Lakewood, CO, known as "Gateway to the Rockies," is a vibrant city with a rich history and a high quality of life. Located just west of Denver, Lakewood is approximately 10 miles from downtown Denver and 20 miles east of Golden. This medium-sized city is celebrated for its beautiful parks, recreational opportunities, and thriving arts community.
Lakewood's climate features mild winters and warm, dry summers, ideal for enjoying outdoor activities year-round. The city boasts numerous parks and recreational areas, such as the scenic Bear Creek Lake Park and the expansive William F. Hayden Park, which offer hiking, biking, and opportunities for family picnics.
The cultural scene in Lakewood is dynamic, with attractions like the Lakewood Cultural Center, the Heritage Center, and the historic Belmar district. The city hosts a variety of events and festivals throughout the year, including the Cider Days Harvest Festival and the Lakewood Arts Festival, celebrating the community's artistic and cultural achievements.
Education is a priority in Lakewood, with the Jefferson County Public Schools providing education to its students. The city is also home to higher education institutions such as Red Rocks Community College and nearby Colorado School of Mines. This focus on education makes Lakewood an attractive place for families. The presence of major healthcare institutions, such as St. Anthony Hospital, also supports a strong job market and ensures residents have access to top-notch medical care.
Living in Lakewood combines the benefits of urban amenities with the warmth of a close-knit community. Residents enjoy access to excellent healthcare facilities, diverse dining options, and a range of housing choices. The city's efficient public transportation system, including buses and the light rail, makes commuting and exploring the area convenient. With its cultural richness, excellent amenities, and welcoming atmosphere, living in Lakewood offers a dynamic and fulfilling experience.
Commute
High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.
Employment
This area scores extremely well in the employment category. This is primarily due to the combination of low unemployment rates, higher median home income and income per capita.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Cost Of Living
Residents of this area contend with a high cost of living, resulting in increased expenditures for everyday goods and services, housing, utilities and health care.
Crime
High crime rates per 100,000 people are reported in this area, potentially indicating that it is an unsafe place to live. These statistics consider both violent and property offenses.
Health & Safety
Factors like poor air quality and the absence of essential health-related facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and pharmacies could have played a role in the low score in this category.
Lakewood, Colorado is a mid-sized city with a population of 159,208 people. Lakewood has a population density of 3,705 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. At 85%, the majority of the Lakewood population is White; this is followed by 4% Asian and 1% Black. Lakewood is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 50% married, this city falls well below the national average. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Lakewood is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 27 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.
If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very discouraging task. However, it could also be a great experience if you are willing to get to know the city before actually living in Lakewood, Colorado. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. To help you find the best places to live in and around Lakewood, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, health & safety, employment, housing and more.
Lakewood has a livability score of 69/100 and is ranked #100 in Colorado and #7,443 in the USA. If we dig a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Lakewood has higher than average scores for the following: employment (A+) and housing (A+). On a less positive note, Lakewood does not have favorable grades for the following: crime (F) and cost of living (D). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.
Finding affordable real estate and housing in Lakewood can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.
Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Lakewood is real estate affordability. The median home price for Lakewood homes is $715,796, which is 49.8% higher than the Colorado average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Lakewood, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 6.8, which is 33.3% higher than the Colorado average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Lakewood | Colorado | National |
| Average one way commute | 27min | 25min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 75.3% | 75.2% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 7.8% | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 4.5% | 3.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.7% | 1.3% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.4% | 3.0% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 9.7% | 7.0% | 4.6% |
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