If you’re looking for a suburb close to all the shopping, dining, entertainment, and family fun in
Denver, but aren’t so sure about a big city environment, these suburbs just might be the perfect fit.
These family friendly Denver suburbs have great schools, close-knit communities, and plenty of great amenities. Plus, they’re just a quick drive away from the city you love.
Let’s take a look at the 10 that made the cut.
1. Superior
Key Stats:
- GreatSchools.org score: 10 out of 10
- Median household income: $107,619
Superior kicks off our list of the best Denver suburbs for families with top marks from GreatSchools.org and a range of housing options including modest townhomes and spacious craftsman style homes.
A playground and baseball, soccer, and football fields are available at the Superior Community Park. Boulder Valley Ice has space for youth hockey leagues. Community events like the 4th of July Parade and Chili Fest are a great way to get to know your neighbors.
2. Louisville
Key Stats:
- GreatSchools.org score: 8.8 out of 10
- Average commute time: 22 minutes
The scenic, peaceful suburb of Louisville has plenty of housing options for families to spread out in, including spacious townhouses and craftsman style homes.
Enjoy a family picnic at Heritage Park, or take a hike through the Davidson Mesa Open Space for beautiful mountain views. The Louisville Public Library provides a variety of programming for teens and young children.
3. Centennial
Key Stats:
- Median household income: $89,214
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,274
Families in the small city of Centennial get the best of both worlds, with plenty of city amenities but a little more space to spread out in sprawling ranch and craftsman style homes on large lots.
Enjoy a playground, water features, and a shaded picnic area at the Centennial Center Park, or hike through gorgeous Colorado nature and plan a family camping trip at neighboring 880-acre Cherry Creek State Park.
4. Erie
Key Stats:
- Median household income: $103,796
- Total crimes per 100k: 581
Families searching for a home in Erie have a range of options to choose from. Modern townhouses, craftsman style homes, and cozy cottages are common in this Denver suburb.
Residents enjoy go-karts, a petting zoo, corn mazes, and pumpkin picking at Anderson Farms. The Erie Community Library also provides plenty of children’s programming to keep young readers entertained.
5. Greenwood Village
Key Stats:
- GreatSchools.org score: 8.8 out of 10
- Unemployment rate: 4.2 percent
- Median household income: $109,681
Greenwood Village earns the fifth place spot on our list with high marks from GreatSchools.org. Large families will find plenty of spacious homes in contemporary and craftsman styles.
Plan a family bowling night at Arapahoe Bowling Center or enjoy the playground, rollerblading rink, and trails at Westlands Park. The neighboring Cherry Creek State Park is the perfect spot for a weekend camping trip.
6. Broomfield
Key Stats:
- Unemployment rate: 6.5 percent
- Total crimes per 100k: 2,082
The scenic suburb of Broomfield has plenty of housing options for families of any size. Cozy cottages, contemporary style homes, and classic craftsman houses are common.
Go pumpkin picking or enjoy a family fishing trip at Rock Creek Farm. The Broomfield Commons Park has several sports fields and picnic spots, and the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Library provides children and teen programming.
Convenient shopping from over 200 retailers and dining options are available at Flatiron Crossing.
7. Castle Rock
Key Stats:
- Median household income: $86,280
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,149
Castle Rock earns the seventh place spot on our list of the best Denver suburbs for families with a range of housing options. Whether you’re looking for a cozy cottage on a large lot or a chic contemporary home, you’ll find it in Castle Rock.
Take family swim lessons at the Castle Rock Community Recreation Center or hike the trails at scenic Rock Park. Community events like Starlight Movies in Festival Park are a great way to get to know your neighbors.
8. Golden
Key Stats:
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,025
- Average commute time: 24 minutes
Families who love camping, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors together will love the scenic suburb of Golden. Spacious farmhouse, ranch, and craftsman style homes are popular in this Denver suburb.
Scenic parks and mountains, perfect for adventurous families, surround Golden. Hang glide at Windy Saddle Park, ride horses at Apex Park, or enjoy a picnic with mesa views at South Table Mountain Park. The Jefferson County Public Library’s children's and teen programming is sure to keep young readers engaged.
9. Longmont
Key Stats:
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,156
- Average commute time: 23 minutes
Longmont earns the ninth place spot on our list with low monthly housing costs and plenty of affordable townhouses and ranch and contemporary style homes for families of all sizes.
Enjoy a day on the water and mountain views at the Golden Ponds Park and Nature Area or take young children to Clark Playground. The Longmont Public Library has a large selection of books and a variety of children and teen programming.
10. Littleton
Key Stats:
- GreatSchools.org score: 8.1 out of 10
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,120
Littleton rounds out our list of the best Denver suburbs for families with low monthly housing costs and high marks from GreatSchools.org. Home buyers in Littleton have their pick of ranch style homes, cozy cottages, and contemporary houses.
Enjoy a stroll through the beautiful Hudson Gardens or have a fun history day at the Littleton Museum. Community events like the Tuesday Night Blues Concert Series and First Friday Art Walk are a great way to meet new neighbors.
Our Methodology
To create this list of the best Denver suburbs for families, we looked at the following criteria:
- GreatSchools.org Score
- Total crimes per 100k
- Unemployment rate
- Average commute time
- Median household income
- Median monthly housing costs (the lower the better)
We ranked each Denver suburb in the above categories. Because some things are of extra importance to families, we weighted the GreatSchools.org score and total crimes per 100k score to make up 25 percent of the final score, while the rest of the categories made up 10 percent.
For this list, we gathered data from the U.S. Census,
AreaVibes, and GreatSchools.org.
Want to see how other Denver suburbs measured up? Check out the table below:
Feature image source: Flickr user mikelewis
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