The Five Best Neighborhoods to Build Your Custom Dream Home in Denver
Sitting 5,280-feet above sea level, Denver, Colorado was named as one of the top two places to live in the United States by U.S. News and World Reports in 2019. The Mile High City is known for the more than 200 visible mountain peaks, NFL football, world-class shopping, custom-built dream homes, and skiing, of course. Thousands of people relocate to Denver every year, many of them curious to find a neighborhood most accommodating of their needs to build their dream home or remodel a current property.
Denver is a Great Place to Live & Call Home
There’s little question why so many people choose Denver as their home. With more than 300 days of sunshine each year, (though it is no secret that weather has a mind of its own, especially during the cold winter months.) great educational opportunities, a plethora of Fortune 500 companies, and lots of green space, people feel right at home in Denver, Colorado.
Denver has great educational opportunities for kids of all ages, including those who go on to college. There are endless outdoor recreational activities and wildlife attractions, whether you enjoy hiking, bird watching, or something else. When it is time to eat, the great restaurants make choosing a spot a little more difficult. hit up one of the local craft breweries after dinner and test out local beer tastes. Denver is also known for its world-class shopping opportunities. Whatever you want or need to buy, rest assured there is a store in Denver offering what you want.
Denver is home to some of the most well-educated people in the country, most boasting a Bachelor’s degree or higher. The city is a paradise for those who enjoy wildlife and the great outdoors but offers so much to love for young professionals, families, and retirees alike.
In fact, Denver is often named as one of the best places to raise a family. You’ll find some of the best schools in the nation in Denver, as well as a collection of more than 200 fantastic parks and recreational spots. Raising a family with peace of mind and confidence is simple when you call the right neighborhood in Denver home.
Denver is touted as one of the most walkable cities in America. Whether you are downtown or elsewhere in the city, you can achieve a lot while on foot. Add the fact that Denver is also one of the greenest and most environmentally-friendly cities in America and you can enjoy more outdoor time with confidence.
Thousands of people relocate to Mile High City every single year. They anticipate its beauty and splendid living opportunities, overlooking the $525,000 average price tag. Many people overlook the costs because they opt to build a custom home from scratch. Choosing to build a home from the ground up is a smart decision that helps deliver more of the house you want at a better price than you can buy a home in Denver. That is a win-win situation for anyone.
Custom Built Homes in Denver
It makes sense to build a home from scratch since it costs about the same and in some cases, less than buying a pre-built home. Customizing a home from the ground up puts you in control of every aspect of its design, ensuring the home exceeds the expectations of your family.
How to Choose a Denver Neighborhood
Denver boasts 78 unique neighborhoods, many of them prestigious neighborhoods desirable to newcomers to the city. Each neighborhood offers its own set of benefits and amenities and is home to a who’s who list of residents, including doctors, lawyers, politicians, and musicians.
Which neighborhood is right for me? This common question doesn’t include a one-size-fits-all answer. Every person moving to Denver has unique reasons for the relocation, as well as certain needs once they arrive. Some people prefer downtown living while others prefer more laid-back areas of the city. No matter what you seek in your new Denver neighborhood, the five below rank as the best in the city. Choose one of the neighborhoods listed here to enjoy living your best life in the Mile High City.
1.) Cherry Creek
One of Denver’s most affluent neighborhoods, Cherry Creek has everything a family could want or need for comfortable living. Whether you’re young professionals just starting in this world, a family with kids, or retirees, Cherry Creek is a desirable place to call home. It is the wealthiest neighborhood in the Denver area.
About 7,000 people call Cherry Creek home already. Most of the residents own their homes, seeing as the city has an 11% rental rate. When rental homes become available, expect to spend an average rate of $2,260 for rent. Cherry Creek has some of the most expensive rental rates in Denver.
Since the median income for Cherry Creek residents is $95,000 most residents can afford the rent, yet appreciate the benefits of homeownership, as anyone should.
The area is safer than most other Denver communities and has tons of recreational activities for kids and families. Those activities include parks and lakes.
Cherry Creek boasts an attractive location, exceptional shopping, and a plethora of beautiful homes. Opting to build a custom home in Cherry Creek puts you front and center of residing in one of Denver’s most desirable neighborhoods, situated just five minutes from downtown.
Some of the city’s most luxurious homes sit on the tree-lined streets of Cherry Creek. Many buyers choose to build custom homes rather than renovate the older homes in the neighborhood, though prices for a home range from $750,00 and reach prices of $3 million or more.
More than 1,000 upscale, high-end stores fill the Cherry Creek neighborhood at the two biggest shopping centers in the city -the Cherry Creek Shopping Center and Cherry Creek North. This area boasts the largest shopping district in Denver. Stores available at these shopping centers include Louis Vuitton, Neiman Marcus, Burberry, H&M, and Coach.
After you shop til you drop, check out the other fun available in Cherry Creek. There’s a thriving arts community, fine dining, upscale cocktail lounges, and other world-class amenities to suit a king, queen, or family.
