Best places to live in Colorado
An ideal town or neighborhood looks different for everyone.
Those who can't get enough of the outdoors may prioritize proximity to trails, lakes, and beaches, while parents are looking for places with top-ranked schools for their children. Culture lovers might want to live in a city with museums and art walks, whereas sports fans look for professional or college sports teams nearby.
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Colorado using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums.
Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.
CORRECTION: A previously published version of this piece, in some cases, incorrectly listed private schools as public schools.
#30. Gunbarrel, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 2,140
- Population: 10,108
- Median household income: $105,335
- Median home value: $712,800 (61% own)
- Median rent: $1,892 (39% rent)
- Top public schools: Peak to Peak Charter School (grade A+), Fairview High School (grade A+), Boulder High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Dawson School (grade A+), Watershed School (grade A), September School (grade A)
#29. Highlands Ranch, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 1,134
- Population: 101,514
- Median household income: $148,227
- Median home value: $637,400 (79% own)
- Median rent: $2,353 (21% rent)
- Top public schools: Rock Canyon High School (grade A+), STEM School Highlands Ranch (grade A), Mountain Vista High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Colorado Academy (grade A+), Kent Denver School (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+)
#28. Holly Hills, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 75
- Population: 2,801
- Median household income: $129,700
- Median home value: $611,400 (88% own)
- Median rent: $2,545 (12% rent)
- Top public schools: Cherry Creek High School (grade A+), Challenge School (grade A), DSST: Cedar High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Colorado Academy (grade A+), Kent Denver School (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+)
#27. Lafayette, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 1,871
- Population: 30,295
- Median household income: $105,819
- Median home value: $611,500 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,912 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Peak to Peak Charter School (grade A+), Summit Middle Charter School (grade A), High Peaks Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Dawson School (grade A+), Watershed School (grade A), September School (grade A)
#26. Lone Tree, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 1,977
- Population: 13,993
- Median household income: $121,066
- Median home value: $768,800 (58% own)
- Median rent: $1,891 (42% rent)
- Top public schools: Rock Canyon High School (grade A+), STEM School Highlands Ranch (grade A), DSST: Cedar High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kent Denver School (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+), Crescent View Academy (grade A+)
#25. Louisville, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 982
- Population: 20,920
- Median household income: $135,840
- Median home value: $781,100 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,950 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Peak to Peak Charter School (grade A+), Fairview High School (grade A+), Summit Middle Charter School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Dawson School (grade A+), Watershed School (grade A), September School (grade A)
#24. Superior, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 1,033
- Population: 13,146
- Median household income: $149,464
- Median home value: $739,200 (60% own)
- Median rent: $2,310 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: Peak to Peak Charter School (grade A+), D'Evelyn Junior/Senior High School (grade A+), Summit Middle Charter School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Dawson School (grade A+), Watershed School (grade A), September School (grade A)
#23. Hale, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 2,249
- Population: 9,028
- Median household income: $89,177
- Median home value: $533,501 (42% own)
- Median rent: $1,432 (58% rent)
- Top public schools: East High School (grade A), Denver School of the Arts (grade A), DSST: Montview High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kent Denver School (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+), Denver Street School-East Campus (grade A+)
#22. Highland, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 2,235
- Population: data not available
- Median household income: data not available
- Median home value: data not available (data not available own)
- Median rent: data not available (data not available rent)
- Top public schools:
- Top private schools:
#21. Country Club, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 2,224
- Population: 3,138
- Median household income: $212,077
- Median home value: $1,476,019 (85% own)
- Median rent: $1,604 (15% rent)
- Top public schools: East High School (grade A), DSST: Cedar High School (grade A), South High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kent Denver School (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+), Denver Street School-East Campus (grade A+)
#20. Stapleton, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 2,197
- Population: 31,377
- Median household income: $168,763
- Median home value: $739,119 (71% own)
- Median rent: $2,111 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Denver School of the Arts (grade A), DSST: Montview High School (grade A), Northfield High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Denver Street School-East Campus (grade A+), Crescent View Academy (grade A+), Regis Jesuit High School (grade A+)
#19. Speer, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 2,161
- Population: 12,163
- Median household income: $86,681
- Median home value: $549,214 (29% own)
- Median rent: $1,617 (71% rent)
- Top public schools: East High School (grade A), DSST: Cedar High School (grade A), South High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Colorado Academy (grade A+), Kent Denver School (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+)
#18. Cheesman Park, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 2,041
- Population: data not available
- Median household income: data not available
- Median home value: data not available (data not available own)
- Median rent: data not available (data not available rent)
- Top public schools:
- Top private schools:
#17. Sloan Lake, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 1,961
- Population: 7,851
- Median household income: $143,997
- Median home value: $740,456 (56% own)
- Median rent: $1,890 (44% rent)
- Top public schools: DSST: Cedar High School (grade A), DSST: Conservatory Green High School (grade A), Polaris Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Denver Waldorf School (grade A), Belleview Christian Preparatory School (grade A minus), Rocky Mountain Lutheran High School (grade A minus)
#16. Baker, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 1,925
- Population: data not available
- Median household income: data not available
- Median home value: data not available (data not available own)
