrounds.”
— Tiffany Hughes, Mortgage Professional
Why the colorado mortgage loves Green Valley ranch:
"I love Green Valley Ranch because it has continued to remain a, somewhat, affordable suburban neighborhood and for its close proximity to Denver International Airport and other major employers like Amazon and Panasonic."
— Tiffany Hughes, Mortgage Professional
Green Valley Ranch
population
36,555
Elevation
5,390 FT
Average Home price
$427,501
Schools
Denver Public Schools
Climate
Moderate
Green Valley Ranch is located East of Denver and was annexed from Adams County and incorporated into the City and County of Denver in 1973. The master plan of the community began development in the early 1980s. GVR has grown to over 35,000 residents with more than 11,000 households.
This is a growing community that is ideal for families moving to Colorado that need close commuting proximity to DIA, Panasonic, Amazon and easy access to I-70 and downtown as well.
Green Valley Ranch is a suburban planned community that boast nearly 10 miles of trails, a Golf Club, planned open space and recreation center with a huge state of the art Natatorium (indoor pool) set to open spring 2023 .
This is very much a family neighborhood that has managed to stay, somewhat, affordable for families to live in the Denver area without the cost or congestion of the city. Because of its close proximity to the airport and other major employers, it has become very ethnically diverse.
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Climate: The average temperature in January is 31 degrees and July average is 73 with a high of 90 in July and a low of 21 in January. This is typical weather for the lower elevation plains of Colorado with an average of 58 inches of snow per year and 245 sunny days.
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Average Snowfall: 58 inches
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Learn More About Green Valley Ranch:
PARKER
population
60,313
Elevation
5,869 FT
Average Home price
$726,768
Schools
Douglas County Schools
Climate
Moderate
Parker is a suburb located 25 miles southeast of Denver located in Douglas County. Rich in history dating back to the early 1800’s Parker got its name from the Parker brothers who purchased the 20 mile house and all the land surrounding it in 1869. Thanks to the railroad stop in the center of town, it grew very quickly to become the second largest town in Douglas County.
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Known for its open space, trails and arts and culture, Parker has become a favorite location for many families to live. In addition to the PACE Center, (Parker, Arts, Cultural and Events Center), the town has a large recreation center, a field house and several miles of paved trails and open space. The downtown historical district has become its own attraction with great restaurants and events happening year round, including the famous Parker Days, the weekly farmer’s market and Hometown Holiday Experience.
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Many of the homes and neighborhoods in Parker are newer and used to be considered an affordable alternative to living in the city of Denver. As with much of the rest of the Metro Area, home prices and values have skyrocketed over the last couple of years. It is a bit of a commute into the downtown area, but it is a popular area for families that want the quiet of the suburbs and the short commute to the Denver Tech Center.
Why the colorado mortgage loves PARKER:
"I love Parker because of its downtown area Old West charm and the Arts and Culture District. The different neighborhoods give families many different options for schools and prices."
— Tiffany Hughes, Mortgage Professional
lakewood
population
156,605
Elevation
5,518 FT
Average Home price
$562,821
Schools
Jefferson County
School District
Climate
Moderate
Living in Lakewood, Colorado provides the perfect balance between an active and natural lifestyle. With numerous parks for outdoor enthusiasts, plus scenic views of Denver's skyline, this city is the ideal place to explore nature while remaining close to all the amenities of a major metropolitan city. Residents have access to top-ranked schools, vibrant shopping and dining districts, and a vast miles of stunning trails for hiking or biking and of course the historic Casa Bonita Restaurant. Whatever your interests, Lakewood offers plenty of ways to stay immersed in the outdoors while still being surrounded by all that any city has to offer.
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Conveniently located on the west side of Denver, just off I-70, residents of Lakewood have quick and easy access west to the mountains or just 15 minutes to downtown Denver. It is the ideal location for the weekend mountain warrior with a short commute to downtown Denver.
Why the colorado mortgage loves lakewood:
"I like Lakewood for my first time homebuyers. It offers great opportunity for affordable housing while being conveniently located just off the West I-70 corridor."
— Tiffany Hughes, Mortgage Professional