Lakewood, CO, known as "Gateway to the Rockies," is a vibrant city with a rich history and a high quality of life. Located just west of Denver, Lakewood is approximately 10 miles from downtown Denver and 20 miles east of Golden. This medium-sized city is celebrated for its beautiful parks, recreational opportunities, and thriving arts community.
Lakewood's climate features mild winters and warm, dry summers, ideal for enjoying outdoor activities year-round. The city boasts numerous parks and recreational areas, such as the scenic Bear Creek Lake Park and the expansive William F. Hayden Park, which offer hiking, biking, and opportunities for family picnics.
The cultural scene in Lakewood is dynamic, with attractions like the Lakewood Cultural Center, the Heritage Center, and the historic Belmar district. The city hosts a variety of events and festivals throughout the year, including the Cider Days Harvest Festival and the Lakewood Arts Festival, celebrating the community's artistic and cultural achievements.
Education is a priority in Lakewood, with the Jefferson County Public Schools providing education to its students. The city is also home to higher education institutions such as Red Rocks Community College and nearby Colorado School of Mines. This focus on education makes Lakewood an attractive place for families. The presence of major healthcare institutions, such as St. Anthony Hospital, also supports a strong job market and ensures residents have access to top-notch medical care.
Living in Lakewood combines the benefits of urban amenities with the warmth of a close-knit community. Residents enjoy access to excellent healthcare facilities, diverse dining options, and a range of housing choices. The city's efficient public transportation system, including buses and the light rail, makes commuting and exploring the area convenient. With its cultural richness, excellent amenities, and welcoming atmosphere, living in Lakewood offers a dynamic and fulfilling experience.
Commute
High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.
Employment
This area scores extremely well in the employment category. This is primarily due to the combination of low unemployment rates, higher median home income and income per capita.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Crime
High crime rates per 100,000 people are reported in this area, potentially indicating that it is an unsafe place to live. These statistics consider both violent and property offenses.
Health & Safety
Factors like poor air quality and the absence of essential health-related facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and pharmacies could have played a role in the low score in this category.
Lakewood is a mid-sized city located in the state of Colorado. The city has a population of 155,733 inhabitants. In Lakewood, there are 3,582 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. If we take a look at the last Census, the vast majority of the population falls within one racial group (85% White). Given that fact, Lakewood could be considered less diverse than other cities. Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Lakewood, only 50% of the population is married. Long commute times to work can be incredibly frustrating, ranking just behind housework on the list of life's annoyances. If you opt to make Lakewood your home, your one-way commute time will typically last around 27 minutes, a duration that aligns with the national average commute time of 26 minutes.
If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very discouraging task. However, it could also be a great experience if you are willing to get to know the area before actually living in Lakewood, Colorado. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. With useful information like health & safety, employment, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Lakewood and in the areas around Lakewood is a much easier task.
With a livability score of 71 out of 100, Lakewood is ranked #5,855 in the United States and #87 in Colorado. Based on the grades for each individual category, Lakewood has received high marks for employment (A) and housing (A). Unfortunately for Lakewood, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: crime (F) and cost of living (D-).
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Lakewood has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Lakewood real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Lakewood. The median home price for Lakewood homes is $398,200, which is 50.5% higher than the Colorado average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Lakewood, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 5.6, which is 33.3% higher than the Colorado average.
| Statistic | Lakewood | Colorado | National |
| Average one way commute | 27min | 25min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 75.3% | 75.2% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 7.8% | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 4.5% | 3.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.7% | 1.3% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.4% | 3.0% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 9.7% | 7.0% | 4.6% |
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