Just over 7,000 people reside in Cherry Creek, where residents earn an average annual income of just over $95,000. Niche ranked Cherry Creek the #11 best neighborhood in Denver, #17 best neighborhoods to raise a family in Denver, and #21 on the list of best neighborhoods for young professionals in Denver.
2.) Cherry Hills
Cherry Hills is a small municipality that happens to be of Denver’s most upscale urban areas. About 7,000 people call Cherry Hills home, all of whom appreciate the location, family-friendly vibe, and awesome amenities. Families also appreciate the great schools in Cherry Hills.
Most residents of Cherry Hills hold a bachelor’s or Master’s degree. The median income is $240,000. Homes in the area have an average price tag of about $536,000. Rental homes are less common here than some other areas of Denver, although rates average about $1,700 per month for a one-bedroom rental. If you snag a fantastic deal on a home in Cherry Hills, you can always hire professionals to remodel the property to create a more accomodating home for your crew.
For fun, Cherry Hills residents can take their pick of tons of things to do, like golfing, museum and art galleries, parks and recreational activities, and more. Downtown is just five minutes away by car.
Residents in the Cherry Hills neighborhood earn an average income of over $240,000, most holding a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.
In 2021, Niche ranked Cherry Hills #3 Places With the best Public Schools in Colorado and #8 on the Best Places to Raise a Family in Colorado list.
3.) Hilltop
Developed in the 1940s, the Hilltop neighborhood quickly rose to prominence, becoming a sought-after neighborhood with influence, culture, and amenities galore. Some things haven’t changed and this happens to be true of the Hill Top neighborhood.
The median age for a Hill Top resident is 44.4 years of age, although a large percentage of residents fit into the 65 and older age bracket. The diversity allows almost any family to move into the neighborhood with ease.
It is another one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Denver, an affluent area housing residents who earn an average income of $135,000 per year. Over 83.3% of all Hill Top residents hold college degrees.
There are plenty of bars, lounges, and restaurants to enjoy, as well as entertainment options like art galleries, shopping, parks, and coffee shops. Its close proximity to Cherry Creek ensures shopping and entertainment are always within a short drive.
Most Hill Top residents own their homes. Finding a rental may not be simple as a result. When available, rental homes average a monthly rate of $2,010. The average median price to buy a home in the Hill Top neighborhood is $876,586.
4.) Park Hill
Located in the northeast quadrant of Denver, the Park Hill neighborhood is home to about 10,000 people. The neighborhood is often voted as the safest in Denver. Whether you are raising a family, a single young professional, or an up-and-coming family, you can prosper as a Park Hill resident.
Park Hill is one of the “greenest” in the city, boasting wide, well-manicured lawns, tree canopies, and lush plants and flowers. The nature-conservative neighborhood is one that anyone can be proud to call home.
The neighborhood sits just west of the City Park, giving families the perfect outing whenever the weather permits. The Denver Zoo, Municipality Golf Course, and the Museum of Nature and Science are among the family-friendly adventures situated in Park Hill.
When adult time is needed, the mixture of coffee shops, bars, cocktail lounges, and art galleries provide the exact adventure every adult needs.
When rental homes become available, renters pay an average of $1,600 per month for a one-bedroom in the area. About 88% of Park Hill residents own their homes, having paid a median average cost of $415,000 for the home. More luxurious homes in Park Hill sell for prices well into the hundreds of thousands.
Niche ranked Park Hill #1 Best Places to Buy a House in Denver and #1 Best Neighborhoods to Live in Denver.
5.) Washington Park
The final neighborhood to make our top five list is Washington Park. Situated southeast Denver, Washington Park has a lot to love.
Wash Park, as it’s known to the locals, is touted as a “great place to raise kids,” thanks to the above-average schools, low crime rates, impeccable safety, and activities for kids. Those activities include the park of the same name, which boasts 155-acres of green space, two lakes, tree-lined biking paths, and a host of other amenities.
The park is a great place to spend time, but the neighborhood offers plenty of other fun activities for families, older people, and other people looking for a good time. There are many museums and art galleries, as well as bars, restaurants, high-end clothing stores and specialty shops, and fun recreational activities available.
Homes sell for an average median rate of $456,000. Rental rates, when rental homes become available, average a monthly rate of $2,160. The average median income for Wash Park residents is $156,000 per year.
Niche ranked Wash Park #7 Best Neighborhoods to Live in Denver and #6 Best Neighborhoods to Raise a Family.
The Best Denver Neighborhoods
With so much to love about every Denver neighborhood listed in our top five list, choosing the one best suited for your needs is no easy task. Once you narrow down the choices and find the most suitable neighborhood, make sure you consider custom building a home rather than purchasing one that is pre-built.
You control every aspect of the home space, from the location of the bedrooms to the placement of cabinets in the kitchen. And, it can even save money versus the cost of buying a home in Denver.
