Welcome to the Mile High City — Denver. Literally, you can stand exactly one mile above sea level on the steps of the state's capital. Located in the Southwest, this popular city is the capital of the state. It's situated in an area of the country called the Rocky Mountain Urban Corridor as it's east of the Rocky Mountains and west of the High Plains. If you like incredible mountain views, this city has you covered. You can see over 200 mountain peaks in Denver.
Like sports? Denver does, too. Denver is one of the few cities in the nation with six professional teams. You've got basketball, football, hockey, baseball, soccer and even lacrosse! Basically, you can cheer on a local team any time of the year. And if you like to pair sports with beer, Denver has over 100 local breweries, the most out of any city in the U.S.
With over 715,000 residents living here, it's a growing city full of unique, diverse neighborhoods that more and more people are calling home. So, if you're thinking about moving to Denver and wondering where to live, we've outlined some of the best neighborhoods in Denver to consider. Let's go exploring!
20 best neighborhoods in Denver
From family-friendly neighborhoods to quiet pockets for retirees, you can find some of the best neighborhoods in Denver that'll fit any renter's needs. Here's our pick for the top 20 best neighborhoods in Denver.
1. Downtown
The Downtown neighborhood of Denver is in the heart of the city. If you want directly in the action, this is the place for you. Downtown has two distinct areas — Lower Downtown (LoDo) and the Central Business District (CBD).
CBD has a variety of office buildings, apartments, outdoor shops, dining and museums. More than 130,000 people work in this area alone. It's a very walkable neighborhood so you can stroll the Cherry Creek trail but you can also access the free shuttle that'll take you around the city center. Visit the Denver Center for Performing Arts, Denver Art Museum or the Pepsi Center to become more cultured while living in this area.
2. LoDo
LoDo, or Lower Downtown, is the second section of the Downtown Denver neighborhood and is the oldest neighborhood in the city. Check out the famous Larimer Square or Denver Union Station. Denver Union Station is full of entertainment with a variety of locally-owned restaurants, bars, boutiques and even a hotel housed in the renovated train station. You can also shop at Denver Pavilions, located in LoDo.
People living in LoDo can easily cheer on the baseball team, the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, the home stadium. Catch a game and enjoy the views here.
3. Cherry Creek
If you're looking for an upscale, quiet neighborhood in Denver, consider Cherry Creek. Cherry Creek is known as a glamorous neighborhood full of luxury shops and expensive houses. The Cherry Creek Mall on Speer Boulevard has 160 stores and several restaurants to keep you entertained.
You can also walk or bike the 22-mile Cherry Creek trail to and from the Downtown neighborhood. Residents like the Cherry Creek Fresh Market during the summertime, too.
4. LoHi
LoHi, or Lower Highlands, is a neighborhood that makes up part of Denver Highlands. This neighborhood is hip, diverse and eclectic. It's known for great views, cool architecture and innovative bars. Residents here can enjoy unique cocktail blends and amazing views of the Highland Bridge and downtown Denver itself. Check out the bar called Lady Jane as it's a crowd favorite.
5. East Colfax
Another one of the best neighborhoods in Denver is East Colfax and offers renters a variety of one- and two-bedroom apartments, studios or condos. And, there's plenty to do on Colfax Avenue. In fact, Colfax Avenue is the longest street in the U.S. for commercial shops. On this bustling street, you'll find a variety of shops, bars, restaurants and live music venues that have hosted a range of people from Snoop Dogg to Bob Dylan. If you're looking for a neighborhood to call home while having plenty of options close by to stay entertained, East Colfax is a great place to consider.
6. Washington Park
Washington Park, or Wash Park for the locals, is a great neighborhood for those who are looking for a break from the busy city. Denver city center is close by, but locals living in Wash Park enjoy lots of parks, two lakes and walking trails. Washington Park itself is a great place to enjoy open space and fresh air. If you're looking for a neighborhood where you can enjoy nature and have a short commute to the heart of the city, consider Washington Park.
7. Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Denver. Living in this neighborhood, you can easily walk to the State Capitol building with its golden dome and stand on the famous “Mile High" step — on step 13 — and be exactly 5,280 feet above sea level.
The Capitol Hill area has seasonal markets where residents enjoy live music, food trucks and art vendors from May through October. You can dine at local eateries, bars or coffee shops and stroll the neighborhood to see the beautiful architecture of the turn-of-the-century mansions built in the 1880s.
8. Platt Park
The Platt Park neighborhood seems to have it all. Tree-lined streets, great food options, exceptional schools and seasonal farmer's markets with live music. Platt Park is in the south-central side of Denver with easy access to freeways and Downtown. In this neighborhood, you'll have things to do when looking for entertainment but it's not crazy busy like the city center itself.
9. Ballpark
North of LoDo and CBD, Ballpark is another one of the best neighborhoods in Denver. Aptly named, the Ballpark neighborhood borders the Coors Field, where the Rockies play their home games. This neighborhood is full of fun pubs, restaurants and bars.
