What Are The 10 Best Suburbs Of Denver, CO For Families?

Denver, Colorado is known for its booming economy and growing tech scene that is attracting a lot of young professionals. Denver is also a hub of outdoor adventure and activity, and relatively speaking, it is an affordable place to call home. While the city itself has bars, restaurants, breweries, and all the attractions of a big city, you might be looking for something more family-friendly.

The best suburbs of Denver for families include Holly Hills, where almost all residents are homeowners, and around 40% of people who live there are families with kids under the age of 18. Cherry Creek is another one of the best suburbs of Denver for families. It’s also ranked as one of the best places to live in all of Colorado. Cherry Creek has top-rated public schools and low crime rates. In Superior, which is a suburb of Denver in Boulder County, nearly 60% of residents are families with children younger than 18.

Holly Hills is an affluent and family-friendly Denver suburb. Most of the homes are three and four-bedroom single-family houses. Holly Hills is located in Arapahoe County, and it’s near the southeast border of Denver. The neighborhood is part of the Cherry Creek School District. The crime rates in Holly Hills are 75% lower than Colorado on average, but living here does come at a premium.

It’s estimated that Holly Hills is around 16% more expensive in terms of the general cost of living than Colorado on average, and real estate prices are 29% higher. If safety is a top focus, then Holly Hills is an excellent option. Their total crime is 70% lower than the national average, and violent crime is 75% lower.

Cherry Creek is well-known for being a suburb with plenty of shopping and dining opportunities. Heading to Cherry Creek North means you can browse the 16 blocks of galleries, furniture stores, and boutiques. There’s also Cherry Creek Shopping Center, which has luxury shops and dining.

The Cherry Creek Bike Path is great for families who love the outdoors, and it’s a 22-mile link to downtown. Popular community events include the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, as well as the Cherry Creek North Food & Wine event.

Cherry Creek is ranked as the number one place for public schools in all of Colorado, and it’s often described as the best place to live in the state overall. Top-rated public schools that serve Cherry Creek include Cherry Creek High School, Cherry Creek Charter Academy, and Belleview Elementary School.

Around 68% of Cherry Creek’s residents own their homes, but real estate and everything else come at a premium in Cherry Creek. The cost of living is 30% higher than Colorado’s and 42% more expensive than the U.S. average.

Superior is in Boulder County and is a popular family-friendly Denver suburb. The public schools are top-rated in Superior, including Summit Middle School, D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School, and Peak to Peak Charter School. Residents often say they love living in Superior, as there are plenty of convenient amenities, there is some walkability, and there are a lot of mountain biking trails and outdoor activities nearby.

The downside of Superior, according to some people who live there, is the high cost of living. The median household income is more than $127,200, and the median home value is nearly $577,000. Only around 42% of residents are renters, and the rest own their homes. The unemployment rate in Superior is just 3%, and the income per capita is 65% higher than the U.S. average.

Located in Douglas County, Castle Pines is a quiet community. It’s part of the Denver metro, and it’s around 20 miles from the Colorado State Capitol. At Castle Pines Village Square, you can find restaurants and shopping. There’s also the rolling hills of the Castle Pines Golf Club, plus miles of trails for outdoor activities at parks like Coyote Ridge and Elk Ridge.

Students in Castle Pines score 10% higher than the U.S. average on standardized tests, and the high school graduation rate is 98%, which is 12% higher than Colorado’s average and 18% higher than the U.S. average. Along with great schools and a strong economy, the crime rates are 62% lower in Castle Pines than the average for Colorado.

Greenwood Village is in Arapahoe County and it’s part of the Denver Technological Center. Some of the companies with a presence as employers in Greenwood Village include CSG International, Red Robin, and Air Methods. Also based in Greenwood Village are JD Edwards and Adelphia.

Just south of Denver, Greenwood Village is known for more than 300 acres of park space. There are 22 total parks in this family-friendly Denver suburb, including Majorie Perry Nature Preserve.

The schools in Greenwood Village are top-rated, with test scores overall that are 25% higher than the national average. The student-to-teacher ratio is 5% better than the countrywide average, and high school graduation rates are 17% higher. The biggest downside of Greenwood Village is the high cost of living, with real estate prices that are 223% higher than the Colorado average.

Highlands Ranch is a suburb of Denver that features 26 parks, many of which have off-leash dog areas. There are over 70 miles of trail and thousands of acres of undeveloped land in the area, as well as the Conservation Space of the Backcountry Wilderness Area. Highlands Ranch also has two public skate parks.

The median home value in Highlands Ranch is a bit lower than some of the other top-rated Denver suburbs for families. The public schools are great, including Rock Canyon High School and STEM School Highlands Ranch. The high schools in Highlands Ranch have a graduation rate of 97%, which is 17% higher than the U.S. on average.

Cherry Hills Village is often named as one of the best places in Colorado to raise a family. This family-friendly Denver suburb is in Arapahoe County and boasts well-rated public schools. Cherry Hills Village is considered a luxurious place to live, and it’s one of the wealthiest communities in Colorado. It’s south of Denver and close to Light Rail stations.

While Cherry Hill Village ranks well in terms of being a good place for families and having low crime, it’s expensive. The cost of living is 134% more than the U.S. average. The median household income is well over $200,000, and the median home value is more than $1.2 million.

The student test scores in Cherry Hills Village schools are 64% higher than the U.S. average, and high school graduation rates are 20% higher. The student-to-teacher ratio on average is 10% higher than it is nationally.

Louisville is described as one of the best places to live in Boulder County, with a charming, historic downtown full of local shops and restaurants. Louisville has a lot of outdoor recreation areas, including Open Space and Trails, which spreads over 200 acres. The Louisville Chamber of Commerce sponsors free Friday Art Walks in the warmer weather months, or you can visit Fiske Planetarium with your family to stargaze.

High school graduation rates in Louisville are 17% higher than the U.S. average, and test scores are 21% higher. The student-teacher ratio in Louisville public school is on average 13% higher than the rest of the U.S.

Denver is a scenic and economically thriving city, but for many people, rather than living directly in the city, they prefer a Denver suburb. There are some great family-friendly Denver suburbs like the ones ranked above, based on the quality of the schools, the cost of living, crime rates, and economic factors. Many of the above best suburbs of Denver for families also have extensive outdoor recreation facilities and amenities like shopping and dining. If you would like to learn more about neighborhoods within Denver, refer to What Are The 5 Best Denver Neighborhoods For Families?