your best move yet.
The Denver metro area is one of the West's best-kept secrets, but once people experience our quality of life firsthand, they tend to stay. If you're moving here, we'd like to welcome you with some helpful information about your new hometown.
An ideal climate
The Metro Denver area is situated on the high plains at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Moderate temperatures, low levels of humidity and abundant sunshine provide an ideal climate for year-round activities. In fact, the area has more annual days of sunshine than either San Diego or Miami Beach.
Winter storms are normally short lived, and snow melts rapidly. However, the nearby mountains and ski resorts receive significant annual snowfall, allowing residents to enjoy the best of both worlds—a mild climate for hiking, biking and a variety of outdoor activities, as well as a nearby climate for snow skiing, snow-boarding and other mountain activities.
Metro Denver’s climate is best described as “semi-arid,” averaging a little less than 16 inches of precipitation annually.
Metro communities
Known as the Mile High City, Denver is the heart of an energetic metropolitan area that embraces newcomers and visitors. The Metro Denver area consists of seven counties—Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson.
This diverse region ranges from a dynamic central business district with a cosmopolitan urban atmosphere to small communities with a distinctly rural flavor to picturesque mountain towns in the foothills of the Rockies.
The City of Denver is home to an active and historic downtown area with lofts and high-rise housing options, as well as tree-lined neighborhoods that also have historic roots.
South of Denver, Douglas County is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, with large portions of the county designated for agricultural and open space uses. Most of this county’s residents commute to Denver or Colorado Springs.
A moderate cost of living
A city of distinctive neighborhoods, Metro Denver’s cost of living remains affordable. Living here is easier on your wallet than living in California or East Coast cities, as well as Chicago, Minneapolis or Portland.
Colorado’s focus on low taxes, coupled with the region’s high household incomes, has kept the region’s cost of living at or near the national average. Metro Denver ranks slightly above the national average for cost of living, but well below many other major cities.
Culture
Culture abounds and thrives in metro Denver—a place for energetic minds. The area’s diverse population supports culture through the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), a unique regional funding system for venues such as The Denver Performing Arts Complex and the Denver Art Museum. Each year, the SCFD distributes millions of dollars in tax funds to local arts and culture organizations.
Several of the region’s finest cultural venues are undergoing significant expansions. The Denver Zoo’s newest exhibit, “Predator Ridge,” recreates a portion of the Samburu National Reserve in Kenya and features 14 African species of mammals, birds and reptiles.
Downtown’s Denver Performing Arts Complex, already the second-largest arts center in the nation, has completely restored the historical Denver Auditorium Theatre, transforming it into a 2,400-seat showpiece.
The Denver Art Museum completed a $90 million expansion project that doubled the museum’s size. The new building is designed by world-famous architect Daniel Libeskind, the architect chosen to design the World Trade Center site.
A favorite summertime activity for many locals is catching a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater, the world-famous outdoor music venue in the foothills of the Rockies. This natural sandstone venue features a $16 million visitor center.
Sports City, U.S.A.
Metro Denver is truly a “sports city,” with the fans and facilities to prove it. In the past 15 years, new facilities have been constructed for the area’s major sports franchises. More than six million fans attend sporting events in the area each year. Some of the newest sports venues in the nation are in Denver.
All four new sports venues are located near downtown Denver and have helped to revitalize the area. Also, metro Denver hosts some of the world’s top sporting events, such as the 2005 NCAA Final Four, the 2005 U.S. Women’s Open Golf Championship, and the 2008 NCAA Frozen Four Hockey Tournament.
Business environment
Metro Denver is home to companies large and small, representing a healthy cross-section of industries, including aerospace, biosciences, software development, financial services and energy.
The area’s economic engine attracts a young, diverse and talented workforce, including educated high-tech professionals. These employees are one of the reasons Colorado is the only state to appear on a national honor roll for economic strength and growth potential for 10 consecutive years. Local employees can establish careers and keep their skills fresh through a multitude of educational resources and professional associations, including 12 four-year public and private colleges and universities, five two-year community colleges and 170 vocational/ technical schools.
Looking to the future, metro Denver voters in 2004 approved FasTracks—a $6.1 billion transportation initiative, which will shape the way the metro area grows and will improve mobility. This 12-year plan will expand the entire metro Denver light rail system, adding six new lines and extending existing routes, and expanding the regional bus network.
According to a recent economic impact study, in the long term, FasTracks will create many new jobs and could bring 250,000 to 300,000 new housing units within a half-mile of light rail stations and 10-20 million square feet of commercial space in new urban villages.
Denver International Airport also serves the transportation needs of the region. Located 23 miles northeast of downtown Denver, the $4.2 billion airport celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2005 and is the only major airport to be constructed in the United States in the past 25 years. Thirty commercial airlines provide nonstop service from metro Denver to more than 130 domestic and international destinations. The airport is the fifth busiest airport in North America and the 10th busiest in the world.
Recreation
Metro Denver’s mild climate, low humidity, plentiful sunshine and “Mountain West” lifestyle create an ideal atmosphere for a year-round recreational haven.
Located within 100 miles of metro Denver, the Rocky Mountains are home to some 25 world-class ski resorts, offering downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, tubing and mountain climbing opportunities. In the summer months, these resorts provide spectacular backgrounds for a variety of music and food festivals, as well as outdoor activities like river rafting and horseback riding. Colorado is rated as one of the most popular ski destinations in the country.
With more than 75 public and private golf courses located throughout the region, the Denver area provides seasoned and novice golfers with a host of choices. Other recreational activities in the area include hunting, as well as boating, sailing, wind surfing, swimming and fishing in Colorado’s many streams, lakes and reservoirs.
An educated populace
Colorado boasts the third-highest percentage of college graduates in the country. Of the adult population, 89.6 percent are high school graduates and 35.5 percent have college degrees. Among large U.S. metro areas, metro Denver ranks third for high-school graduates and 11th for college graduates.
The Denver-Aurora MSA ranks seventh in high school graduation rates and sixth in college graduation rates among the 25 largest metropolitan areas.
In metro Denver, the focus of kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) education is “choice.” Both public and private schools offer an array of educational options for primary and secondary students. The K-12 education system in metro Denver includes 19 public school districts and a number of private and parochial schools. Other options include charter, magnet and Montessori schools, as well as English Primary and international baccalaureate programs.
The region also provides a wide range of higher educational resources, including world-class research institutions, graduate and professional schools, and a broad spectrum of undergraduate programs. Colorado universities receive more than $450 million in research grants annually. Many of metro Denver’s colleges and universities offer non-traditional or adult education programs, and distance learning programs are available for those seeking degrees or certifications.
Ten, four-year public and private colleges and universities with enrollments totaling more than 125,000 are located in the metro area. The region’s largest providers of workforce training and educational services are its five, two-year public community colleges and 60 vocational/technical schools.
High-quality health care
Metro Denver is home to some of the finest hospitals and medical research facilities in the world. Several hospitals in the area rank among the best health care facilities in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2005 “America’s Best Hospital’s” survey.
*From the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce 2009
For more information about relocating to the Denver area, please visit the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
Area services
Metro Denver Child Care Resources (for licensed facilities) 303-381-2990
Drivers Licenses: either 927 Park St., Castle Rock 303-688-4625 or 17737 Cottonwood Drive, Parker 303-627-0985
License Plates: 301 Wilcox, Castle Rock 303-660-7440
Electric Service: Intermountain Rural Electric Association 303-688-3100
Gas: Aquila 800-303-0752
Trash: Waste Management 303-797-1600
Television: Comcast 303-930-2000; Direct TV, 303-660-7000
Post Offices: Castle Rock 303-814-0261, Parker 303-805-2109
Telephone Service: Qwest 800-244-1111
Voter Registration: Douglas County Election Division 303-660-7444
Parker Police Department: 303-841-9800
Parker Fire District: 720-274-3700
Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce: 303-688-4597
Parker Chamber of Commerce: 303-841-4268
Pradera Homeowners Association: MSI, 303-420-4433
An ideal climate
The Metro Denver area is situated on the high plains at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Moderate temperatures, low levels of humidity and abundant sunshine provide an ideal climate for year-round activities. In fact, the area has more annual days of sunshine than either San Diego or Miami Beach.
Winter storms are normally short lived, and snow melts rapidly. However, the nearby mountains and ski resorts receive significant annual snowfall, allowing residents to enjoy the best of both worlds—a mild climate for hiking, biking and a variety of outdoor activities, as well as a nearby climate for snow skiing, snow-boarding and other mountain activities.
Metro Denver’s climate is best described as “semi-arid,” averaging a little less than 16 inches of precipitation annually.
Metro communities
Known as the Mile High City, Denver is the heart of an energetic metropolitan area that embraces newcomers and visitors. The Metro Denver area consists of seven counties—Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson.
This diverse region ranges from a dynamic central business district with a cosmopolitan urban atmosphere to small communities with a distinctly rural flavor to picturesque mountain towns in the foothills of the Rockies.
The City of Denver is home to an active and historic downtown area with lofts and high-rise housing options, as well as tree-lined neighborhoods that also have historic roots.
South of Denver, Douglas County is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, with large portions of the county designated for agricultural and open space uses. Most of this county’s residents commute to Denver or Colorado Springs.
A moderate cost of living
A city of distinctive neighborhoods, Metro Denver’s cost of living remains affordable. Living here is easier on your wallet than living in California or East Coast cities, as well as Chicago, Minneapolis or Portland.
Colorado’s focus on low taxes, coupled with the region’s high household incomes, has kept the region’s cost of living at or near the national average. Metro Denver ranks slightly above the national average for cost of living, but well below many other major cities.
Culture
Culture abounds and thrives in metro Denver—a place for energetic minds. The area’s diverse population supports culture through the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), a unique regional funding system for venues such as The Denver Performing Arts Complex and the Denver Art Museum. Each year, the SCFD distributes millions of dollars in tax funds to local arts and culture organizations.
Several of the region’s finest cultural venues are undergoing significant expansions. The Denver Zoo’s newest exhibit, “Predator Ridge,” recreates a portion of the Samburu National Reserve in Kenya and features 14 African species of mammals, birds and reptiles.
Downtown’s Denver Performing Arts Complex, already the second-largest arts center in the nation, has completely restored the historical Denver Auditorium Theatre, transforming it into a 2,400-seat showpiece.
The Denver Art Museum completed a $90 million expansion project that doubled the museum’s size. The new building is designed by world-famous architect Daniel Libeskind, the architect chosen to design the World Trade Center site.
A favorite summertime activity for many locals is catching a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater, the world-famous outdoor music venue in the foothills of the Rockies. This natural sandstone venue features a $16 million visitor center.
Sports City, U.S.A.
Metro Denver is truly a “sports city,” with the fans and facilities to prove it. In the past 15 years, new facilities have been constructed for the area’s major sports franchises. More than six million fans attend sporting events in the area each year. Some of the newest sports venues in the nation are in Denver.
- Coors Field—home to the 2007 National League Champion Colorado Rockies (baseball)
- Dick’s Sporting Goods Park—home to the Colorado Rapids (soccer)
- INVESCO Field at Mile High—home to the two-time world champion Denver Broncos (football), and Denver Outlaws (lacrosse)
- Pepsi Center—home to the Denver Nuggets (basketball), two-time Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche (hockey), the Colorado Mammoth (lacrosse) and the Colorado Crush (arena football)
All four new sports venues are located near downtown Denver and have helped to revitalize the area. Also, metro Denver hosts some of the world’s top sporting events, such as the 2005 NCAA Final Four, the 2005 U.S. Women’s Open Golf Championship, and the 2008 NCAA Frozen Four Hockey Tournament.
Business environment
Metro Denver is home to companies large and small, representing a healthy cross-section of industries, including aerospace, biosciences, software development, financial services and energy.
The area’s economic engine attracts a young, diverse and talented workforce, including educated high-tech professionals. These employees are one of the reasons Colorado is the only state to appear on a national honor roll for economic strength and growth potential for 10 consecutive years. Local employees can establish careers and keep their skills fresh through a multitude of educational resources and professional associations, including 12 four-year public and private colleges and universities, five two-year community colleges and 170 vocational/ technical schools.
