The 11 Best Neighborhoods to Live in Denver

Denver, Denver, Denver, what are we going to do with you? Aptly named the 'Mile High City,' you'll stay fit year-round and make the most of its whopping 300 days of sunshine.

Denver has it all, from the Rocky Mountain national park just around the corner to endless entertainment. The city is flooded with quirky coffee shops, hipster restaurants, and zen yoga studios–you'll find your tribe in this city in no time.

Besides the jaw-dropping views and endless entertainment, Denver's job market is booming. Packed to the brim with big players like Virgin Media, Digital First Media, and ten Fortune 500 companies HQ-ing in the sports-crazed city, whether you're moving here for work or pleasure, you're bound to find the other.

However, for all of Denver's heights comes its lows. Denver homes in desirable locations are few and far between. Pricing is also living up to the city's altitude, high, very high.

To help you find a neighborhood that fits your Denver super-bowl-sized dreams, we've compiled a list of 11 top neighborhoods to consider. What's more, we've built a ranking system for each one to help you make this big decision. We're ranking:

• Atmosphere: nightlife & entertainment, shopping & restaurants, and beauty & parks

• Amenities: schools, public transit, and points of interest

• Experience: safety, affordability, and walkability

The end result is a prioritized list of the best places to move to in Denver, Colorado.

Why should you listen to us? We've been building top rental experiences across the USA for a long time. We've picked up a thing or two along the way.

Perfect for young families and big sports fans that want a country feel alongside the biggest lake in Denver.

Sloans Lake–not even residents are sure if it's Sloan Lake, Sloan's Lake, or Sloans Lake–is an excellent neighborhood for families or those planning to start one. It has a great sense of community, a perfect score in safety, good schools, and lots of nature.

Sloans Lake is ideal for those that want to be somewhat close to downtown but want all the peace and tranquility of a small town–basically the perfect balance between urban-core and high-country.

One of the highlights of Sloans Lake is Sloans Lake: the biggest lake in Denver and the second largest park. It's great for biking, jogging, or just a Sunday stroll with friends. The park also offers Tennis courts, playground areas, lake facilities, and houses many events like the Denver Marathon and the Dragon Boat Festival—yes, it's as fun as it sounds.

For Broncos Fans, Sloans Lake's the perfect location as it's walking distance from the stadium. This stadium and the lake bump up our ranking for points of interest, but it only goes to 3/5 since there isn't much nearby.

Although the area is filled with bike lanes and walking paths, it gets a 4/5 score in our ranking for walkability. There aren't that many amenities in the area. You can have a leisurely walk to your favorite restaurants, but you won't have them as close as in other parts of the city. The perks? You'll get those steps in.

Although Sloans Lake sits at the bottom of our list, it is by no means a bad place to live. If you're a young family looking for some nature fun, a safe place, and great schools, this might as well be at the top of your list.

Sloans Lake's Rankings:

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories with 5 being the best. Here's how Sloans Lake scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for students looking for an affordable area close to downtown, the Santa Fe's art district, and the Light Rail.

Lincoln Park is one of the most connected neighborhoods in Mile High City and gets a perfect score in public transit. It's close to Highway 6, I-25, Downtown Denver, and Union Station. Union Station with its Lights Rail is ideal for traveling around Denver and the metropolitan area–including the airport–without the need for a car.

Lincoln Park is typically very peaceful, but one night a month, it lights up and shows its charm. Every first Friday of the month, the Santa Fe Art District runs a special night event. It's the perfect excuse to get out of the house and enjoy a few of the 30+ art galleries while getting to know your community better along the way.

Several giant apartment complexes are perfect for Auraria Campus students. Since the Auraria Campus houses facilities for the University of Colorado Denver, Community College of Denver, and the Metropolitan State University of Denver, there are tons of student-friendly things to do in the area.

For a place that gets perfect scores in Public Transit, Shopping & Restaurants, Nightlife & Entertaining, and Points of Interest, it's surprising Lincoln Park still scores so well for Affordability—thank the students!

Lincoln Park's Rankings:

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories with 5 being the best. Here's how Lincoln Park scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for single professionals who like to get their steps in, day or night.

Baker is quaint, beautiful, and welcoming. It has small-town vibes, with the bonus of being super close to downtown. Plus, it's well connected with other parts of Denver, thanks to the bike lanes and Light Rail.

