If you're moving to Denver and schools or safety matter to your family, this is the reference you need. We analyzed 83+ Denver-area neighborhoods using school quality data (rated 1–10) and crime grades (A+ through F), then ranked them so you can compare any neighborhood against the full metro at a glance.
Elite Tier — School Rating 9–10
Denver has 18 neighborhoods that reach a school rating of 9 or 10 out of 10. These are the zones where public school performance is genuinely exceptional.
Cory-Merrill leads the Denver area rankings with a 10/10 school rating and A crime grade at a $813,000 median price. Dam East/West is a strong alternative at 9/10 schools, A crime, and $273,000 median.
Strong Tier — School Rating 8
A school rating of 8/10 is well above the national average. Denver has 24 neighborhoods in this tier. These are solid family zones where you get strong public schools without necessarily paying the top-tier premium.
Highlights in this tier: Indian Creek ($372,000, A crime), Marston ($415,000, A crime), Lowry ($595,000, A crime), Windsor ($221,000, A- crime), Hampden ($328,000, A- crime).
Best Value — Strong Schools Under $500,000
These neighborhoods offer the best school rating and crime grade combination at or under $500,000 median price — the spots where what you pay is less than what you get in school quality and safety.
Full Denver Neighborhood Rankings
| Neighborhood | Schools | Crime | Median Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cory-Merrill | 10/10 | A | $813,000 |
| Dam East/West | 9/10 | A | $273,000 |
| Green Valley Ranch | 9/10 | A | $319,000 |
| Goldsmith | 9/10 | A | $363,000 |
| Hampden South | 9/10 | A | $376,000 |
| University Hills | 9/10 | A | $458,000 |
| Holly Hills | 9/10 | A | $462,000 |
| Southmoor Park | 9/10 | A | $559,000 |
| Central Park | 9/10 | A | $576,000 |
| Wellshire | 9/10 | A | $839,000 |
| University Park | 9/10 | A | $936,000 |
| Hilltop | 9/10 | A | $1.1M |
| Belcaro | 9/10 | A | $1.2M |
| Country Club | 9/10 | A | $1.2M |
| Alamo Placita | 9/10 | A- | $449,000 |
| Congress Park | 9/10 | A- | $579,000 |
| Cherry Creek | 9/10 | A- | $897,000 |
| Washington Park | 9/10 | A- | $1.0M |
| Indian Creek | 8/10 | A | $372,000 |
| Marston | 8/10 | A | $415,000 |
| Lowry | 8/10 | A | $595,000 |
| Windsor | 8/10 | A- | $221,000 |
| Hampden | 8/10 | A- | $328,000 |
| Washington Virginia Vale | 8/10 | A- | $394,000 |
| Virginia Village | 8/10 | A- | $423,000 |
| Hale | 8/10 | A- | $483,000 |
| Rosedale | 8/10 | A- | $504,000 |
| Montclair | 8/10 | A- | $543,000 |
| Platt Park | 8/10 | A- | $640,000 |
| Washington Park West | 8/10 | A- | $657,000 |
| South Park Hill | 8/10 | A- | $709,000 |
| Speer | 8/10 | B+ | $402,000 |
| Baker | 8/10 | B+ | $410,000 |
| City Park West | 8/10 | B+ | $443,000 |
| Cheesman Park | 8/10 | B+ | $461,000 |
| North Park Hill | 8/10 | B+ | $491,000 |
| University | 8/10 | B+ | $527,000 |
| City Park | 8/10 | B+ | $540,000 |
| Berkeley | 8/10 | B+ | $552,000 |
| Highland | 8/10 | B+ | $553,000 |
| West Highland | 8/10 | B+ | $583,000 |
| Sloan Lake | 8/10 | B+ | $614,000 |
| Bear Valley | 7/10 | A- | $359,000 |
| Fort Logan | 7/10 | A- | $373,000 |
| Sherrelwood | 7/10 | B+ | $275,000 |
| Montbello | 7/10 | B+ | $286,000 |
| Gateway | 7/10 | B+ | $294,000 |
| Harvey Park | 7/10 | B+ | $337,000 |
| Clayton | 7/10 | B+ | $350,000 |
| Berkley | 7/10 | B+ | $354,000 |
| Southwest Denver | 7/10 | B+ | $360,000 |
| Overland | 7/10 | B+ | $371,000 |
| Cole | 7/10 | B+ | $385,000 |
| Golden Triangle | 7/10 | B+ | $408,000 |
| Skyland | 7/10 | B+ | $419,000 |
| Regis | 7/10 | B+ | $421,000 |
| Jefferson Park | 7/10 | B+ | $445,000 |
| Curtis Park | 7/10 | B+ | $463,000 |
| Whittier | 7/10 | B+ | $467,000 |
| Sunnyside | 7/10 | B+ | $473,000 |
| Lower Downtown (LoDo) | 7/10 | B+ | $486,000 |
| Auraria | 7/10 | B+ | $512,000 |
| Uptown | 7/10 | B | $334,000 |
| Northeast Park Hill | 7/10 | B | $335,000 |
| Five Points | 7/10 | B | $413,000 |
| West Colfax | 7/10 | B | $450,000 |
| Central Business District | 6/10 | B | $256,000 |
| Capitol Hill | 6/10 | B | $271,000 |
| Welby | 6/10 | B | $272,000 |
| College View-South Platte | 6/10 | B | $274,000 |
| Barnum | 6/10 | B | $287,000 |
| Mar Lee | 6/10 | B | $291,000 |
| Ruby Hill | 6/10 | B | $293,000 |
| Villa Park | 6/10 | B | $300,000 |
| Athmar Park | 6/10 | B | $307,000 |
| Lincoln Park | 6/10 | B | $310,000 |
| Chaffee Park | 6/10 | B | $316,000 |
| River North (RiNo) | 6/10 | B | $341,000 |
| Elyria-Swansea | 6/10 | B- | $252,000 |
| Westwood | 6/10 | B- | $255,000 |
| Globeville | 6/10 | B- | $257,000 |
| Valverde | 6/10 | B- | $277,000 |
| East Colfax | 6/10 | B- | $299,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Denver neighborhood has the best schools?
The top-rated neighborhood in the Denver area is Cory-Merrill (10/10 schools, A crime, $813,000 median). A strong alternative is Dam East/West (9/10 schools, A crime, $273,000 median).
What is the safest neighborhood in Denver?
The top-rated neighborhoods by crime grade in Denver include Country Club (A), Belcaro (A), Hilltop (A), University Park (A). Crime grades are relative to the Denver metro area.
Which Denver neighborhood has the best schools under $500,000?
For buyers under $500,000, Dam East/West (9/10 schools, A crime, $273,000 median) offers the best combined school and crime grade in the Denver metro.
Is a 7/10 school rating good in Denver?
Yes — a 7/10 school rating in Denver is above average for the metro and well above the national average. The difference between a 7 and a 9 is real, but a 7 is not a bad school by any reasonable measure. Many buyers find 7-rated neighborhoods represent the best value in the market.
Find Your Denver Neighborhood Match
Answer 7 questions about your lifestyle, budget, and priorities — we'll score every Denver neighborhood and show you your top 3 matches with school ratings, crime grades, and median prices.
Take the Free Quiz →