/ Neighborhood Guide2021 rank: 32
Denverites think of Speer as the Cherry Creek–adjacent thoroughfare that carries them into and out of downtown. Named for the city’s 26th mayor, the neighborhood that has grown up to the boulevard’s north and south is an up-and-comer. It fell off our list last year but is back thanks to attractive—but still affordable, by current standards— single-family homes. The area’s DSST: Byers middle and high schools are top performers, and though Speer is populated mostly with renters, you’ll also spot historic houses with plenty of character. Access to the Cherry Creek Trail itself is an obvious perk, and the Alamo Placita and Hungarian Freedom parks are both welcome respites. One of Trader Joe’s two Mile High locations can be found here, as can an eclectic collection of food offerings, which are clustered primarily along Broadway (on the ’hood’s western edge) and West Sixth Avenue to the north.
Demographics—Get to Know Your Neighbors
Speer’s residents have a median age of 33.4 years old (more than half of the neighborhood’s inhabitants are between 20 and 39 years old). It’s an educated community, with 72 percent of the adult (25 and older) population holding bachelor’s degrees or higher. Most units—about 70 percent—are renter-occupied, and more than 60 percent of the neighborhood’s households are made up of singles. The average household income is $70,608.
Neighborhood Rankings
How we got these numbers: We utilized the city’s official list of 78 neighborhoods (only 73 had enough data to be included), and ranked them using four variables: home prices, crime dataschool rankings, and an X factor score that accounts for things like access to open space, proximity to public transportation, and restaurant and shopping options. For more on our methodology, return to the main page.
Your Itinerary
Eat & Drink
Speer is becoming a dining destination thanks to venues like Uncle, the second location of chef Tommy Lee’s always crowded ramen joint (the original is in Highland); Montreal-inspired Au Feu; brunch fave Lucile’s Creole Café; old-school Odyssey Italian Restaurant; and the Mexican family recipes at La Loteria. Sweet Action Ice Cream is a locals’ favorite. Those devoted to a plant-focused lifestyle are sure to become regulars at Nooch Vegan Market.
Digital nomads will enjoy the sunlit Rosebud Cafe or back-room couches at the Bardo Coffee House. Happy hour is best enjoyed with a glass of vino in hand at Carboy Winery or at long-standing dive bar Don’s Club Tavern. Area breweries include Banded Oak Brewing Co. and Baere Brewing Co.
Be Creative
Stretch the right side of your brain at 35-year-old Art Students League of Denver. It offers classes in a range of mediums for both those who make art for a living and those who dabble. Sign up your kids starting at age six.
If You Do One Thing…
Catch a flick at the historic Mayan Theatre. The 92-year-old, three-screen cinema’s ornate design was restored in 1986—it’s one of three Art Deco Mayan Revival–style theaters remaining in the country—and the venue is a favorite for independent and foreign-language films. Did we mention the in-house bar?