Baker is a pretty hip neighborhood that's home to quirky South Broadway area–depending on your level of hipster, you may know it as SoBo or SoBro. In it, you'll find plenty of bars to suit your taste–punk bars, gay bars, craft breweries, and rooftops galore to enjoy the stunning views of the Rockies.

In terms of shopping and things to do, Baker doesn't disappoint. It scores a perfect five in all entertainment categories for a reason. There are restaurants, salons, game shops, vintage stores, galleries, niche shops, over 30 antique shops, and even an improv comedy theater to spice up your nights.

Baker is also home to the art deco Mayan Theater, open since the 1930s. The Theater hosts independent movie shows and has a pretty popular bar among locals. A movie, a cocktail, the perfect Friday night mix.

The architecture in Baker is one to appreciate. It's filled with old Victorian homes and renovated bungalows and duplexes–eye-candy. Additionally, its tree-lined streets and nearby parks make it a nature-rich neighborhood for those that need their greens.

Baker only gets a two out of five in our safety score because, sadly, it has some sketchy areas—especially at night. Although these parts are not common, they're worth noting. The police are also actively starting to be more present in this area of Denver to help deter crime.

Baker's Rankings:

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories with 5 being the best. Here's how Baker scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for active, young families and professionals looking to live in one of the safest areas of Denver.

One of Denver's oldest neighborhoods, Washington Park, is named after its 155-acre park–this park is often compared to NYC Central Park for its beauty and importance. It has plenty of sports amenities: basketball, soccer, tennis courts, you name it. Plus, it holds festivals, events, and runs during the summer months.

Washington Park is an excellent place for families too. It's filled with brick bungalows and restored Victorian and Tudor-era houses. Its safety, spacious sidewalks, parks, and well-ranked schools make it a dream.

For those with no intent on starting a family any time soon, this one's for you. On South Gaylord street and South University Boulevard, you'll find most of the area's boutique shops, restaurants, and cafés. Although, when it comes to bars and late-night entertainment, this 'hood scores only a three out of five in our ranking! Be warned. You're better off taking the Light Rail or a short Uber to other close-by neighborhoods or downtown for a more 'out out' vibe.

What Washington Park lacks in nightlife, it compensates with a shiny perfect score in safety, walkability, public transit, and parks and beauty. Definitely a contender for those that like the green scene.

Washington Park's Rankings:

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories with 5 being the best. Here's how Washington Park scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for young, single professionals. Packed with art galleries, museums, and big city vibes.

The Golden Triangle neighborhood, also known as Civic Center, is the cherry on top of Denver's cultural cake. In it, you can find 16+ museums and galleries—say goodbye to rudely interrupted first dates by screaming little ones.

Besides the impressive cultural offering that you have in the Golden Triangle, you'll also experience the perks of living in a big city: shopping areas, high-end and budget dining options, 24-hr stores, avant-garde buildings, city parks, and so much more. All of this gives Golden Triangle a perfect score across the entertainment and walkability categories.

In the mood to spoil yourself? Regularly? You've got the 16th Street Mall with over 250 stores, one your doorstep. It's a 24-hour open hub ready when you are. If that isn't enough, you've got easy access to other shopping districts in Denver via Light Rail and public transport.

The Golden Triangle is quickly becoming a trendy area in Denver, attracting new neighbors each day. So much so the area is scaling a bunch of new tall apartment blocks to fit this call for demand.

The Golden Triangle is a neighborhood with a healthy mix of artsy folk, tourists, and business go-getters. It brings contemporary design and old-school charm together as seamlessly as a Bloody Mary at brunch. It has museums, galleries, and is the perfect spot for 20-30-year-olds making their big move to Denver.

Golden Triangle's Rankings:

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories with 5 being the best. Here's how Golden Triangle scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for young professionals looking for a history-rich area while still getting their treat-yo-self nights out, iced lattes, and a side of nightlife.

Capitol Hill is Denver's most densely populated neighborhood, which means that it's all of Colorado's favorites in fun-size packaging. Sadly, this also means houses and apartments aren't that spacious.

If you move to Capitol Hill, you'll get the benefits of living in one of the oldest sections of Denver. The History Colorado Center tells the story of the Centennial State and was described by the Smithsonian Institute as "the first great history museum of the twenty-first century."

