Downtown
Denver Neighborhood Guide
Snapshot
Downtown Denver (officially called Central Business District or CBD) is the commercial core of Denver. Here, you’ll find some of the city’s best dining, shopping, arts, and culture. This urban hub has a distinct “downtown” feel yet balances a professional and casual vibe, as shiny skyscrapers stand side-by-side with historic brick buildings and pedestrians ranging from businesspeople to tourists alike. Enjoy wandering and window shopping on 16th Street Mall, a pedestrian shopping center finalized in the early 1980s that transformed downtown from just a business center to a place to hang after work (though its nightlife is still much sleepier than neighboring Union Station). While traffic and parking are predictably arduous, the well-serviced public transit options make up for it. A smaller residential population marries the skyscraper-laden downtown, but those that call it home experience history, convenience, and the thrill of downtown living.
Reasons to love Downtown
- For those that love being in the middle of it all, downtown is the only place that will give you that "big city" feel in Denver!
- Proximity to Denver's financial district -- many businesses have headquarters here due to Denver for its pro-business environment.
- Incredible mountain views! Many of the taller residential condos reside in downtown and offer stunning views of our beloved Rockies!
9TH
With 10,805 people per square mile, the Downtown is the 9th most densely populated neighborhood in Denver.
4,646
$87,432
vs. $69,914 for Denver County.
AGES
Educational Level
HOUSEHOLD TYPES
Neighborhood Organizations
Where is Downtown?
Downtown Denver is home to the tallest buildings in the city’s skyline. Bordered by Broadway to the east and Colfax to the south, this neighborhood is easy to access. This highly walkable neighborhood is comprised of mostly commercial retail and office buildings, with a few high and mid-rise condo buildings sprinkled throughout. The majority of the high-rise condo buildings reside on Larimer Street at the northwestern edge of the neighborhood.
Average Commute Times
- 4-7 minutes to Union Station
- 20-45 minutes to DTC
- 30-50 minutes to DIA
- 18-28 minutes to Park + Ride T-Rex Lot
94
Walk Score®
81
Transit Score®
94
Bike Score®
Parking Availability
Challenging
Downtown Denver does not have ample street parking. Make sure to research parking before purchasing a home in this neighborhood.
Downtown Real Estate
What You'll Find Here
- The 16th Street Mall
- High-rise commercial buildings
- Loads of dining and entertainment
What You Won't Find
- Free parking -- except on Sundays
- Single-family homes
- Parks and green space
$450,000
compared to $549,000 for all Denver neighborhoods.
Median Sale Price by Bedroom
8.1%
17.8%
16
Median Sale Price by Year
Housing Types
Price per Square Foot
$500
compared to $364 for all Denver neighborhoods.
Home Ownership
Downtown Lifestyle
Amenities + Entertainment
Downtown is where the buildings rise up in Denver! With that, so does your selection of places to eat, drink, and shop. The neighborhood is easy to navigate. The free 16th Street Mall Ride traverses the entire neighborhood from east to west along, well you guessed it, 16th Street! Be sure to pre-plan your parking before you head down, as metered parking is becoming harder to find.
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- Library
- Health Care Facility
- Grocer/Market
- Point of Interest
Parks
What Downtown Denver parks lack in size, they make up for in interest and art!
- SCULPTURE PARK | outdoor venue at the Denver
Performing Arts Complex, showcasing “The Dancers,” 2 50-foot high sculptures - SKYLINE PARK | an urban park with a small grassy area, outdoor movies in the summer, and ice skating in the winter. An off-leash dog area resides across 17th St.
- CHERRY CREEK TRAIL | a picturesque 40-mile path that begins downtown and connects to the suburbs
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- Park
- Recreational Court
- Golf Course
- Rec Center
- Pool
Downtown Schools
Neighborhood schools
Students in Denver are not required to attend their neighborhood school. However, if you’re looking for public education options close to home, this will give you an idea of how schools are performing here. Please note that this is an average score for all public schools in the neighborhood (or adjacent neighborhoods for neighborhoods that don’t have schools). Individual school ratings, can be found on Denver Public Schools’ website.
Downtown SCHOOL SCORE
Progress
62%
Meets Expectations
How much students are growing academically each year.
AchievemenT
51%
Approaching Expectations
Shows if students at schools are performing at grade level.
Satisfaction
60%
Meets Expectations
How satisfied students and families are with schools.
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- Public School
- Public Charter
- Private School
Denver Public Schools
Colorado is an open enrollment state, meaning students can choose to attend their assigned neighborhood school, or they can apply to other public schools within their district, or even outside it. Denver Public Schools (DPS) is one of the only districts in the country in which virtually all its schools are options for enrollment.
37%
Denver Public Schools that are charter schools
88,889
Students in Denver Public Schools
74%
Denver Public High Schools’ 4-year graduation rate
Percent of Students
Meeting + Exceeding Standards
School Choices Abound
While the majority of students attend public school, Denver has many private and home-based education options available.
Private Schools
There are many private school options in the Denver area depending on your budget and academic and athletic interests.
School Enrollment
Home Education
Colorado has multiple options for seeking a home-based education. The number of homeschoolers in Denver grew 64.7% in the last 5 years.
Disclaimer: Our neighborhood guides have been put together as objectively as possible. Most statistics have been compiled from a third-party source and we assume they have done their best in accurately presenting their data. While we do our best to keep our information as updated as possible, Love Your Hood does not make any claims on the accuracy and timeliness of these statistics, the safety of any neighborhood, the neighbors you might find in a neighborhood, etc. For more information on how we calculated and gathered our statistics, please visit our neighborhood guide sources.
