Denver 72 Excellent
Denver Livability #67 ranked city in Colorado#5,632 ranked city in the USARanks better than 80% of areas

Denver, CO - The Mile High City

Living in Denver, CO, known as 'The Mile High City,' offers a vibrant urban experience combined with stunning natural beauty. Located at the base of the Rocky Mountains, Denver is a large city renowned for its outdoor recreational opportunities, thriving arts scene, and innovative tech industry. Major nearby cities like Boulder and Colorado Springs enhance its appeal as a central hub in the region. Denver's blend of natural beauty, cultural diversity, and modern innovation creates a distinctive living experience.

Denver is home to several notable landmarks, including the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Zoo, and the historic Larimer Square. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Denver Botanic Gardens to the bustling Union Station, which features trendy shops, restaurants, and bars. Denver's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from farm-to-table restaurants to innovative food halls.

Annual events such as the Great American Beer Festival and the Denver Film Festival highlight the city's dynamic cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Denver's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like the University of Denver and Metropolitan State University of Denver contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.

The arts and culture scene in Denver is vibrant and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Denver Center for the Performing Arts and the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Denver provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and outdoor activities, making it an exciting place to call home.

Denver’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Broncos (NFL) and the Nuggets (NBA), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Denver include technology, healthcare, and finance, with significant employers such as Lockheed Martin and HealthONE driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses, light rail, and bike-sharing programs, making it easy to navigate and enjoy all that Denver has to offer.

Pros and Cons of Living in Denver

PROS
  • Amenities

    The area boasts an ample array of local amenities, such as restaurants, entertainment options, grocery stores and parks, all conveniently located within walking distance.

  • Commute

    A high commute score suggests convenient, easy access to public transportation, with shorter-than-average work commute times to work.

  • Employment

    This area excels in the employment category with a score well above average, primarily due to the higher median home income, per capita income and low unemployment rates.

  • Housing

    High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

CONS
  • Cost Of Living

    The cost of living in this area is notably high, making it a more expensive place to live. You'll find higher expenses for everyday goods and services, housing and groceries.

  • Crime

    This area exhibits elevated crime rates per 100,000 residents, which may suggest it's a potentially unsafe place to reside. These rates encompass both property and violent crimes.

  • Ratings

    Surveys and polls conducted by AreaVibes with residents of the area revealed unfavorable results concerning the walkability of amenities, the availability of parks and public transit access.

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What's it like Living in Denver?

Denver is a large city located in the state of Colorado. The city has a population of 715,878 inhabitants. Denver has a population density of 4,677 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. If we take a look at the last Census, the vast majority of the population falls within one racial group (72% White). Given that fact, Denver could be considered less diverse than other cities. Additionally, more than a quarter of the population of Denver are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 18% of the population also speak Spanish. Denver is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 42% married, this city falls well below the national average. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Denver, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Denver could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Colorado if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around Denver, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, cost of living, commute, health & safety, housing and more.

With a livability score of 75 out of 100, Denver is ranked #3,068 in the United States and #40 in Colorado. Pack your bags! This is a very high score in comparison to other US cities. Living in Denver could be a great choice! There are nine total categories that generate the livability score. Denver scores well for education (A+), employment (A) and housing (A-) There is at least one category that you should be aware of in Denver. The following was graded with a concerning score: crime (F) and cost of living (F).

Denver has many conveniently situated amenities and captivating attractions that adds to the continuous enjoyment of your everyday life. Having the assurance of abundant conveniences and a wide array of activities ensures your easy access to nearby grocery stores, restaurants, bars, fitness facilities, coffee shops and exciting entertainment options. This not only simplifies daily routines but also fosters a vibrant and dynamic lifestyle within the community. With a wealth of resources at your fingertips, you can savor the convenience and variety that Denver has to offer, making it a desirable destination for those seeking both accessibility and enjoyment in their daily lives. Some of the interesting things to do and attractions include: Denver Zoo, Coors Field, and Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Denver has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Denver is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Denver come in at $427,600, which is 61.6% higher than the Colorado average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Denver, the home price to income ratio is 5.9, which is 40.5% higher than the Colorado average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Denver

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Denver?

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Compare Denver, CO Livability

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      Denver transportation information

      Statistic Denver Colorado National
      Average one way commute26min25min26min
      Workers who drive to work66.1%75.2%76.4%
      Workers who carpool7.3%9.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit6.2%3.1%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle2.1%1.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk4.7%3.0%2.8%
      Working from home12.4%7.0%4.6%
      Source: The Denver, CO data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).