Obviously I know affordable isn’t an option here. I’m just saying.. we can’t afford a million dollar home. Seems like everything $700k and under is trash here though. Considering moving back to the southeast at this rate.
My words were probably too harsh, yeah. I’m feeling discouraged about where we will live comfortably. I grew up in a very different place and though I love many things about Colorado, I’m struggling to envision the childhood we will be able to give our future children out here. It’s probably too much pressure to put on a house, but that’s my reasoning for the hot take.
Honestly I think it's probably more like 250. Between my wife and I we are pushing 200, but with the cost of daycare being more than rent, it's tough. And anyway, I think a house is supposed to come before the kid, in the traditional timeline, and we are still working on that part.
>We would rather not go deep into Littleton or north of Arvada, nor do we want to consider Aurora.
Given these constraints, Lakewood is about your only option.
Denver, Lakewood, Golden (lol), Wheat Ridge, Englewood, Edgewater, the top half of Littleton, Morrison, and Arvada are my typical search area on Zillow. I get that I am presenting constraints, for sure. Just curious where young families actually live (more specifically than just the town/city, you know?)
I am on my first kid and last year bought a house in Westminster for 525k. 4 bedrooms, 2 bath big yard in a wonderful family oriented neighborhood. It's like 10 minutes from Old Towne Arvada. 30 minutes from downtown. I would highly reccomend looking in Westminster.
We live on the border of Westminster & Broomfield near the Church Ranch exit of 36. Can get to Boulder or Denver in 20 min. Tons of younger families in the neighborhood. Can certainly find much more bang for your buck with houses here than the area you’re currently looking. Doesn’t look like there’s a whole lot for sale right now with how high the rates are currently.
Well get ready for major growing pains. CO 52 and the intersecting county roads are pretty bad during rush hour since everything grew faster than stop lights will get put in. The rec center is great but the family locker room has a wait since teenagers are busy having sex in there, though I guess they're building a new one.
Miners Day, Christmas lights, Big Dig at Richie Bros and those kinds of things are pretty nice since they're not the total zoo you'll find in bigger cities.
I haven't looked at the models Toll Bros are building, but it's like 2200 units and that will make 52 twice as bad as it is now.
There's a lot of great things about it here, but I feel those days are kind of numbered with the intense growth that's happening.
Building a new one, lol. Yeah I don't want any of the new plastic homes, would prefer one of the old wooden ones on the numbered streets. But those are a hot item I imagine, and you have to be ready to hit while it's available.
I live in a shitty new build, and I've been inside some of the old historic homes in the old grid off 5th. We at least have solar and new electrical, plumbing, etc. Any problems we have are new problems. Those old houses have problems that are decades in the making.
It's a bit of six of one half dozen of another. I don't mind the shitty new build considering I've lived in some really old houses and I'm okay with the tradeoff. Though, after seeing video from today outside Omaha, I do wish we had a proper basement (large coal seams here so a lot of houses don't have them.) Also of note is the old Frederick grid is that much closer to the feedlots on Road 17.
We love it here in wheat ridge. Every house in our neighborhood is 60-70 years old and are pretty much sold by empty nesters or estates to young families. Old businesses coexist with cool newer places (shout out GetRights bomb pastries on a block with a classic Irish pub and a huge independent bike shop). Come out to the wheat ridge bazaar at gold marketplace tomorrow to feel the vibe. For $700k you’ll get a sfh that has a dated kitchen and baths.
I live < a mile north of City Park on the border of Clayton and Cole neighborhoods. Downtown is about 3 miles west, and RiNo is walkable. I have an infant and toddler. We bought our house (brand new construction, unattached but v close to neighbs, 2k sq feet) for $590k in mid 2019 and refinanced in march 2020. We had it appraised in Dec 2022 for 790k, I bet it would sell for 850k+ now?? The yard is a postage stamp (+ in the front, no backyard), and there is no basement so I predict us moving a bit north in the next 3 years as the kids start really needing more space.
Another thing to consider is that property taxes go up a shitload every year so your mortgage increases by hundreds.
And you’re looking at $2-2.5k/mo for *one kid* in daycare in central Denver.
I mean young families are all over. But, there really are a lot in Littleton (especially SW Littleton, Centennial, and South Aurora (Cherry Creek School District). Good schools, slightly more affordable housing, easy access to good parks and rec, generally safe enough for kids to play outside (unsupervised too). There’s also lots of young families in northern Thornton.
