Denver, Colorado

Mile High City with mountain access

West Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro

U.S. News (2025)

#3 Best Places to Live

Forbes (2024)

#5 Best Cities for Young Professionals

WhereAtHome Score

69.1

D+

out of 100

Overview

Denver offers a unique combination of urban amenities and outdoor recreation, with Rocky Mountain access just an hour away. The city has become a major tech and aerospace hub, attracting young professionals with its active lifestyle and craft beer scene. Housing costs have risen but remain below coastal metros.

Key Highlights

  • Rocky Mountain access within an hour
  • World-class skiing and outdoor recreation
  • Growing tech and aerospace hub
  • Thriving craft beer and food scene
  • Over 300 days of sunshine annually
  • Major professional sports market

Key Metrics

Population 2024

713,252

Source: Census ACS

$533,060

Source: Zillow ZHVI

$85,853

Source: Census ACS

26.4 min

Source: Census ACS

Walk Score 2025

61

Source: Walk Score

School Rating

2025

B- (6.2/10)

Source: Curated

128 (100 = U.S. avg)

Source: Curated

2024 Presidential Election

Denver County (county-level results)

77%
21%
Democrat 278,634
Republican 74,765
Leans D+56.1

Source: County-level results from MIT Election Data + Science Lab. Learn more

Climate

Summer High

88°F

Winter Low

18°F

Annual Rainfall

15"

Sunny Days

300

Amenities & Infrastructure

205+ Parks

Green spaces and recreation

12 Major Hospitals

Healthcare access

6 Universities

Higher education institutions

Public Transit Available

Bus, rail, or metro service

Major Employers

Lockheed Martin Arrow Electronics DaVita Western Union

Score Breakdown

6 of 6 score factors available. Missing factors are excluded and available weights are rescaled.

Housing Affordability 38.5/100

Median home value relative to national average (Weight: 20%)

Income vs Housing 44.4/100

How affordable housing is relative to local incomes (Weight: 20%)

Commute Time 53.6/100

Average commute time compared to national average (Weight: 15%)

Crime 50/100

Overall crime levels based on FBI crime statistics (Weight: 20%)

Walkability 61/100

Walk Score — ease of daily errands on foot (Weight: 15%)

Purchasing Power 46.8/100

Median income relative to national average, adjusted for cost of living (Weight: 10%)

WhereAtHome Score 69.1

Location

Denver, CO (39.7392, -104.9903)
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Last Updated: 2026-07-01

Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow, FBI Crime Data Explorer, Walk Score, and Niche.

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