Urban
Colorado areas
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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.
urban Colorado
Downtown Denver is unique with its own Urban Adventures, from Kayaking on the Platte to riding the many trails through downtown and into the Cherry Creek Area.
From the Art District to the many different museums, there is something for everyone in Downtown Denver.Denver has everything from old to new single family residence to high rise condominiums and lofts.
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What is your desired lifestyle in Denver? Is it the nightlife, the arts or just being in the hustle bustle of a downtown atmosphere with easy access to the beautiful Colorado Rocky mountains? Find your perfect home within walking distance of everything you love about urban life.
The CO Mortgage Gal's Top 3 Urban Areas to Consider are:
Lower Downtown, also called LODO, is the oldest neighborhood in Denver and consists of a 23 block radius. It has been renovated and updated with all kinds of shopping, entertainment and restaurants.
The Stapleton neighborhood is fairly new to Denver, CO. It was part of the Stapleton redevelopment project that took place when the old Stapleton Airport was replaced with the newer state of the art Denver International Airport in 1995.
Cherry Creek is an affluent neighborhood in the heart of Denver that is well known for its upscale shops in Cherry Creek North and Cherry Creek shopping mall. It is located about 4 miles south of Downtown Denver and just a short bike ride, 1.5 miles, to the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Lower Downtown (LODO)
population
105,631 (2020)
Elevation
5,280 FT
Average Home price
$350,000 1 bed, 1 bath condo – $1,000,000+
Schools
Denver Public
Schools
Climate
Mild to Moderate
Located between Coors Field and Pepsi Center, it makes the ideal location for young professionals working in the downtown and surrounding areas to step out after work and always find something going on. Everything is within walking distance or if you choose not to walk, grab a scooter for easy transportation from a pre-game happy hour, to Coors Field or to after game dinner at any of the amazing downtown restaurants on Larimer Square.
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Most of the homes in the LODO area are multi-family apartments, condominiums and lofts with a minimal amount of single family residences. So, probably, not the best option for raising a family. Real Estate with a yard is few and far between and very expensive. In addition, there is a large amount of homeless people and transients that hang out in this area with a higher rate of crime and theft.
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Climate: At 5,280 ft, Denver sees an average of 78 inches of precipitation and an average temperature in the summer of 88-92 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. Denver has 245 average days of sunshine.
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Average Snowfall: 60 inches/yr
Why the colorado mortgage gal loves LODO:
"LoDo (Lower Downtown) is such a cool place to live if you are a young couple or single. The nightlife is awesome and the close proximity to Coors field, Larimer Street and 16th St Mall make it ideal."
— Tiffany Hughes, Mortgage Professional
Stapleton /Central Park
population
29,000 (2020)
Elevation
5,305 FT
Average Home price
$699,000
Schools
Denver & Aurora Public Schools
Climate
Mild to Moderate
Stapleton / Central Park is considered the largest residential neighborhood within Denver city limits. The local residents voted to change the name to Central Park in 2020. It consists of 12 sub-neighborhoods, 7 pools, several shopping centers and a Denver Public recreation center and library.
Central Park is a great neighborhood for families that want the convenience of living in urban Denver, but want the planned Unit development feel of a suburban neighborhood with a diverse style of homes from modern to traditional urban estates. It is a 10 min commute to Downtown, Union Station, Children’s Hospital, and the VA Hospital. People who work in these industries find Stapleton/Central Park neighborhood attractive due to its convenience, planned community feel and many parks and open space. This large neighborhood is served by the Central Park Commuter Rail and bus station with connections running in and around the neighborhood, into downtown Union station and out to Denver International Airport.
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Average Snowfall: 39 inches/yr
Why the colorado mortgage Gal loves Stapleton / Central Park:
"This community is ideal for a family that wants a master planned community within the urban downtown area of Denver. It has the safe community feel of a suburban neighborhood, but is located in the heart of Denver within very close proximity to downtown and major medical centers of Children's Hospital and Denver VA Hospital."
— Tiffany Hughes, Mortgage Professional
Cherry Creek
population
7,793 (2020)
Elevation
5,643 FT
Average Home price
$1,000,000 +
Schools
Denver Public
Schools
Climate
Mild to Moderate
Outside the shopping district are surrounding single family homes starting a $1,000,000. If you love to be able to walk to great restaurants, coffee shops and upscale shopping, this is the ideal place to live. In addition to great shopping, it has become home to more than 15 art galleries and the World Renowned Cherry Creek Arts Festival. For a little outdoor time, the Cherry Creek Trail runs 11.2 miles starting at confluence Park in downtown Denver, runs through this area and all the way to Cherry Creek Reservoir where you can spend the day paddle boarding, boating or fishing.
As with most urban neighborhoods, Cherry Creek is quite busy all the time. If you are looking for a more upscale, affluent neighborhood full of hustle and bustle, this is the ideal location for you. It is home to many young professionals and retirees. Don’t be misdirected by the school feeder. It is not in the Top Rated Cherry Creek School District, but rather, Denver Public Schools. Most of the resident children, in this area, attend one of the many private or Charter Schools.
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Climate: As with most areas of the Denver Metro Area, the average high temperature in July is 87 degrees and the coldest month of January sees and average low of 19 degrees. Cherry Creek has 245 average days of sun.
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Average Snowfall: 245 inches
Why the colorado mortgage loves Cherry Creek
"Cherry Creek is a very affluent area within urban Denver that is attractive to people who want to be in the heart of upscale shopping and the art district. I love that it is located along the 11.2 mile Cherry Creek Trail that can take you downtown on a bike in about 15 minutes or clear out to Cherry Creek Reservoir for an afternoon picnic."
— Tiffany Hughes, Mortgage Professional