Suburbs vs City Living in the Denver Metro Area

There is no denying that the Front Range—anchored by Colorado’s capital and largest city, Denver—has been one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the Western World. In fact, in between the 2010 census and a 2017 estimate, the region grew from having 2.5 million to having 2.9 million inhabitants. This growth rate of roughly 14% has attracted the attention of both families and real estate investors across the country.

But while living in and around Denver has clearly been trending upward, knowing where you personally ought to purchase real estate can be a very difficult task. The Front Range region is composed of many municipalities and neighborhoods, each with their own fair share of pros and cons.

When deciding where to live in Denver, the first thing you will need to determine is whether you hope to live within the city limits or whether you hope to live in the suburbs. The choice that is right for you will depend on your personal preferences, your real estate investment objectives, and the amount of capital that you currently possess.

In this article, we will compare the benefits and drawbacks of suburban and urban living. We will also discuss some of the factors that make investing in Denver area real estate unique. By taking the time to think about where your real estate purchase will be, you will be much happier with your final decision.

The Benefits of Living in the City

There is a reason why cities have a higher population density than their nearby suburbs—people consistently want to live there and are willing to make major sacrifices in order to do so. As a result, many American cities are now outgrowing their inner suburbs for the first time in decades.

Benefits of living in a city (such as Denver) include:

·         Walkability and public transportation: Denver is one of the most walkable cities in America, particularly downtown and near 14^th street. The city also has an excellent bus system, light rail, and other transportation options that are not nearly as developed out in the suburbs.

·         Culture and Diversity: when compared to the suburbs, downtown Denver is considerably more diverse. The downtown area is also largely responsible for cultivating Denver’s unique cultural identity. Food, music, and art are all thriving in the heart of the Mile High City.

·         Jobs: Denver—like most cities—has a large portion of its commercial activity take place in the urban center. In fact, Forbes recently named Denver among the “best cities for jobs in 2018.”

·         Things to Do: between Denver’s many museums, parks, restaurants, and concert halls, there are many things to do in the city on any given day. The city is also home to sports teams in every major league and is one of the few cities in America with a full amusement park downtown.

Unsurprisingly, Denver has enjoyed a tremendous amount of growth and this growth will continue into the foreseeable future.

The Benefits of Living in the Suburbs

With a population just over 700,000, the actual city of Denver accounts for less than one quarter of the roughly 3 million person Front Range region. If you are willing to endure a longer daily commute, there are plenty of reasonably priced housing options well within Denver’s reach.

Benefits of living in Denver’s suburbs include:

1. Better Public Schools: while the Denver Public School District is still highly rated for an urban school district, the best schools in the region can all be found in the suburbs. In a recent report, the Lewis-Palmer, Boulder Valley, Littleton, and Cherry Creek school districts were all among the most highly rated in the state.
2. Cheaper land: as you’d probably assume, your dollar can go considerably further in almost every Denver suburb. If you are hoping to have a sizeable property that also has a large yard, the suburbs will probably be the best place to begin your search.
3.  More parks and green spaces: while Denver has done a lot of work to maintain excellent parks, the suburbs have notably more green and undeveloped spaces. Additionally, if you live in the western Denver suburbs, you will also be closer to the mountains.
4. Lower crime rates: as is the case with almost every major metropolitan area, crime rates are generally higher within the core city’s formal limits.
5. Real estate investment opportunities: depending on where in the Denver suburbs you purchase a home, you can enjoy a significant level of property appreciation. By investing in Denver’s most rapidly growing suburbs, there will be plenty of chances for you to “buy low” and “sell high.”

The population growth rates in the Denver suburbs are certainly nothing to shake your head at. If current growth continues, the Denver suburbs will be expanding by more than 50,000 people per year.

Deciding which Location is Right for You

Ultimately, whether you should purchase a home in the city or the suburbs will be a very personal decision that does not have any clear right or wrong answers. In addition to looking at various real estate investment opportunities available, you will also want to ask yourself a few fundamental questions.

·         Where do you currently work? Are you willing to live further away from work if it means owning more/better property?

·         What is your current family situation? Do you have any children and are these children currently enrolled in school? Do you have any pets?

·         Are you hoping to buy or rent your next home?

·         How important is it for your property values to be appreciating?

·         Are you in a position to pay your annual property taxes?

These are just a few of the questions that can help you narrow down your final decision. Speaking with an experienced Denver realtor can make this important decision a little bit easier.

Conclusion

Both Denver and its nearby suburbs are rapidly growing. Throughout the Front Range region you will find a variety of different homes, each tailored for individuals with unique tastes and personal preferences. Though it’s hard to really “go wrong” when living in Colorado, you will still want to carefully think about the kind of neighborhood you want to live in. Once you have made that decision, finding the specific home for you should be much more possible.