The 5 best neighborhoods for families in Denver

Thao Tram Ngo

04 May 2023

Aerial view of cityscape and parks in autumnal Denver Colorado

We used our proprietary Location Scores to rank the neighborhoods in Denver, Colorado based on the following family-friendly characteristics: quiet, pedestrian-friendly, parks, groceries, elementary schools, and high schools.

Here’s our list of the best neighborhoods for families in Denver:

  1. South Park Hill
  2. Congress Park
  3. Cherry Creek
  4. Berkeley
  5. Washington Park

How we quantify the characteristics of the best Denver neighborhoods for families

Getting a feel for Denver through data

Local Logic builds location intelligence solutions to help home seekers and investors find opportunities that are most suited to their preferences and requirements. We rely on thousands of data points to develop 18 proprietary Location Scores to provide both street and neighborhood-level insights.

Location Scores measure amenities close by and mobility patterns around a neighborhood, so you can better understand and assess a location as a potential new resident. Using our location insights, you can find properties based on specific characteristics, such as proximity to schools or quiet neighborhoods, and make more informed decisions on where to live.

Benchmarking neighborhood scores against Denver’s average scores

These are the Location Scores for the best Denver neighborhoods for families as well as the city’s average. We analyzed the locations by the following family-friendly scores:

  • Quiet: Level of noise nearby
  • Pedestrian-friendly: Represents how many stores and institutions are nearby and how pleasant it is to walk to them
  • Parks: Quantity and area of parks nearby
  • Groceries: Distance to closest grocery store and quantity of grocery stores nearby
  • Elementary Schools: Distance to closest elementary school
  • High Schools: Distance to closest high school

Then, we ranked each neighborhood by a composite score of all these factors out of 10.

Here are the average scores for Denver:

  • Quiet: 5.7 — Some sources of noise nearby
  • Pedestrian-friendly: 6.4 — Some day-to-day needs are within walking distance
  • Parks: 7.9 — Large amount of park space nearby
  • Groceries: 6.6 — At least one grocery store within a 15-minute walk
  • Elementary Schools: 7.5 —At least one elementary school within a 10-minute walk
  • High Schools: 5.8 — At least one high school within a 20-minute walk

👪 Composite score for family-friendliness: 6.7

How we ranked Denver’s top five most family-friendly neighborhoods

Here’s our data-informed list of the best Dever neighborhoods for families:

1. South Park Hill

Map of South Park Hill neighborhood in Denver, Colorado

  • Quiet: 6.7 — Some sources of noise nearby
  • Pedestrian-friendly: 6.5 — Some day-to-day needs are within walking distance
  • Parks: 7.7 — Large amount of park space nearby
  • Groceries: 7.1 — At least one grocery store within a few minutes’ walk
  • Elementary Schools: 8.8 — At least one elementary school within a 10-minute
  • High Schools: 7.3 — At least one high school within a 10-minute walk

👪 Composite score for family-friendliness: 7.3

South Park Hill is a diverse neighborhood in the Greater Park Hill area of Denver. The residential district is charming, and it has a vibrant dining scene offering something for everyone. If you’re looking for a casual night out with your family, the neighborhood has some New American eateries that pair well with a visit to one of the many ice cream parlors. Or, head over to East Colfax Avenue and dine at one of the many Ethiopian restaurants.

If you’re a family that’s into live music, there are plenty of shows to see at the Bluebird Theater. Spend a Saturday in City Park and pop into the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. During the week, your children can continue their learning at Park Hill Elementary School or Denver East High School.

2. Congress Park

Map of Congress Park neighborhood in Denver, Colorado

  • Quiet: 5.2 — Some sources of noise nearby
  • Pedestrian-friendly: 8.4 — All day-to-day needs are within walking distance
  • Parks7.9 — Large amount of park space nearby
  • Groceries: 7.8 — At least one grocery store within a few minutes’ walk
  • Elementary Schools: 8.1 — At least one elementary school within a 10-minute walk
  • High Schools: 6.1 — At least one high school within a 20-minute walk

👪 Composite score for family-friendliness: 7.3

The Congress Park neighborhood is located in Denver County. There are a lot of cool lounges and restaurants, including Blue Pan Pizza, a favorite among families that like Detroit-style pizza. On warmer days, enjoy a family outing to the Denver Botanic Gardens, which includes the Mordecai Children’s Garden.

