Lately I’ve been working quite a bit with out of town buyers. No, I’m not a “relo” (that’s agent speak for relocation) specialist (yet!) but these folks have come to me through the referral grapevine and I’m having a blast introducing them to this great city of ours. I know, I know, Denver has changed a lot over the years- I always superficially agree with that statement when people throw it around. However, having moved here 17 years ago myself and now driving around covering a lot of ground with my clients, that statement actually means something. Denver has changed, and when you’re from Tennessee, Kansas, Texas, Missouri, and you’re moving here – one change stands out. Price per square foot. Let’s just say that there are some sticker shock conversations going on during my tours as of late.

But, I’m not here to leave anyone in the lurch. There are still some affordable neighborhoods. Yes, this is Part I – so I’m going to the burbs first. Part II will focus more on city/central Denver hoods.

So, just to start off, some of these burbs have gotten a bad rap in the past, but as I eluded to earlier, Denver is a changin’ and there are some positives worth noting about each of these communities. Movoto took 21 Denver suburbs and compared them using several criteria, such as cost of living, median home value, and the affordability ratio (which I will write a blog on one of these days). They came up with the top 10 most affordable.

What drives the prices? This glorious slice of heaven that we get to live in- a place where can enjoy the beauty around us but assumingly make a decent living as well. That’s a combo we have to pay for. Often in the burbs, that beauty is even a bit more obvious- so maybe there’s something to them?

 

    1. Commerce City is the state’s 4th fastest growing community, both in number of people and square miles. It is home to Dick’s Sporting Goods Complex and borders Stapleton- so it’s in north Denver’s backyard- great for commuters.

 

    1. Thornton, also great for commuters- it’s only 10 miles northeast of Denver. I meet more and more folks who have moved here and enjoy the trails, green space and prices.

 

    1. Westminster. I’ve written on this one before. I was so surprised when I happened on multiple cute pockets of this town. So much so that I’ve encouraged several clients to broaden their search there. Apparently it was rated the 24th best place to live by Money Magazine- I knew I was on to something!

 

    1. Northglenn. One of the smaller burbs, so supposedly has a bit more of a home town feel. The community is connected by the well-planned Greenway Trail System and is only 30 minutes away from the mountains.

 

    1. Aurora, the largest affordable Denver suburb. There are so many parts to Aurora it’s mind boggling to the realtor. Little known facts: Aurora features more than 400 ethnic restaurants and is the 8th safest city in America. You can find shopping, cultural centers, golf courses and more.

 

    1. Centennial is a bit pricier, but a great place to raise kiddos. It has a great mix of public and private schools and it spans quite a ways east to west so there’s always a fair amount of homes to choose from, including multi-family and single family detached homes.

 

    1. Arvada, a personal favorite. In between Denver and mountains, one can find horse properties and acreage sprinkled about the city. Olde Town Arvada is a historic district that offers eclectic, mom and pop dining and shopping experiences.

 

    1. Broomfield attracts techies and other professionals who know enough not to pay Boulder prices. It has an extensive trail system and great views.

 

    1. Lakewood always surprises me- there are so many facets to Lakewood and quite frankly, I feel like there is something for everyone. Mountain living, urban amenities, it’s definitely worth a look.

 

    1. Erie, the wealthiest suburb on the list, is roughly in between Denver and Boulder, so the choice is yours as far as where to work and play. Great schools and plenty of outdoor space to play in makes this one attractive.

 

To see how the other 11 burbs stacked up, visit https://www.movoto.com/guide/denver-co/affordable-denver-suburbs/.

READ PART II – AFFORDABLE NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER