Best Neighborhoods Are ‘Super Zip-Codes’

Charles Murray says in this Washington Post article that Super Zip Codes in yellow have the most affluence and education. That’s what some Denver Relocation buyers want.

Folks moving to Denver often ask about the best Denver neighborhoods and suburbs. It’s a hard question to answer because answers are often subjective. But, one researcher thinks he has found the formula to define the best neighborhoods by zip codes.

I recently ran across an article originally posted in The Washington Post that spoke about the nation’s “Super Zips”, a phrase coined by author Charles Murray of the American Enterprise Institute that identifies zip codes where the average household income is higher than $120,000 and where, on average, 70% of adults have a college degree. A Super Zip has a score of at least 90, which equates to a ranking in the top 5% of zip codes in the nation.

Most Super Zips include suburban neighborhoods like Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Greenwood Village and Westminster.

When I pulled up the interactive map off the Denver metro area I noticed a few things:

1. Most of our Super Zips are suburban neighborhoods.
2. Our Super Zips are all areas that have recently been or continue to be developed with construction of new homes, retail, schools, parks and other community amenities.
3. My surprise to see where some of the city’s more popular neighborhoods ranked.

Most Super Zip Codes In Suburbs

Most of the Denver metro area’s Super Zips are situated in Suburbia. Littleton and Highland’s Ranch is well represented with 80125, 80126, 80129 and 80130 making the list. Castle Rock’s 80108 made the cut as did Englewood / Greenwood Village’s 80111 zip code.   Outside of the southern ‘burbs we have Arvada’s 80007 and Broomfield’s 80023 ranking in the top 5%

As I mentioned above, a pretty glaring trend I saw in this study was the fact that just about all of the metro area’s Super Zips were area’s that have been recently developed or are currently in the process of being developed.

Arvada’s 80007 has three major developments currently under way. Leyden Rock, Spring Mesa and Candelas are all beautiful master planned communities that feature higher-end housing, new schools, new retail, community centers, pools, parks, open space and trails.

Highlands Ranch Most Popular for Denver Relocation

Littleton and Highlands Ranch have consistently had major on-going developments for decades. That’s why it is the already the most popular suburb for Denver relocation buyers. Currently you’ll find new homes in BackCountry and Chatfield Farms.

Castle Rock’s 80108 zip code includes developments like Cobblestone Ranch, Castle Pines Village, Castle Pines North, Clocktower, and Cliffside to name a few.

It is safe to assume that when developers and builders identify a demand for certain types of homes at certain price points, the end result is one of like-minded individuals that value similar things – in these cases, the birth of a Super Zip Code.

Lastly, I was blown away to see where Denver’s inner-city neighborhoods ranked. With the amount of money being poured into redevelopment sites in Downtown, Platt Park, Curtis Park and LoHi, at first glance I was truly surprised that none of these high-profile neighborhoods were even close to ranking as super. But once you peel the layers away you quickly come to the realization that these neighborhoods cater to a younger crowd, one that may still be in or just out of college and not yet at their peak earning years.

Only the Denver neighborhood of Stapleton was included as a Super Zip.

Stapleton Zip Code 80238

The only Super Zip in a Denver neighborhood was Stapleton’s 80238. This makes perfect sense, as it is basically a suburb within City and County of Denver – one that continues to grow and has been under constant construction since its inception back in 2001. It’s near impossible to not love Stapleton. With great shopping and dining, excellent proximity to DIA and Downtown Denver, 50 parks, acres upon acres of open space, 6 community schools and 14 schools (which range from the Goddard School which is more of a daycare to private schools like the Primrose School to public schools like DSST the Denver School of Science and Technology to specialty schools like the Anchor Center for Blind Children) there’s very little left to desire in a community.

Stapleton is also one of the best performing new home communities in the country, which is largely contributed (in my opinion) to the diversity in new home styles and price. One can buy an affordable townhome from the mid 100s to semi custom homes with contemporary styling at price points over a million and literally everything in between. To search for homes in Stapleton click here. 

For additional information on Stapleton or to discuss any City neighborhood please contact me on the form below.