The neighborhood is in close proximity to Rose Medical Center and National Jewish Health, and boasts a number of wonderful schools including Teller Elementary School, which earned top state rankings, Good Shepherd Catholic School, and Denver Justice High School.

3. Cherry Creek

Map of Cherry Creek neighborhood in Denver, Colorado

  • Quiet: 5.9 — Some sources of noise nearby
  • Pedestrian-friendly: 8.4 — All day-to-day needs are within walking distance
  • Parks: 7.7 — Large amount of park space nearby
  • Groceries: 7.9 — At least one grocery store within a few minutes’ walk
  • Elementary Schools: 7.8 — At least one elementary school within a 10-minute walk
  • High Schools: 5.5 — At least one high school within a 20-minute walk

👪 Composite score for family-friendliness: 7.2

Have you ever dreamed about living on a ranch with your family? If it’s still something you think about, the Cherry Creek neighborhood is a great choice. Although you won’t have an actual ranch, the area has an abundance of ranch-style homes to choose from. There are a ton of indoor amenities for your family to enjoy; retail, restaurants, and fitness studios are all over.

You can send your children to top-rated schools like Bromwell Elementary School and Cherry Creek High School. If you’re looking for a nice post-dinner or weekend outdoor activity, grab your bikes and head over to the stunning Cherry Creek Trail, which loops right into downtown.

4. Berkeley

Map of Berkeley neighborhood in Denver, Colorado

  • Quiet: 5.2 — Some sources of noise nearby
  • Pedestrian-friendly: 6.1 — Some day-to-day needs are within walking distance
  • Parks: 7.9 — Large amount of park space nearby
  • Groceries: 7.2 — At least one grocery store within a few minutes’ walk
  • Elementary Schools: 8.6 — At least one elementary school within a 10-minute walk
  • High Schools: 8.0 — At least one high school within a 10-minute walk

👪 Composite score for family-friendliness: 7.6

Berkeley, a northwest neighborhood, is the highest rated on our best neighborhoods in Denver for families list. It has a reputation of being a safe and stable community with reliable schools like Rocky Mountain Prep Berkeley Elementary Charter School and Westminster High School. Although it has a residential feel, Berkeley is close to daily amenities, making it a perfect choice for young families and first-time home owners.

If a dog is part of your family unit, you have 12 dog parks to choose from in the neighborhood. Don’t feel like cooking or looking for something fun to do as a family? Check out one of the many spots on Tennyson Street  — there’s something for everyone.

5. Coconut Grove

Map of Coconut Grove in Miami, Florida

  • Quiet: 7.0 — Few sources of noise nearby
  • Pedestrian-friendly6.3 — Some day-to-day needs are within walking distance
  • Parks: 8.4 — ​​ Large amount of park space nearby
  • Groceries: 4.4 — At least one grocery store within a 30-minute walk
  • Elementary Schools: 8.4 — At least one elementary school within a 10-minute walk
  • High Schools: 7.5 — At least one high school within a 10-minute walk

👪 Composite score for family-friendliness: 7.0

We’ve saved the most unique Denver neighborhood for last (we think). The Washington Park neighborhood doubles as an urban park area. It’s a popular area for tourists and residents, and is often compared to Central Park in New York City. Enjoy jogging, walking, or biking with your family in the neighborhood, or attend the numerous community gatherings that happen throughout the year. The park itself also boasts two massive flower gardens, two lakes (complete with paddle boats), a lawn bowling green, and 10 tennis courts.

No matter what activities your family’s into, this neighborhood has something to offer. If you’re looking for schools that pride themselves on inclusivity, consider sending your children to Steele Elementary or George Washington High School.

Finding the best neighborhood in Denver for families

If you enjoy having new experiences with your family, or love to be outside together playing sports or being in nature, we’d consider any of these top five neighborhoods to be the best neighborhoods in Denver for families. The vast amount of green space makes it easy to have an active lifestyle, and the great schools assure parents that their children’s education is well taken care of.

If you want to learn more about our Location Scores, they are available through Local Content on many of our partner sites and their real estate listings in Denver. When searching for your next home, or a new neighborhood, you can look for specific characteristics on each individual listing to find the perfect place for you and your family.

Curious about how other neighborhoods (or cities!) might fare?
Try the Insights Atlas to get in-depth location insights on any neighborhood, city, or address in the US and Canada.