Ballpark was the industrial section of the city and several of those buildings still stand today. While the neighborhood is evolving and changing, it still has the charm of its industrious past.
10. Five Points
Source: ApartmentGuide.com/Villages at Curtis Park
The Five Points neighborhood gets its name from the five-way intersection in the middle of the neighborhood. This is one of Denver's oldest neighborhoods and has a rich musical history. The commercial center became a popular stop for jazz musicians like Charlie Parker and Duke Ellington, who frequently played here before journeying on to the West Coast. Check out the famous Rossonian Hotel where they stayed. Residents of Five Points enjoy the Five Points Jazz Fest each year.
11. Baker
From antique stores to movie theaters to live music venues, the Baker neighborhood in Denver has a little bit of everything. One cool thing to note about this neighborhood is “Antique Row" where you'll find more than six blocks lined with dozens of antique stores.
You may hear residents call this neighborhood South Broadway or SoBro, too. One and the same, Baker or SoBro is a great place to settle down.
12. Speer
This neighborhood was named after the 26th mayor, Robert W. Speer. Located between 7th Avenue, Broadway, Alameda Avenue and Downing Street, the neighborhood has most of its commercial buildings on Speer Avenue itself.
Speer has a good mix of shopping options while also being a great residential area. Living here, you'll have quick access to the Cherry Creek Trail and be able to visit the historic Alamo Placita Park. Locals also love the more than 90-year-old Landmark's Mayan Theater.
13. Auraria
Known as the center of higher education in Denver, Auraria is a great neighborhood for students or anyone pursuing higher education. Nestled into this neighborhood is the Auraria Campus, which consists of 150 acres and three separate colleges — Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver and the University of Colorado Denver. You can easily commute in and around this neighborhood and find a plethora of housing options to fit any budget.
14. Hampden
This is a great neighborhood for people looking for a mix of outdoor activities and a good dining scene. In Hampden, you'll find two great Jewish delis in this neighborhood where you can get mile-high sandwiches and the famous matzo ball soup. After enjoying good cuisine, you can stroll to one of the parks (the neighborhood has six!), where you can walk, bike, play tennis or shoot hoops. This hamlet of a neighborhood offers a variety of things to do in a great, family-friendly area.
15. Harvey Park
Source: ApartmentGuide.com/5755 W Atlantic Pl
The Harvey Park neighborhood, named after the local park, is a great area for young families. The housing is affordable compared to other areas, there are several local restaurants, shops and coffee shops to enjoy and a few community centers to play pickleball or basketball with friends. Kids can enjoy free access to the community pool with the MYDenver card. At Harvey Parks, you can even watch for the red foxes that live there to make an appearance.
16. Hale
The Hale neighborhood in Denver is mostly residential, so if you're looking for a quiet place to settle down, this is a good one to put on your list. You can easily access shopping on Colfax Avenue, which is near, but avoid the busyness of the commercial street as it's a bit removed. Hale neighborhood has good food, beautiful parks and a new AMC theater, perfect for date nights.
17. Inverness
Inverness is a small but quaint neighborhood in Denver located near the Aurora and Lakewood areas. If you're looking for a place that has a suburban feel, is great for families, has good schools and is close to Downtown, this is the neighborhood for you. The public schools are highly rated, there are lots of options for dining, coffee shops and bars, and the people who live here are usually younger. Inverness is a neighborhood where you can plant roots and grow old with your family while becoming close to neighbors.
18. Skyland
Skyland is an up-and-coming neighborhood in Denver and makes our list of the best neighborhoods in Denver because of its potential. It's quiet and the population skews a bit older. So, if you're looking for a place to call home and have tranquility, this is a great option. You can easily commute to the main shopping areas but come home to a neighborhood with beautiful bike trails and parks to enjoy the natural beauty of Denver. And, people rave about the restaurant called The Plimoth, so be sure to check that out, too!
19. Stapleton/Central Park
Stapleton, now called the Central Park neighborhood, is a great neighborhood for families as more than half of the residents have children. It's a very walkable neighborhood and has over 60 parks within its boundaries. If you're looking for a place to live with walking trails and parks and bars and restaurants, this is a great neighborhood to consider.
20. Athmar Park
Last but not least is the Athmar Park neighborhood. If you like to dine out and enjoy delicious food, Athmar Park offers amazing Asian cuisine. Famous for its Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants, Denver residents come from all over to eat at the top-notch eateries. It's a quiet neighborhood with several schools, parks and walking trails. Residents of Athmar Park enjoy good food and lovely scenery as they meander the walking trails and stunning views.
Settle down in one of the best neighborhoods in Denver
Does Denver sound like the best city for you? With 235 neighborhoods to consider, you can settle down in any one of the best neighborhoods in Denver, find a great apartment to rent and call the Mile High City your new home.
The post The 20 Best Neighborhoods in Denver in 2022 appeared first on Apartment Living Tips - Apartment Tips from ApartmentGuide.com.
