8 Reasons to Move to Lakewood, CO
Located just 15 minutes from downtown Denver, Lakewood is a fast-growing, All-American city.
Located just 15 minutes from downtown Denver, Lakewood is a fast-growing city, full of arts and culture, a bustling economy and nature galore. What’s more, Lakewood is one of only 10 communities to win the 2016 All-America City Award, a prestigious national award given each year.
Why Lakewood is One of the 100 Best Places to Live in America
With so much to offer, here are some great reasons you should move to the Lakewood area:
In This Article
1. The Beer Choices
We all know that Denver is a beer town, well so is Lakewood. The popular Great Frontier Brewing in Lakewood is known for its award -winning, gluten-free craft brews, While the establishment doesn’t offer food it does lure some of Denver’s best food trucks to ensure you’re able to pair your brew with something yummy. And, don’t forget about Iron Works Brewery and Pub, Lakewood’s oldest breweries. In addition to regularly changing, delicious beers on tap it boasts a “hop garden” patio where you can sit outside, watch hops grow and enjoy the Denver weather.
2. The Colorado Climate
Like most Colorado cities, Lakewood experiences mild and snowy winters and hot summers, with quite a bit of temperature difference between day and night. The average high in January is about 43 degrees, while the average low can be 12 degrees. In July, you’ll see temps in the mid-80s during the day, dipping down to the 50s at night. As you might imagine, snow is prevalent in Lakewood, making it perfect for the Colorado skiing enthusiast.
3. An Expertly Curated Culture and Arts Scene
Lakewood is known for its culture scene and has no shortage of things to do when it comes to arts and culture. West Arts is Lakewood’s creative district on the historic West Colfax Corridor and is home to more than 120 creative businesses and delicious dining. This area of town includes everything from galleries to performing arts venues to public art installations. Another must visit in Lakewood is the 8,000-square-foot Lakewood Cultural Center with a technically advanced 320-seat theater, rotating visual art exhibits in multiple gallery spaces, meeting and event spaces and cultural arts classes.
4. Top-notch Education
The city ranked high in our 100 Best Places to Live rating for its outstanding educational options, including a highly ranked public school system and Red Rocks Community College. Lakewood is also home to Colorado Christian University.
5. Employment Options Aplenty
Do you like bagels, marketing and a thriving startup culture? Then Lakewood is a good fit for you. Lakewood is home to bagel giant Einstein Bros Bagels and one of the largest marketing firms in the world, The Integer Group. Health care and education are also big employers in Lakewood; the Denver Federal Center employs about 8,000 people and Jefferson County Public Schools employs more than 2,000.
6. Parks and Mountains
William Frederick Hayden Park on Green Mountain boasts 2,400 acres of wide open space and is the second largest park in Lakewood. The park features a challenging network of multi-use trails. The summit of Green Mountain is a whopping 6,800 feet and offers amazing views of the Denver metropolitan area to the east, as well as high mountain peaks to the west.
7. The Lakewood Heritage Center
Lakewood Heritage Center is a community gem. It showcases the history of Lakewood and the inventions and lifestyles of the 20th century. Located in Belmar Park, the museum has more than 10 historic structures, 30,000 artifacts, a festival area and an outdoor amphitheater.
The 5 Most Affordable Cities in Colorado
8. You’re Just a Short Drive from Red Rocks Amphitheater
Red Rocks is an open-air amphitheater located just 15-20 minutes from Lakewood. The massive concert venue allows you to take in your favorite performer while being surrounded by more than 800 acres of deer, dinosaurs, pines and geological wonders. At 6,450 feet above sea level, Red Rocks Park is a unique transitional zone where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains. Legendary music acts such as The Beatles, U2 and Sting have performed in this truly unique setting.