Young professionals have a lot on their plates, and the last thing they need to worry about is figuring out the best places to live near Denver. So, if you’re on the hunt for the perfect
Denver suburb, you can call out today because we’ve done the work for you.
We compiled a whole lot of data and did some number crunching to figure out the best places for a young professional’s busy lifestyle.
Let’s take a look at the winners.
1. Boulder
Key Stats:
- Residents age 22-29: 18.6 percent
- Total amenities: 10,744
Young professionals in Boulder get the best of both worlds—a thriving small city with plenty of amenities and parks and green spaces to explore. Chic modern condos are common in Boulder, and are perfect for a young professional’s lifestyle, but single-family homes with room to grow are also available.
Grab drinks with friends after work at Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery, or spend your weekend browsing numerous local galleries, like the Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery and upscale 15th Street Studio.
Active young professionals will love hiking through Boulder Mountain Park, while foodies can get their fix at local eateries like The Buff Restaurant or upscale Frasca Food and Wine.
2. Lone Tree
Key Stats:
- Residents who have attained a bachelor’s degree: 39.1 percent
- Median earnings of bachelor’s degree holders: $61,303
- Residents with professional occupations: 56.9 percent
Lone Tree is the perfect suburban oasis for young professionals who are tired of city life. Home buyers will find plenty of new construction single family homes on large lots, giving them plenty of space to spread out.
Convenient shopping and dining is available at the calm, beautifully maintained shopping center, The Vistas at Park Meadows.
Arts and culture enthusiasts will flock to shows at the Lone Tree Arts Center, while young professionals who love networking while hitting the links will love the Lone Tree Golf Club.
3. Lakewood (tie)
Key Stats:
- Total amenities: 7,747
- Residents age 22-29: 12.4 percent
Tied for third on our list is the small city of Lakewood. Lakewood’s range of modest townhomes and single-family houses are sure to fit any young professional’s lifestyle, even if they need some room to grow.
Arts and culture enthusiasts will be drawn to Lakewood’s numerous facilities, including the Lakewood Heritage Center and amphitheater, and the Lakewood Cultural Center where residents can catch live performances.
Lakewood also has a number of bars and restaurants, like Teller’s Taproom & Kitchen, where residents can relax with friends after work. With the third highest percentage of residents age 22-29, young professionals in Lakewood will be in good company.
3. Wheat Ridge (tie)
Key Stats:
- Total amenities: 5,236
- Cost of living: 107, compared to the Denver average of 108
The second suburb tied for third on our list is Wheat Ridge, with plenty of single-family homes on large lots that give young professionals room to grow.
Foodies will love local eateries like pizza shop iPIE, and gastropub Iron Rail Tavern. Grab a beer off the massive menu at Colorado Plus Brew Pub. Active young professionals will love walking and biking around Discovery Park and Crown Hill Park and Wildlife Preserve.
Local heritage festival, the Annual Carnation Festival, is a great way to enjoy live music, food, and art while you meet a few neighbors.
5. Littleton
Key Stats:
The Denver suburb of Littleton has plenty of amenities for young professionals to enjoy, with the third most per capita. Home buyers will find a range of housing options, from modest townhomes and condos to single family homes with plenty of room to grow.
Local events like the Littleton Main Street Block Party are a great way to get to know your neighbors while enjoying live music, shopping at local vendors, and watching fireworks.
Enjoy shopping and dining at charming historic downtown Littleton, a pedestrian friendly commercial strip. The convenient shopping center, Aspen Grove Lifestyle Center, is also located in Littleton.
6. Westminster
Key Stats:
- Median earnings of bachelor’s degree holders: $57,110
- Residents age 22-29: 12.2 percent
The small city of Westminster is a great middle ground between urban and suburban for young professionals. Condos are common in Westminster, but large single-family homes with private yards are also available for young professionals who want more space to spread out.
Network on the links at Legacy Ridge’s or The Heritage at Westmoor’s 18-hole championship golf courses, or hike, boat, and fish at Standley Lake.
Sunday brunch at Goody’s Eatery or dinner at Sakana, a local sushi and ramen spot, are sure to please local foodies. Grab drinks after work at chic local wine bar, Bitto Bistro.
7. Longmont (tie)
Key Stats:
- Residents age 22-29: 11 percent
- Total amenities: 4,701
Tied for seventh is the Denver suburb of Longmont. Longmont’s sunny, well-built townhomes and quaint mid-century starter homes are great housing options for young professionals.
Active young professionals can take advantage of Longmont’s numerous city parks and amenities, including Hover Park’s tennis and volleyball courts, and Golden Ponds Park & Nature Area’s scenic walking paths and ponds.
Welcoming, eclectic Ziggi’s Coffee House is the perfect spot to get a jolt before work. Grab a craft beer after work at Left Hand Brewing Company or a glass of wine and a bite to eat at 2020 Food and Wine Bar.
7. Broomfield (tie)
Key Stats:
- Median earnings of bachelor’s degree holders: $59,721
- Residents with professional occupations: 49.1 percent
The second Denver suburb tied for seventh is Broomfield. Single family homes on large lots provide young professionals with plenty of space to spread out or room to grow.
Arts and culture enthusiasts will love public art in Broomfield, like the Broomfield Sculpture Trail, while active young professionals will get their kicks at Rock Creek Farm or the Bay Aquatic Park.
Local restaurants like Loftea Cafe and La Casa Del Burrito serve everything from super healthy eats to delicious breakfast burritos. Grab drinks and watch the game at local sports bar The Colorado Keg House, or unleash your inner beer snob at Wonderland Brewing Company.
7. Greenwood Village (tie)
Key Stats:
- Unemployment rate: 4.2 percent
- Residents who have attained a bachelor’s degree: 39.7 percent
- Residents with professional ocucpations: 59.5 percent
Life in the affluent suburb of Greenwood Village may come at a higher price, but young professionals looking for chic modern condos or beautiful single family homes will have their pick here.
Meet up with friends and watch the game at The Sportsbook Bar & Grill, or catch a flick and do some shopping at the Village Shops at the Landmark.
Upscale restaurants like The Wooden Table are the perfect spot for a fancy night out, while laid back joints like Pho Lee and Cuba Cuba Sandwicheria are the great spots to stop by after work.
10. Louisville
Key Stats:
- Unemployment rate: 4.9 percent
- Residents with professional occupations: 61.7 percent
Rounding out of our list at number 10 is the scenic suburb of Louisville. Ranch style homes and two-story single-family houses with large yards are popular in this Denver suburb.
Nature enthusiasts will love the beautiful views at the Davidson Mesa and walking, biking, and fishing in Heritage Park. Beer snobs and foodies can grab a drink after work at 12 Degree Brewing or get a bite to eat at Lulu’s BBQ.
Summertime festivals, like the Louisville Street Faire that brings the community together with live music, are the perfect way to meet your neighbors.
Our Methodology
To create this list of the best Denver suburbs for young professionals, we looked at the following important criteria:
- Percent of residents age 22-29
- Professional opportunities (unemployment rate, percent of residents who attained a bachelor’s degree, median earnings for those who attained a bachelor’s degree, percent of residents who work in management, business, financial, or other professional fields)
- Amenities per capita
- Cost of living
Then, because some things are just a little more important to young professionals than others, we weighted the percent of residents age 22-29 and amenities per capita to make up 35 percent of our score. Professional opportunity made up 20 percent, and cost of living made up 10.
We then averaged those weighted scores into one overall score, and the 10 lowest scores made up our list of the 10 best Denver suburbs for young professionals.
Want to see how the rest of the suburbs we ranked measured up? Take a look at the table below:
Like This Post? You’ll Definitely Love These:
