The Best Places to Live in Aurora, CO

Not only is Aurora, Colorado, one of the most beautiful cities in the US, but it’s also recognized as one of the top places to live for quality of life and safety. From historic downtown neighborhoods to luxurious golf course master-planned communities, plenty of great options offer residents peace and tranquility — all within easy reach from Denver.

We’ll profile the advantages of living in Aurora, such as safe neighborhoods and excellent job opportunities, while highlighting some of the top neighborhoods where people want to settle down. So what are you waiting for? Learn why so many people love living in beautiful Aurora, Colorado!

Why live in Aurora, CO?

Let’s start with its great location beside Denver. Colfax Avenue is a direct highway into downtown Denver. You can get around in the city or around the metro easily, thanks to I-70 and I-225 running through the town. And, if you want to fly out, Denver International Airport is just a few miles north of Aurora.

Aurora may be Colorado’s third largest city by population, but it is a family-friendly city with ample open spaces, kids’ attractions, and excellent schools. Parents can feel secure that their kids are safe playing outdoors or walking to school. Best of all, the Cherry Creek School District is rated among Colorado’s best and most consistently top performing.

Whether you work in the city or commute to Denver, you can find a fulfilling career. Residents have diverse industries for employment, although health care and education are the top two sectors. The city’s largest employers are the University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus and Buckley Air Force Base.

But that’s not all. Aurora’s entertainment scene is jam-packed with local events and attractions like the Food Truck Rodeo or the Buskers, Brews, & BBQ Festival. From Holiday Lights to the Fourth of July, it seems Aurora is always hosting some event. As for venues, the historic Aurora Fox Arts Center runs a variety of performing arts shows during the year. Or, tour the Art in Public Places Program which showcases the growing arts scene in town.

And, with a city of this size, you can bet there are great places to shop. Historic Stanley Marketplace and its independent shops are in the former Stanley Aviation Hangar. Southlands Lifestyle Center is modeled after an old-fashioned downtown, but it has numerous name-brand retailers like H&M and Best Buy spread across 1.5 million sq ft of retail space.

What is Aurora’s cost of living?

Keep in mind this is Colorado’s third largest city and it’s right beside Denver, one of the nation’s more expensive places to live. Aurora is right next door, acting like a suburb of Denver. Naturally, the cost of living is more expensive than the national average. The good news is Aurora is cheaper than its sister city. So if Denver is pricing you out, why not look here?

Sperling’s Best Places Index gave Aurora an overall 118.9 score, meaning it’s about 19% more expensive to live here than the national average. It’s 2% cheaper than Colorado, but when it comes to housing, it’s 18% less pricey than the state average. Still, housing will run you 47% above the national rate. Thankfully, groceries, utilities, and health care are actually cheaper!

What is the Aurora real estate market like?

The Aurora real estate market has grown in recent years, partly thanks to the city’s safe and desirable neighborhoods. Prices have risen consistently since 2012.

Figures from the South Metro Denver Realtor Association (including Aurora) show the median price for homes in February 2023 was about $556,250 — about 25% higher than the national rate. The association measures inventory in weeks rather than months; February 2023’s inventory was six weeks.

Interestingly, the year-over-year prices fell 2.8%, bucking the national upward trend. But, like most markets, overall closed and pending sales were down.

Drilling down most specifically into Aurora, the January 2023 market reported a 133% increase in single-family active listings. The median sale price fell by 5% to $489,990. It was the first time sale prices had dropped in a number of months and signals that local prices may be beginning a price correction after substantial gains during the pandemic.

Aurora has many neighborhoods to browse, and so many of these have amenities, making it hard to narrow a list of places to look. Nonetheless, we did it. Still, a local real estate agent can help find the best place to live in Aurora. Here are a few popular neighborhoods to consider:

Aurora’s Best Neighborhoods

Aurora Highlands

Master-planned Aurora Highlands delivers an urban-suburban feel just six miles from downtown Aurora and about 20 minutes from Denver by car. The developers envisioned a community as a hub for work, play, and living.

Inside the neighborhood, residents have 22 acres of parks and open spaces, recreation courts, picnic shelters, and playgrounds. Hogan Park plans call for a zip line and kinetic sculpture garden. Schools and libraries add to the community vibe. Outside, grocery stores and a shopping mall make running errands easy and picking up your daily essentials easy.

Aurora Highlands is designed as a cluster of neighborhood villages, but the style trends towards two-story with brick exteriors and two-car garages. You’ll find new construction homes on roomy lots. March 2023 had 30 homes for sale at a median list price of $437,000.

Chambers Heights

Aurora’s Chambers Heights is a quiet neighborhood of around 8,000 residents with single-family homes, townhouses, and condos. The location is prime, as locals are near Aurora city center and to three major hospitals, like the Children’s Hospital. Toll Gate Creek runs through the southwestern part of the neighborhood.

Basic needs are met by the many grocery stores, fitness centers, and offices along Chambers Road and surrounding the Heights. Getting out and running errands or taking the kids to school is easy. Seven schools are either inside the neighborhood or next door, and the community park has a playground and walking trail.

Homebuyers had five listings in March 2023 at a median list price of $385,000. Most homes were 1,000-2,000 sq ft, but some were larger.