Of course, you also have the Capitol with its beautiful parks and impressive structure. Fun fact: its dome is plated with real 24K gold. As a resident, you'll mostly walk around the Civic Center Park when you're looking to unwind or catch a break between work calls.

Most of the housing options in Capitol Hill are historic mansions, apartments, or condo buildings. Space definitely comes at a price here–which is why it only gets a 2/5 in our affordability ranking.

Capitol Hill is also known for its vibrant city and nightlife. There are tons of restaurants, bars, stores, and concert venues. The club scene is also highly praised by its residents, as there's something for anyone's taste. It's usually pretty alive and kicking every night–achieving a perfect score in our ranking for restaurants, shops, and entertainment.

It also gets a five in our walkability ranking. The area is ideally suited for the LGBTQ+ community, as it's seen as one of the most welcoming neighborhoods in Denver. Raise that flag!

Capitol Hill's Rankings:

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories with 5 being the best. Here's how Capitol Hill scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for young professionals wanting a diverse neighborhood with a rich cultural scene.

Five Points in Denver comprises three mini-neighborhoods: Ballpark, River North (RiNo), and Curtis Park. It's the most diverse neighborhood in the city and has a history-rich background. Although it isn't the safest place to live at night, it's one of the most walkable areas in the city during the day.

Five Points has a lot of black-American and jazz history–nicknamed "the Harlem of the West." Each year, it celebrates this at the Five Points Jazz Fest. There's also The Rossonian, one of the most famous jazz clubs in the West–so if you like boogie-woogie, this is the place for you.

Interested in learning more about black-American history? You've got the Blair Caldwell African American Research Library nearby too. A museum for the black-American history of Denver.

If craft beers, ethnic food, and high-end restaurants are your thing, Five Points is a great place to consider. It does its name justice by getting five points across all our entertainment categories.

There are two main parks in the neighborhood. The Mestizo-Curtis Park is perfect for enjoying some nature after work, and the Coors Park is the 76-acre home of the baseball team Colorado Rockies. If you're not a fan, we advise you to become one because the vibes inside the stadium are unmissable for any resident.

If you're looking for a hip and vibrant neighborhood that's close to downtown, with countless modern bars and restaurants while maintaining its history, then Five Points is a top choice for you.

Five Points's Rankings:

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories with 5 being the best. Here's how Five Points scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for young families looking to get their kids on the list for some of the best schools in Colorado.

Cherry Creek's got a lot going for it, luxury shopping, fancy art galleries, festivals, and some of the best schools in Colorado. It's a great option for new parents looking to relive the glory days from time to time.

Although Cherry Creek isn't the most affordable place in Denver–scoring only a 2/5 in our ranking–this is for a good reason. It's filled with luxury townhouses, duplexes and condos, fancy restaurants and boutiques, and peppered with art galleries and wine bars.

Thanks to the Cherry Creek Shopping Mall–over 160 stores with many world-renowned luxury brands–and the adjacent 16 blocks with over 300 boutiques and restaurants, Cherry Creek is one of Denver's major shopping hubs.

For families, Cherry Creek has something that not many neighborhoods can say: some of the best schools in Denver and Colorado state. The Cherry Creek school district is in the top five school districts in Colorado due to its academic excellence and outstanding athletic programs.

Not enough for you yet? Check out their 42-mile trail–the Cherry Creek Trail–connecting residents to downtown and other parts of the city. More? Pulaski Park, the biggest park in the neighborhood, is home to the Gates Tennis Center. Ace.

If golf is your thing, your game's about to go into drive. Denver so so far above sea level that golf balls go about 10% farther than they would at sea level. The Denver Country Club is just around the corner from the Cherry Creek Shopping Center if you want to put this to the test.

Cherry Creek can be an expensive neighborhood, but it's worth every penny. From its shopping area, excellent school district, and art scene, it's truly a great place to live.

Cherry Creek's Rankings:

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories with 5 being the best. Here's how Cherry Creek scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for young professionals looking to live near the river. Filled with some great restaurants and boutique shops.

Here we are; it's podium time. Coming in third place is Highlands. This is one of those neighborhoods that are truly unique.