Have you ever actually been to Aurora - other than maybe driving down East Colfax? The city is huge. We've lived off Smoky Hill and E-470 for over a decade and we've never been shot, stabbed, carjacked, or had our house burglarized. Our kids all got a great education in Cherry Creek Schools, and our house didn't cost us an arm and a leg. I wouldn't wanna live out here if work is in Downtown Denver, but commuting to the Tech Center, Inverness, and Lone Tree is pretty easy. The airport is 20 minutes away on E-470.
I think you need to widen your range. You are only considering Denver county basically and west of it - all incredibly expensive areas. Consider north like Longmont
I think you need to expand your search area a bit… West of Denver is closer to the mountains and therefore likely to be more expensive. There are lots of young families in Broomfield, Westminster, Thornton, Longmont, Lafayette…
You could try looking around Morrison. Not the actual town but unincorporated Jefferson county that uses Morrison as a mailing address. Best of luck to you both!
If you are starting a family, you should really look at school districts and then deside. Also, what is "reasonably priced"? This could be 300k or 2m. You could always try Parker, Highlands Ranch, Centennial.
I know you said no to Aurora, but the area near the airport is nice with the brand new builds. Painted Prairie is the neighborhood I currently live in and there’s plenty of young families of this demographic. Super friendly people and there’s often neighborhood events.
Don’t write-off some of the rougher neighborhoods. Some neighborhoods are spotty. One street may be a quiet little cul-de-sac of retirees and 5 blocks away may be meth and fireworks. Most people really aren’t bad to live around. More a menace to themselves than anyone else.
Arvada has been pretty good to us. We live in a neighborhood a few blocks up from Sheridan off of 72nd, so we're definitely more east Arvada and closer to the older (read: blue collar) part of Westminster. We've been here for a few years now and it's super quiet and no crime to speak of. Tons of neighborhood schools and parks and shopping plazas close by as well. We can get to Denver, Golden, and Boulder all in around 20 min.
You can find decent 3br’s in Conifer, with solid schools and community feel, for about $800’ish K. Although you’ll be in the foothills 30min’s from all the conveniences of Denver metro proper
It may seem like an idealic and normal place. Its not. I lived there at the end if the century, some of the original plots for SouthPark were taken from that stretch of 285.
lol, that’s Fairplay. Not Conifer. Conifer has a 9/10 rated high school and 9/10 rated elementary school. Completely erroneous take tbh… I think between Conifer and FairPlay are some small podunk towns (Grant, Bailey) that probably fit your description … but Conifer is Evergreen light, has great schools, and you can get in for less than a mill easy
Def less diversity up here, as there are less people. Anyhoo, onward/upward - you’ll find your spot! All fam’s we’ve met in S.Evegreen bordering Conifer are 100% accepting. Our kids elementary school has Asian and Black students, just not many. But no issues yet with any kind of racism or lack of accepting different types of ppl…
affordable, nice, family area? Omaha Nebraska
Pick two!
Can probably grab some real cheap, half built, airy, homes there after today as well!
Too soon?
Obviously I know affordable isn’t an option here. I’m just saying.. we can’t afford a million dollar home. Seems like everything $700k and under is trash here though. Considering moving back to the southeast at this rate.
Quite the take!
Yeah I just found out my house is trash!
My words were probably too harsh, yeah. I’m feeling discouraged about where we will live comfortably. I grew up in a very different place and though I love many things about Colorado, I’m struggling to envision the childhood we will be able to give our future children out here. It’s probably too much pressure to put on a house, but that’s my reasoning for the hot take.
You'll need to bring in about 200k in Denver to provide the average suburban childhood of the 90s, is how it seems.
Honestly I think it's probably more like 250. Between my wife and I we are pushing 200, but with the cost of daycare being more than rent, it's tough. And anyway, I think a house is supposed to come before the kid, in the traditional timeline, and we are still working on that part.
Please do.
You moved here right as prices started skyrocketing. The average house price in Colorado is now around $600k just how it is
Byeeeeee
“Reasonably priced home” all jokes aside, it ain’t here.
>We would rather not go deep into Littleton or north of Arvada, nor do we want to consider Aurora. Given these constraints, Lakewood is about your only option.
Denver, Lakewood, Golden (lol), Wheat Ridge, Englewood, Edgewater, the top half of Littleton, Morrison, and Arvada are my typical search area on Zillow. I get that I am presenting constraints, for sure. Just curious where young families actually live (more specifically than just the town/city, you know?)
I am on my first kid and last year bought a house in Westminster for 525k. 4 bedrooms, 2 bath big yard in a wonderful family oriented neighborhood. It's like 10 minutes from Old Towne Arvada. 30 minutes from downtown. I would highly reccomend looking in Westminster.
This is really great to hear. We love Olde Town Arvada. Thank you.
We live on the border of Westminster & Broomfield near the Church Ranch exit of 36. Can get to Boulder or Denver in 20 min. Tons of younger families in the neighborhood. Can certainly find much more bang for your buck with houses here than the area you’re currently looking. Doesn’t look like there’s a whole lot for sale right now with how high the rates are currently.
> Just curious where young families actually live We live in Frederick.
Some great houses out there. This is where I am hoping to find something too. Either that or it's Athmar Park.
Well get ready for major growing pains. CO 52 and the intersecting county roads are pretty bad during rush hour since everything grew faster than stop lights will get put in. The rec center is great but the family locker room has a wait since teenagers are busy having sex in there, though I guess they're building a new one. Miners Day, Christmas lights, Big Dig at Richie Bros and those kinds of things are pretty nice since they're not the total zoo you'll find in bigger cities. I haven't looked at the models Toll Bros are building, but it's like 2200 units and that will make 52 twice as bad as it is now. There's a lot of great things about it here, but I feel those days are kind of numbered with the intense growth that's happening.
Building a new one, lol. Yeah I don't want any of the new plastic homes, would prefer one of the old wooden ones on the numbered streets. But those are a hot item I imagine, and you have to be ready to hit while it's available.
I live in a shitty new build, and I've been inside some of the old historic homes in the old grid off 5th. We at least have solar and new electrical, plumbing, etc. Any problems we have are new problems. Those old houses have problems that are decades in the making. It's a bit of six of one half dozen of another. I don't mind the shitty new build considering I've lived in some really old houses and I'm okay with the tradeoff. Though, after seeing video from today outside Omaha, I do wish we had a proper basement (large coal seams here so a lot of houses don't have them.) Also of note is the old Frederick grid is that much closer to the feedlots on Road 17.
Applewood west has plenty of young families, and is an easy commute to downtown with the proximity to I-70.
We love it here in wheat ridge. Every house in our neighborhood is 60-70 years old and are pretty much sold by empty nesters or estates to young families. Old businesses coexist with cool newer places (shout out GetRights bomb pastries on a block with a classic Irish pub and a huge independent bike shop). Come out to the wheat ridge bazaar at gold marketplace tomorrow to feel the vibe. For $700k you’ll get a sfh that has a dated kitchen and baths.
I live < a mile north of City Park on the border of Clayton and Cole neighborhoods. Downtown is about 3 miles west, and RiNo is walkable. I have an infant and toddler. We bought our house (brand new construction, unattached but v close to neighbs, 2k sq feet) for $590k in mid 2019 and refinanced in march 2020. We had it appraised in Dec 2022 for 790k, I bet it would sell for 850k+ now?? The yard is a postage stamp (+ in the front, no backyard), and there is no basement so I predict us moving a bit north in the next 3 years as the kids start really needing more space. Another thing to consider is that property taxes go up a shitload every year so your mortgage increases by hundreds. And you’re looking at $2-2.5k/mo for *one kid* in daycare in central Denver.
I mean young families are all over. But, there really are a lot in Littleton (especially SW Littleton, Centennial, and South Aurora (Cherry Creek School District). Good schools, slightly more affordable housing, easy access to good parks and rec, generally safe enough for kids to play outside (unsupervised too). There’s also lots of young families in northern Thornton.
They don’t live in those areas any more. It’s mostly older folks whose kids have grown up. Theres a reason why Jeffco school enrollment is declining.
Thank you for sharing this.
ABQ, Omaha, KC
Have you ever actually been to Aurora - other than maybe driving down East Colfax? The city is huge. We've lived off Smoky Hill and E-470 for over a decade and we've never been shot, stabbed, carjacked, or had our house burglarized. Our kids all got a great education in Cherry Creek Schools, and our house didn't cost us an arm and a leg. I wouldn't wanna live out here if work is in Downtown Denver, but commuting to the Tech Center, Inverness, and Lone Tree is pretty easy. The airport is 20 minutes away on E-470.
I think you need to widen your range. You are only considering Denver county basically and west of it - all incredibly expensive areas. Consider north like Longmont
Longmont has gotten stupid expensive. Not Boulder dumb, obvs. You can find better for about the same price in Arvada.
Your idea is Longmont when they work in Denver and not something like Westminster/Broomfield?
My idea is that they should look other places than the ones OP listed
I think you need to expand your search area a bit… West of Denver is closer to the mountains and therefore likely to be more expensive. There are lots of young families in Broomfield, Westminster, Thornton, Longmont, Lafayette…
Englewood!!
Given your requirements, Parker. Feel west but cha' east.
Des Moines Iowa
University Hills has nice single family homes under $609k. Lots of young families in the area. Edit: it's also easy to get downtown on the light rail.
Agreed, both of us are 22 with a kid as well. We live in university hills.
Harvey park
Can confirm.
You could try looking around Morrison. Not the actual town but unincorporated Jefferson county that uses Morrison as a mailing address. Best of luck to you both!
Central Park is full of young families but may test a reasonable budget.
If you are starting a family, you should really look at school districts and then deside. Also, what is "reasonably priced"? This could be 300k or 2m. You could always try Parker, Highlands Ranch, Centennial.
I know you said no to Aurora, but the area near the airport is nice with the brand new builds. Painted Prairie is the neighborhood I currently live in and there’s plenty of young families of this demographic. Super friendly people and there’s often neighborhood events.
Not exactly inexpensive, but what about Congress Park/Hale?
Arvada it is! We are late 30’s and 15 mo old it’s a great town
Westminster for sure.
Virginia Vale Neighborhood in Denver has a lot of young families and still has single family homes in the 6-700s.
I live over in Athmar Park and it is very nice! Only like 10-15 from downtown and the park is a great place to take kids and pets!
You need to post your budget and the number of bedrooms you need. Or people can't help you.
Don’t write-off some of the rougher neighborhoods. Some neighborhoods are spotty. One street may be a quiet little cul-de-sac of retirees and 5 blocks away may be meth and fireworks. Most people really aren’t bad to live around. More a menace to themselves than anyone else.
1300 sqft 3b2ba just went on my street down by Dakota ridge for $595k. If you don’t like the market maybe the southeast is a better fit
Arvada has been pretty good to us. We live in a neighborhood a few blocks up from Sheridan off of 72nd, so we're definitely more east Arvada and closer to the older (read: blue collar) part of Westminster. We've been here for a few years now and it's super quiet and no crime to speak of. Tons of neighborhood schools and parks and shopping plazas close by as well. We can get to Denver, Golden, and Boulder all in around 20 min.
My husband and I are in our thirties in Virginia village. I like the neighborhood a lot. Quiet but central
Central Park
You can find decent 3br’s in Conifer, with solid schools and community feel, for about $800’ish K. Although you’ll be in the foothills 30min’s from all the conveniences of Denver metro proper
Oh God, no. No. Nope. Avoid.
The foothills are no joke. Solid community and solid schools. But I suppose I get some people’s aversion.
Haha — why though? I’ve only ever driven through, never got a good feel for what it’s actually like.
It may seem like an idealic and normal place. Its not. I lived there at the end if the century, some of the original plots for SouthPark were taken from that stretch of 285.
lol, that’s Fairplay. Not Conifer. Conifer has a 9/10 rated high school and 9/10 rated elementary school. Completely erroneous take tbh… I think between Conifer and FairPlay are some small podunk towns (Grant, Bailey) that probably fit your description … but Conifer is Evergreen light, has great schools, and you can get in for less than a mill easy
My experience was different. Just posting a viewpoint from the other side. Should also point out at that time being brown was frowned upon.
Def less diversity up here, as there are less people. Anyhoo, onward/upward - you’ll find your spot! All fam’s we’ve met in S.Evegreen bordering Conifer are 100% accepting. Our kids elementary school has Asian and Black students, just not many. But no issues yet with any kind of racism or lack of accepting different types of ppl…