- Median rent: data not available (data not available rent)
- Top public schools:
- Top private schools:
#15. Belcaro, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 1,865
- Population: 6,688
- Median household income: $125,283
- Median home value: $1,039,163 (56% own)
- Median rent: $2,137 (44% rent)
- Top public schools: Cherry Creek High School (grade A+), East High School (grade A), Challenge School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kent Denver School (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+), Denver Street School-East Campus (grade A+)
#14. Cory - Merrill, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 1,704
- Population: 4,081
- Median household income: $170,181
- Median home value: $896,327 (85% own)
- Median rent: $2,356 (15% rent)
- Top public schools: Cherry Creek High School (grade A+), DSST: Cedar High School (grade A), South High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Colorado Academy (grade A+), Kent Denver School (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+)
#13. Boulder, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 1,621
- Population: 106,598
- Median household income: $80,243
- Median home value: $919,700 (47% own)
- Median rent: $1,853 (53% rent)
- Top public schools: Peak to Peak Charter School (grade A+), Fairview High School (grade A+), Boulder High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Dawson School (grade A+), Watershed School (grade A), September School (grade A)
#12. North Capitol Hill, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 1,605
- Population: 7,695
- Median household income: $81,225
- Median home value: $560,472 (12% own)
- Median rent: $1,757 (88% rent)
- Top public schools: East High School (grade A), DSST: Cedar High School (grade A), Polaris Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Denver Street School-East Campus (grade A+), The Denver Waldorf School (grade A), Denver Academy of Torah (grade A)
#11. University Park, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 1,553
- Population: 8,092
- Median household income: $67,379
- Median home value: $906,473 (39% own)
- Median rent: $1,621 (61% rent)
- Top public schools: DSST: Cedar High School (grade A), South High School (grade A), Thomas Jefferson High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Colorado Academy (grade A+), Kent Denver School (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+)
#10. Washington Park, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 1,493
- Population: 7,188
- Median household income: $191,209
- Median home value: $988,417 (83% own)
- Median rent: $2,508 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: East High School (grade A), DSST: Cedar High School (grade A), South High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Colorado Academy (grade A+), Kent Denver School (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+)
#9. Capitol Hill, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 1,285
- Population: 16,342
- Median household income: $74,719
- Median home value: $423,464 (25% own)
- Median rent: $1,425 (75% rent)
- Top public schools: East High School (grade A), DSST: Cedar High School (grade A), Morey Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Mary's Academy (grade A+), Denver Street School-East Campus (grade A+), Mullen High School (grade A)
#8. South Park Hill, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 1,219
- Population: 9,009
- Median household income: $159,978
- Median home value: $891,640 (87% own)
- Median rent: $1,844 (13% rent)
- Top public schools: East High School (grade A), Denver School of the Arts (grade A), DSST: Montview High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Denver Street School-East Campus (grade A+), Crescent View Academy (grade A+), The Denver Waldorf School (grade A)
#7. City Park West, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 1,174
- Population: 5,704
- Median household income: $83,281
- Median home value: $748,226 (31% own)
- Median rent: $1,345 (69% rent)
- Top public schools: East High School (grade A), DSST: Cedar High School (grade A), DSST: Conservatory Green High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Denver Street School-East Campus (grade A+), The Denver Waldorf School (grade A), Denver Academy of Torah (grade A)
#6. City Park, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 1,158
- Population: 3,782
- Median household income: $105,632
- Median home value: $713,941 (41% own)
- Median rent: $1,492 (59% rent)
- Top public schools: East High School (grade A), DSST: Cedar High School (grade A), DSST: Conservatory Green High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Denver Street School-East Campus (grade A+), Crescent View Academy (grade A+), The Denver Waldorf School (grade A)
#5. Whittier, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 1,084
- Population: 4,548
- Median household income: $126,746
- Median home value: $642,405 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,625 (41% rent)
- Top public schools: East High School (grade A), Denver School of the Arts (grade A), DSST: Montview High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Denver Street School-East Campus (grade A+), The Denver Waldorf School (grade A), Denver Academy of Torah (grade A)
#4. Montclair, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 1,061
- Population: 6,110
- Median household income: $158,050
- Median home value: $611,914 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,738 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: East High School (grade A), Denver School of the Arts (grade A), DSST: Montview High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Denver Street School-East Campus (grade A+), Crescent View Academy (grade A+), The Denver Waldorf School (grade A)
#3. Congress Park, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 960
- Population: 11,362
- Median household income: $102,377
- Median home value: $705,386 (44% own)
- Median rent: $1,522 (56% rent)
- Top public schools: East High School (grade A), DSST: Cedar High School (grade A), DSST: Conservatory Green High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kent Denver School (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+), Denver Street School-East Campus (grade A+)
#2. Downtown, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 695
- Population: 4,758
- Median household income: $127,135
- Median home value: $511,428 (21% own)
- Median rent: $1,771 (79% rent)
- Top public schools: East High School (grade A), DSST: Cedar High School (grade A), DSST: Conservatory Green High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Denver Waldorf School (grade A), Denver Academy of Torah (grade A), Belleview Christian Preparatory School (grade A minus)
#1. North Park Hill, Colorado
- Overall Rank: 600
- Population: 11,133
- Median household income: $138,361
- Median home value: $656,528 (85% own)
- Median rent: $2,372 (15% rent)
- Top public schools: East High School (grade A), Denver School of the Arts (grade A), DSST: Montview High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Denver Street School-East Campus (grade A+), Crescent View Academy (grade A+), Denver Jewish Day School (grade A)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 42 states.
