Good and bad cities in Colorado?

Question

I'm moving to Colorado from out of state and was wondering if someone could tell me a bit more about the neighborhoods. I want to be close to Denver, but not right in the middle of downtown. Most importantly I want to be in a very safe neighborhood. I've been to Castle Rock and Littleton and loved both of those areas, as well as Highlands Ranch. What's Englewood like? And what about some of the neighborhoods in Denver like Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village...? And what are the areas/cities that I should stay away from? Thanks!!

The only thing I'm really looking for is a safe neighborhood, where I can walk my dog at sunset and feel perfectly safe. Price isn't a huge issue since I'm moving from San Diego and nearly everything in Colorado is cheaper than Southern California.

Answer 1

Most of the suburbs (Aurora, Arvada, Centennial, Parker, Wheat Ridge, Westminster, Englewood, Littleton, Lakewood) are your typical middle-class suburbs, Aurora being the most "low-rent" of the group. The further south you go, the higher the real estate prices will be. The neighborhood of Cherry Creek is in the city itself and fairly high, as is Hilltop, south Park Hill and near DU. Cherry Hills Village, Greenwood Village, Lone Tree, etc. are going to be in the higher dollar range.

THANKS FOR THE INFO:
I would still recommend the Lowry, Stapleton, or south Park Hill neighborhoods. I'm probably a bit biased because I'm from around there, but they're good dog-walking communities and single-family homes range from around $250k-1 mil. so there's a variety. If price really isn't an issue, Cherry Creek and Greenwood Village houses are going to start in the $500k-$2 mil. range.

Answer 2

All these questions about best and worst places to live are so subjective, it really depends on the person and what appeals to you. For those people that put certain areas/cities down in their answers there are people who live there and love it and you are insulting them. Just because you don't live there or you don't like the area does not mean it is lacking value.

You really can find pretty much anything in any of the cities in the metro area, old established neighborhoods, older houses, condos, apartments, mixed in with newly developed neighborhoods, houses, condos and apartments.

Aurora/Centennial has many nice "suburban" feel, family oriented neighborhoods, Piney Creek is one example. The city really is building up south and east, lots of new neighborhoods along the Parker road corridor out south to Arapaho Rd and then east on Arapahoe and around the E-470 corridor, like Saddle Rock and those surrounding neighborhoods. Aurora is also building up north and east, but I am not as familiar with that area.

Some areas of Parker are like the new Highlands Ranch, suburbia meets a little country is how I would describe it.

Highlands Ranch and areas south to Castle Pines and west are beautiful, rolling hills, great views of the foothills and mountains.

Downtown Cherry Creek /Cherry Creek North area (not to be confused with the Cherry Creek neighborhoods surrounding Cherry Creek High School, like the Hills at Cherry Creek which is in Englewood/Greenwood Village), I see people walking dogs at all hours of the day. The area is a little more snug and congested IMO. It's a mixture of really old houses and scrape offs (new houses built on the lots that they scraped an old house off of), less land per lot. The friends I know who live there love the older neighborhood and the older quaint little houses. They feel safe.

Greenwood Village and into Englewood/Littleton, Cherry Hills, etc, a mixture of huge houses on bigger lots, town homes, patio homes, apartments, some gated communities, definitely is for the most part higher income.

Lowry and Stapleton are lovely areas, newly developed with a "suburb in the city" concept. I can speak personally about these areas because I have many friends that live there and they love it. Lots of dog walking there. Stapleton has a dog park, and Lowry will have one soon. They also feel safe.

Everything north and west, Thornton, Northglenn, Westminster, Broomfield, Arvada, Golden, etc I just don't know much about.

Crime is everywhere. Some places less than others, true. If you move away from the city, keep in mind wild life and wild fire can be a threat to your safety as well. There are risks everywhere.

Answer 3

I'm partial to Castle Rock because I moved here 15 years ago ffrom Jersey and love the town, but I work for Jeffco public schools and there are some nice areas there, Lakewood , the part of Littleton in Jefffco, Arvada,Wheat Ridge, Golden is a neat little old town too, I don't recommend Aurora, or Englewood. Get some more info at http://townofcastlerock.org

Answer 4

Fort Collins, college town on the foothills of the Rocky's 45 miles from Denver meaning you are relatively close other cities you mentioned. I think last year it was named one of the best places to live in America too. Big enough that it has malls and other things major cities provide but also is kinda small.

Answer 5

"Very safe"? I'll assume you have high standards.

Greenwood Village has gated communities. Some may even have guards.

Otherwise you have a tradeoff. Safer generally means farther from downtown. So Castle Rock would be the best of what you've listed for safety.

Answer 6

If money isn't an issue I'd go to Highlands Ranch. Nice houses and not a lot of crime. It's located about 30 min. from downtown Denver. There are a lot of parks and dog runs there. I love it!

Answer 7

I think Boulder is a great place to be. It is pretty expensive, but money really isn't a problem, I guess. But anyways, the crime rates are low compared to a lot of other places (like Denver) so I would say its great for you. There are lots of parks for you to walk your dog, too.

Answer 8

Move to Thornton. Thats where I live it's great. Stay away from Commerce City cuz it stinks.

Answer 9

i lived in fort collins and loveland for 20 years. theyre north of denver, but really the only places i felt totally safe and people were very friendly. absolutely hate the feeling of the city of denver. no safe place there, unless its gated, and even then the city gets in.

Answer 10

CRESTED BUTTE IS KICKKKASS, but its like an hour from denver i think, but its the cutest little hippie gone commercial you should check it out...