Denver's most walkable neighborhood — dining, character, urban roots
The Highlands — covering Highland, LoHi, and Sunnyside — spans a median home price of $710K to $752K as of late 2025, above RiNo and Five Points but below Cherry Creek or Washington Park, with LoHi townhomes reaching $950K–$985K and Victorian homes exceeding $1.5M. Denver Public Schools (B+) serves the area. Commutes to downtown average 5–10 minutes by car or 10–30 minutes on foot from LoHi via the Highland Bridge — and Walk Scores of 85–96 make the pedestrian option genuinely practical. With 55+ bars and restaurants in LoHi alone and three Michelin-recognized spots, the Highlands offers the densest culinary concentration of any Denver neighborhood.
Communities in the same region, same county, or a similar price tier as The Highlands.
The Highlands is served by Denver Public Schools, rated B+ by Niche. North High School is rated B and serves the Sunnyside area. Denver Language School is a K–8 bilingual-focus school ranked #65 among Colorado middle schools. Brown International Academy is rated B for Pre-K through 5th grade. DPS uses district-wide enrollment—school performance varies, so verify eligibility by address.
The Highlands sits approximately 1 mile west of downtown, across I-25, and is walkable or bikeable via the Highland Bridge. Off-peak trips take 5–10 minutes by car, 10–20 minutes during rush hour. LoHi residents can walk to Union Station in 10–30 minutes depending on location. Cherry Creek and Platte River trails serve as bike commute corridors.
The median home price in The Highlands ranges from $710K to $752K, with Redfin at ~$710K (−5.3% YoY) and Zillow at ~$752K (−4.6% YoY) as of November 2025. LoHi townhomes run $950K–$985K, and Victorian homes can exceed $1.5M. Price per square foot averages ~$441, and homes average 39 days on market.
Confluence Park features a 2.5-mile loop at the Cherry Creek and South Platte convergence, with a dog park and playing fields. Commons Park offers native prairie restoration adjacent to the South Platte River. The Cherry Creek Trail is accessible within a 10–30 minute bike ride, and the Platte River Greenway provides a continuous riverside trail system.
The Highlands’ violent crime rate is 3.0 per 1,000 residents, per NeighborhoodScout and FBI UCR data (a 1-in-77 chance). The property crime rate is 48.7 per 1,000 (8th percentile for safety). West Highlands is the lowest-crime sub-area.
Denver’s cost of living index is 128, or 28% above the national average per BestPlaces. Property taxes run ~0.50% effective (~79.2 mills), combined sales tax is 9.15%, and Colorado’s flat state income tax is 4.4%. Median household income in The Highlands ranges from $114K to $120K.
The Highlands and LoHi form Denver’s densest dining corridor with 55+ bars and restaurants: • Alma Fonda Fina — Michelin-starred Mexican in LoHi • AshKara — Mediterranean/North African, Michelin Bib Gourmand • Wildflower — Italian-Mexican, 2025 Michelin Young Chef Award • Root Down — farm-to-table in a converted gas station • My Brother’s Bar — Denver’s oldest bar, 151 years • Little Man Ice Cream — Salted Oreo and Lemonade Cookie flavors
Denver Health and HCA HealthONE network hospitals are 10–15 minutes away. AfterOurs Denver Highlands at 4500 W 38th Ave and AFC Urgent Care Denver Highlands provide walk-in urgent care. Children’s Hospital Colorado South Campus offers urgent and 24/7 ER services for pediatric needs.