Conservatory at The Plains

Imagine living beside acres of open prairie. That’s the lifestyle of Conservatory residents. The neighborhood is inside a master-planned community with single-family homes. Some have scenic views of the Plains Conservation Space.

Inside the community is the Aurora Frontier School. Besides access to the Plains, several other parks, play spaces, and trails make it easy to enjoy the fine Colorado weather. There is an HOA that runs the community events like Spring Egg Hunts and Block Parties. The swimming pool, a playground, and rentable event space are at the clubhouse.

March 2023 had nine homes for sale at a median price of $644,000.

Heather Ridge

Heather Ridge is another of Aurora’s popular neighborhoods. The southern community is built around the public Heather Ridge Country Club. It is next to I-225 for an easy commute around the metro. For added convenience, a light rail station will take you to Denver when you want.

Families appreciate that the community is in the Cherry Creek School District. For recreation, it has a community center. The pool and splash park are perfect for cooling off on hotter summer days. Plus, two parks are across Jewell Road: Utah Park and Jewell Wetlands Park, for even more walking trails and recreational areas. And, Cherry Creek State Park is just over two miles away.

Two schools are inside the neighborhood. Shopping centers frame the corners for quick access to groceries and fast-casual dining chains. It’s also close to the UC Medical Research Campus and Aurora Regional Medical Center.

Heather Ridge divides into ten distinct neighborhoods. The 200 acres around the golf course are a dedicated active adult community for those 55 and over. Check it out if you’re considering retiring to Colorado.

It had 11 homes for sale at a median list price of $330,000 in March 2023.

Saddle Rock Golf Club

Saddle Rock Golf Club is a classic golf course community in southeast Aurora. The neighborhood has single-family homes, some with views of the wetlands and golf course.

The large community is well-served by the Cherry Creek School District. Inside the borders are a Montessori elementary school and a high school. The Saddle Rock Golf Club includes an 18-hole golf course, clubhouse, pool, and tennis courts.

The Colorado E470 Toll Road runs along the eastern border, so you can quickly get to other parts of the Denver Metro. Outside the community is a Target, Starbucks, and other Saddle Rock Village shopping center stores. Saddle Rock is also near the Southland Lifestyle Center and its 1+ million sq ft of entertainment and retail.

March 2023 had 22 homes for sale at a median list price of $805,000.

Seven Hills

Seven Hills is Aurora’s closest community to Denver and the Air Force base. It features large lots with established single-family homes and condos, some with views of the dramatic bluffs and mountains.

The community has amenities like Seven Hills Park, a playground, basketball courts, and picnic areas. The Plains Conversation Open Space awaits to the east. Walking trails connect residents to its over 1,000 acres of prairie grasses and beautiful Rocky Mountain views.

Seven Hills had eight homes for sale at a median list price of $460,000 in March 2023.

Southshore

Southshore is a rare Denver waterfront community with large single-family homes and condos. Beside an 820-acre lake, the neighborhood has an active resort-style community center, open green spaces, walking trails, and, uniquely for Colorado, a sandy beach.

Not many communities in the Denver metro have lakefront access, a Marina, or a boathouse, but this one does. Naturally, this boosts its desirability as a place to live.

It’s also within minutes of Aurora Town Center, a shopping, dining, and entertainment destination. Residents are part of the Cherry Creek School District.

The community HOA provides organized clubs and activities. It had 66 listings in March 2023 at a median price of $835,000. The homes here are newer construction.

Sterling Hills

Sterling Hills is an established neighborhood in southeastern Aurora close to Buckley Air Force Base that features single-family homes along curving streets.

Residents enjoy access to Plains Conservation Center, plus pocket parks with playgrounds and walking paths.

If you’re looking for a convenient spot to take care of all your errand needs, look no further than the massive shopping plaza at Hampden Avenue and Tower Road south of Sterling Hills. And, for even more shopping, it’s close to the Southlands Lifestyle Center.

Residents live near Colorado E470 Tolld Road, which delivers you quickly to Denver International Airport. It’s one of the closest neighborhoods to the Buckley Air Force Base.

Sterling Hills had 15 homes on the market in March 2023 with a median list price of $485,000.

Tallyn’s Reach

Tallyn’s reach in southeast Aurora is a large, master-planned community established as its own metro area. It was designed with an emphasis on preserving the established landscaping. Find single-family homes in farmhouse and stone designs.

Residents enjoy many amenities, like the neighborhood Homestead clubhouse with its swimming pool, tennis courts, and playground. Kids can walk to an onsite elementary school affiliated with Cherry Creek School District. Shopping is available at Southlands Mall.

Tallyn’s reach does have a metro taxing district that helps maintain its many community parks and pay for snow removal. An HOA provides community activities and oversees the clubhouse. March 2023 had five homes for sale at a median list price of $799,000.

Living in Aurora, CO

For those looking for easy access to downtown Denver and its amenities but without the price tag, Aurora is worth a look. Living here gives you all the perks, like the thriving arts and festival scene and access to quality education. If buying a home in Aurora sounds right, a local real estate agent can help you find the perfect home to fit your lifestyle.