Denver is easily one of the most multipurpose cities in the United States to live and visit. This bustling metropolitan area with unique neighborhoods and suburbs has quickly become a favorite location for businesses and newcomers. Not only is the city a great place to live, but it also offers easy access to all of the recreational opportunities that the beautiful Rocky Mountains offer.
In this article, I will examine the pros and cons of living in Denver and the surrounding suburbs. If you are considering a move to the Denver area, you should know what you are getting into, how locals see the community in its best light, and the things that aren’t so great.
A Quick Overview & Comparison
| Pros of Living in Denver | Cons of Living in Denver |
| Tons of recreation | Traffic is tough |
| Great weather | Mediocre public transportation |
| Friendly people | High cost of living |
| Good food scene | Limited affordable housing |
| Great job market | Not as diverse |
| Great for sports lovers | Winter driving |
The Pros of Living in Denver
Now that I’ve laid out the pros of living in Denver, here is a little more about each, so you know why I think these are some of the best reasons to live in this city.
1. Tons of Recreation
Denver and really Colorado in general is all about being outdoors and great recreation. It is hard to escape the obsession that this metropolitan area has for being active. And, it isn’t hard to see why. Look to the west from any place in the city and you’ll see the Rocky Mountains towering over the city. The mountains, being so close, offer so many opportunities for being outdoors.
Denverites love camping, hiking, rock climbing, fishing, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and the list goes on. Being active and healthy is almost a religion in Denver. In town, you’ll see tons of people running, walking, biking, and playing golf, among other recreational activities.
2. Great Weather
If you have ever heard that Colorado has 300 days of sunshine a year, and thought that was a farce, well, you would be mistaken. Three hundred days is a bit of a stretch, but most days in Colorado you’ll enjoy bluebird skies and sun. In fact, Colorado is in the top ten sunniest states in the US.
Sure we also have winter. From October to March, you can expect to see some snow. But the best thing about Denver snow – it doesn’t last long. Most snow lasts only a couple of days, and you are back to the sun.
- The summertime average temperature: 83 degrees
- The winter-time average temperature: 53 degrees
- Average snowfall: 57 inches
- Number of sunny days: 245
- Hottest month: July
- Coldest month: December
3. Friendly People
Once upon a time, Denver was a sleepy midwest city surrounded by farms and ranches. This small, farm town feeling carried through the city and it was hard to find a person that wasn’t quick to say ‘hello’. Though Denver has grown, almost exponentially in the last 20 years, it still has that laid-back, friendly feeling. Don’t be surprised if you pass people on the street or on the trail and they smile or say, ‘hi’. It is our way. If you want to fit in, return the greeting. That’s how you become a true Denverite.
4. Good Food Scene
Sure, it’s not New York, San Francisco, or Miami, but there is no shortage of great places to eat in Denver. More and more award-winning chefs are coming to the Denver area to open hip, innovative, new restaurants. Denver is also full of ethnic cuisine, so if you crave great Thai, Ethiopian, or Latin American foods, you will easily find a great spot.
Downtown Denver is the center of the city’s food scene. However, there are no shortages of great restaurants and food experiences in the surrounding suburbs. Check out Boulder, Centennial, and Highlands Ranch for great food, outside of the city.
5. Great Job Market
If you are looking for a good job, with a great salary, Denver will not disappoint. Colorado is home to some of the largest tech companies in the world. It also has a booming aerospace industry, a great financial market, and lots of jobs in academia, health care, and the service industry.
Because Colorado was one of the first states to up the minimum wage, the job market here is pretty competitive. Make sure that you polish your resume before applying for jobs in Denver.
6. Great for Sports Lovers
Besides the tons of recreational activities that you will encounter while living in Denver, this town is nuts for its sports teams. Denver is home to professional baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, and lacrosse. And these teams are some of the best. In the last few years, Denver’s basketball, hockey and soccer have won their respective championships. Sports fans in Denver are unlike any other in the US.
Oh, and if you would rather check out college sports, there is no shortage of great opportunities in the Denver area. Hit the University of Denver for amazing college hockey and the University of Colorado in Boulder for Pac-12 football and basketball.
The Cons of Living in Denver
Now that you have the positive parts about living in Denver, I counter with some of the cons. Though a great city, Denver isn’t for everyone, and there are some things about living in Denver that aren’t great.
7. Traffic is Tough
Remember when I mentioned that Denver has grown, a lot, in the last 20 years? Well, that rapid growth has really made a mess of traffic. Denver and its surrounding suburbs have really struggled to keep up with the number of cars on the roads. Rush hour traffic in Denver can be a nightmare. On a good day, driving across town can take 45 minutes. On a bad day, expect to spend up to two hours getting across town.
As a matter of fact, in 2021, Denver ranked in the top 25 worst-traffic cities in the US. According to the Global Traffic Scorecard, Denver is the 17th worst city for traffic in the US, and the 69th worst for traffic globally. And, unfortunately, things aren’t getting better. The population in the Denver metro area continues to grow, making traffic more and more challenging every year.
8. Mediocre Public Transportation
Contributing to terrible traffic in Denver is the lack of decent public transportation. Until recently, the only way to get around Denver, using public transportation, was the bus system. The bus system in Denver is confusing, and not terribly affordable.
Since the early 2000s, the Regional Transportation District has been constructing light-rail train lines throughout the city. However, these lines have limited reach around town, and are even less affordable than riding the bus.
9. High Cost of Living
As the Denver area grows, it becomes more and more expensive. Unfortunately, the average yearly salary isn’t growing at the same rate as the cost of living. In Denver, the average salary is around $50,000 per year. In many parts of the country, this is a decent income.
However, in Denver, this is barely enough to squeak by. Combine the rising costs of food, utilities, transportation, and rent, Denver is quickly becoming a city that is unaffordable for many people.
10. Limited Affordable Housing
Contributing to the high cost of living in Denver is the lack of affordable housing. Over the last 10 years, as Denver has grown, the availability of affordable housing has dwindled. Even in the suburbs. In Denver proper, the average 1-bedroom rent is more than $1,700 per month, and you will have a hard time finding an average 3-bed, 2-bath home for less than $600,000. Many people look for affordable housing in neighboring suburbs, but even these communities, which are growing rapidly as well, are seeing a spike in rent and housing costs.
11. Not as Diverse
If living in a highly diverse community is something you value, you will be a bit disappointed in Denver. NerdWallet.com does an annual evaluation of the cost of living and other factors of major metropolitan cities in the US. According to their 2022 statistics, Denver received a diversity score of 61.
While this isn’t a terrible score, the glaring reality is that 52% of Denver residents are white. This can be a turn-off for those looking for a community that is more culturally and ethnically distinctive.
12. Winter Driving
If you have never driven your car on ice or multiple inches of snow, Denver can be a harrowing experience in the winter. Winter driving conditions, even for natives of Colorado, can be challenging at best, and terrifying at its worst. With so many people moving to Colorado from places where snow and ice are a rare occurrence, a snowy commute can feel like you are taking your life in your hands.
According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, in 2022, on snowy days, Denver reported almost 700 accidents. While most of these accidents were relatively minor, they do contribute to higher-than-average insurance rates for drivers in Denver, and Colorado.
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