Looking to the future, metro Denver voters in 2004 approved FasTracks—a $6.1 billion transportation initiative, which will shape the way the metro area grows and will improve mobility. This 12-year plan will expand the entire metro Denver light rail system, adding six new lines and extending existing routes, and expanding the regional bus network.
According to a recent economic impact study, in the long term, FasTracks will create many new jobs and could bring 250,000 to 300,000 new housing units within a half-mile of light rail stations and 10-20 million square feet of commercial space in new urban villages.
Denver International Airport also serves the transportation needs of the region. Located 23 miles northeast of downtown Denver, the $4.2 billion airport celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2005 and is the only major airport to be constructed in the United States in the past 25 years. Thirty commercial airlines provide nonstop service from metro Denver to more than 130 domestic and international destinations. The airport is the fifth busiest airport in North America and the 10th busiest in the world.
Recreation
Metro Denver’s mild climate, low humidity, plentiful sunshine and “Mountain West” lifestyle create an ideal atmosphere for a year-round recreational haven.
Located within 100 miles of metro Denver, the Rocky Mountains are home to some 25 world-class ski resorts, offering downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, tubing and mountain climbing opportunities. In the summer months, these resorts provide spectacular backgrounds for a variety of music and food festivals, as well as outdoor activities like river rafting and horseback riding. Colorado is rated as one of the most popular ski destinations in the country.
With more than 75 public and private golf courses located throughout the region, the Denver area provides seasoned and novice golfers with a host of choices. Other recreational activities in the area include hunting, as well as boating, sailing, wind surfing, swimming and fishing in Colorado’s many streams, lakes and reservoirs.
An educated populace
Colorado boasts the third-highest percentage of college graduates in the country. Of the adult population, 89.6 percent are high school graduates and 35.5 percent have college degrees. Among large U.S. metro areas, metro Denver ranks third for high-school graduates and 11th for college graduates.
The Denver-Aurora MSA ranks seventh in high school graduation rates and sixth in college graduation rates among the 25 largest metropolitan areas.
In metro Denver, the focus of kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) education is “choice.” Both public and private schools offer an array of educational options for primary and secondary students. The K-12 education system in metro Denver includes 19 public school districts and a number of private and parochial schools. Other options include charter, magnet and Montessori schools, as well as English Primary and international baccalaureate programs.
The region also provides a wide range of higher educational resources, including world-class research institutions, graduate and professional schools, and a broad spectrum of undergraduate programs. Colorado universities receive more than $450 million in research grants annually. Many of metro Denver’s colleges and universities offer non-traditional or adult education programs, and distance learning programs are available for those seeking degrees or certifications.
Ten, four-year public and private colleges and universities with enrollments totaling more than 125,000 are located in the metro area. The region’s largest providers of workforce training and educational services are its five, two-year public community colleges and 60 vocational/technical schools.
High-quality health care
Metro Denver is home to some of the finest hospitals and medical research facilities in the world. Several hospitals in the area rank among the best health care facilities in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2005 “America’s Best Hospital’s” survey.
*From the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce 2009
For more information about relocating to the Denver area, please visit the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
Area services
Metro Denver Child Care Resources (for licensed facilities) 303-381-2990
Drivers Licenses: either 927 Park St., Castle Rock 303-688-4625 or 17737 Cottonwood Drive, Parker 303-627-0985
License Plates: 301 Wilcox, Castle Rock 303-660-7440
Electric Service: Intermountain Rural Electric Association 303-688-3100
Gas: Aquila 800-303-0752
Trash: Waste Management 303-797-1600
Television: Comcast 303-930-2000; Direct TV, 303-660-7000
Post Offices: Castle Rock 303-814-0261, Parker 303-805-2109
Telephone Service: Qwest 800-244-1111
Voter Registration: Douglas County Election Division 303-660-7444
Parker Police Department: 303-841-9800
Parker Fire District: 720-274-3700
Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce: 303-688-4597
Parker Chamber of Commerce: 303-841-4268
Pradera Homeowners Association: MSI, 303-420-4433