If Gen-Z were to build their own neighborhood, it would look something like Highlands. There are farm-to-table restaurants, bike stations throughout the neighborhood, and top ice cream shops donating food to the countries that need it the most with every scoop they sell. It's a modern-world neighborhood that cares about its community, the environment, and society.

One of the highlights of the Highlands is the booming restaurant and bar scene. There are so many to choose from that you'll turn into an old-school Instagram foodie just being in the area. There are also plenty of speak-easy bars for those in the know. This broad offering gives this neighborhood a big fat five in the shopping and restaurants categories.

Additionally, there are bike stations just about anywhere you look and bike lanes that can take you from the restaurant door to Confluence Park for those that need to digest and stroll. This park is excellent for water sports like kayaking, swimming, or tubing. Or, if you need something a little slower, there are plenty of picnic tables to pick from.

If food or sports aren't your thing, the Tennyson Street Cultural District is. Here you'll find all sorts of boutique stores and art galleries. They have a top-rated event every first Friday of the month in which galleries and restaurants in the area open up with new offers–a great get-together for the community.

As one of our top three neighborhoods, this is definitely one to check out if you're planning on moving to Denver.

Highlands's Rankings:

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories with 5 being the best. Here's how Highlands scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for Denver University students looking to live right next to the campus and its vibrant yet peaceful life.

The neighborhood of University–which gets its name from having the University of Denver right next door–is a cracking combo of family and student-friendly. Although there's lots going on in University to keep you entertained, it's still somehow a very peaceful and calm place to live–the perfect combination to place it in our top two.

The neighborhood is packed with professors and students. The good news? You're close to campus. The bad news? You've got no excuse for being late to class.

You're also a 10-minute walk from the Light Rail, getting you to some stellar bars, music halls, stadiums, and parks. Everything a student needs to unwind after a hectic exam week is just around the corner.

Thanks to the students in the area, University is also a very affordable place—scoring a delightful four out of five in affordability. From restaurants that offer budget menus to a below city-average rent—it's a great shout for anyone on a budget.

If you're looking for the area's hub, you'll find it on the South University boulevard. It's lined up with beautiful trees that cast a welcome shade on the many bars, restaurants, and shops in the hotter months.

The area also boasts a wide variety of craft beer and cocktail bars, giving it a perfect five in our Nightlife & Entertainment category.

Whether you're a student, a young professional, or just enjoy the lifestyle they lead, this trendy part of town is a go-to without breaking into that looming overdraft.

University's Rankings:

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories with 5 being the best. Here's how University scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for big families—with bigger budgets—looking for more space

Timberbrook is a dreamy neighborhood: beautiful big homes, walking paths everywhere, and a safe place where children can play on the street.

The only thing stopping this neighborhood from being a perfect 50/50 is that there aren't many things to do besides enjoying the greenery. Oh, and that it isn't the most affordable place to live!

Besides that, the neighborhood of Timberbrook is a great place to raise a family–especially a big family since all the homes are huge! There are some great schools in the area; plus, it's considered safe and child-friendly.

Last but not least, this area is perfect for nature enthusiasts. You have Timber Brook Park, a small but picnic-perfect park, and at a walking distance–or a short drive–you have the Collin Square green belt and the magnificent Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve. Weekend plans never looked so green!

South Park Hill 's Rankings:

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories with 5 being the best. Here's how South Park Hill scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Time to dive into the numbers of our top neighborhoods for Denver, Colorado.

Let's get the bad news out of the way first, affordability isn't great, scoring an average of 3 out of 5. It's not too bad, but with all its perks and quick rise in popularity, the constant inflow of newbies is pushing prices up. Know you'll be paying a little bit more to live in this great city.

Now, let's look at the bright side of this sunny city. You are super covered in terms of outdoors and entertainment, with scores for Parks & Beauty, Shopping & Restaurants, Nightlife & Entertainment, and Points of Interest, all averaging more than 4.3 out of five.

One of the best things about Denver is that it doesn't matter where you are, thanks to its high Walkability and Public Transit (scoring an impressive 4.8 and 4.7 on average) you'll be able to enjoy the city's perks easily no matter where you live.

Denver neighborhoods averaged at 40.6 out of 50, which is pretty darn great.

If you're looking for a city surrounded by nature with an incredible influx of the next generation of our nation's innovators, then Denver might just be the bet for you.