Broomfield

Broomfield Heights is a quiet neighborhood that offers the feel of a small town with the conveniences of a major city. Developed in the 1950s, it was the area's first planned community. Local officials and builders touted it at the time as a dream city. When the first 18 new homes opened for viewing in 1955, more than 25,000 people showed up. “Today, Broomfield Heights is beautiful homes on generous lots, with clean streets and amazing parks,” says Vinny Pallone, a Realtor with Porchlight Real Estate Group. Little wonder Broomfield Heights is still as sought-after a community as it was 73 years ago. <br><br>Mature shade trees and evergreens are plentiful in this sprawling neighborhood. While there is plenty of on-street parking available, homes in the community have driveways, and most have carports or garages. There are sidewalks throughout the neighborhood. The most popular home styles in Broomfield Heights are ranch-style and mid-century modern. Prices vary from $475,000 for a tidy ranch with a garage to $712,000 for a large, five-bedroom mid-century home. <br><br>“The neighborhood is equal distance from Boulder and Denver. It’s centrally situated on the North Metro Corridor, and it’s perfect for families or couples who might have jobs in both places,” says Realtor Pallone. Local bus companies have routes to both cities. Broomfield Easy Ride is a transportation service run by the city that offers rides to older adults and those with disabilities. The local economy is thriving. Several cutting-edge aerospace and defense contractors are in the area, including Northrup Grumman and Ball Aerospace. The city is also home to the headquarters for Mrs. Fields Cookies, Noodles & Company, and several other notable firms. <br><br>The thriving public school system is one of the area’s biggest draws for families. Kohl Elementary School serves Kindergarten through fifth grade. It has a student body of 319 and an A rating from Niche. Broomfield Heights Middle School serves students in sixth through eighth grade. It has 516 students and an A-minus rating. Broomfield Heights High School also has an A-minus rating. According to Pallone, the Broomfield Heights’ football, basketball and baseball teams were all state champions last year. <br><br>There is a lot to do in the area when not at work or in school. The Broomfield Commons Open Space is 330 acres of green space, soccer fields, a three-mile walking trail, a dog park and a playground. Emerald Park is a small neighborhood park with picnic shelters and grills, a multipurpose field, a playground, and trails leading to other area parks. Midway Park offers plenty of open space, a pond, a disk golf course, ball fields, walking trails and a sensory playground. Every September, the city puts on Broomfield Days. A true community event, it begins with a pancake breakfast, a 5k run and a parade. There are duck races, food trucks and music. Originally attended by a few hundred people, more than 100,000 attended last year. <br><br>While winter in Broomfield means lots of skiing, snowmobiling and sledding opportunities, the nearby Paul Derda Recreation Center has an indoor aquatic park with slides, a lazy river and a lap pool, all at a comfortable 88 degrees. It also has two gymnastics courts and workout facilities. <br><br>In addition to all the great outdoor activities in the area, the neighborhood is close to several large shopping centers. There is a King Soopers grocery store within walking distance. Target, Walmart, Macy’s and other big box stores are all less than five miles from Broomfield Heights. <br><br>Hungry? Whether you just want to grab a quick bite, or you are planning a special night out, there are plenty of options. “Broomfield Heights has a great mix of local eateries and national chains,” says Pallone. Original Pizza is the oldest and best restaurant in Broomfield Heights. Jus’ Burritos makes the best breakfast place in town. Hickory & Ash defines itself as an American meatery. It specializes in fine cuts of beef cooked to perfection.

Most people think Broomfield is just a bedroom community, but the Interlocken neighborhood defies that definition. “Broomfield is directly between Denver and Boulder, so it really is the perfect commuter town,” says Claire Gilmore, the owner-broker of Houses by Claire Gilmore and a Broomfield resident. “But Interlocken is a lot more lively than your typical suburban neighborhood. It has large outdoor spaces, a great commercial center and a few office buildings.”<br><br>The south end of Interlocken has stone-façade contemporary dwellings with flat roofs and three to four bedrooms. “You won’t find a ton of single-family homes here, but the ones that do exist are newly built,” says Gilmore. “Almost every residential place here was built within the last 5 years. There’s a ton of new condominiums currently in construction, too.” Multi-family units like the Fusion 355 apartment complex also have modern exteriors. If you are buying in the area, expect to pay between $500,000 and $700,000, a range similar to a Broomfield home's average $600,000 selling price.<br><br>The 13-acre Interlocken East Park has an 18-hole disc golf course scattered across its rolling terrain. You can also hike paved paths shaded by mature cottonwood trees or practice your serve on the sand volleyball courts. Head to Interlocken West Park to catch a little league game on the baseball diamonds or enjoy a peaceful stroll around the pond. The Interlocken Golf Club has three individual 9-hole courses: the Vista, El Dorado, and Sunshine. Each one features panoramic Rocky Mountain views, challenging elevation changes and a ryegrass fairway. The G1 climbing gym and fitness center is also in the neighborhood. The center has several rock climbing classes, daily yoga flows and group excursions to nearby natural rock formations. The Carolyn Holmberg Preserve is only 5 miles from the neighborhood. The 1,124-acre plot has nature paths surrounding wildflower fields and the glittering Stearns Lake, where anglers can fish for largemouth bass and tiger muskie. <br><br>Children in The Outlook can attend Kohl Elementary, which has an overall A grade from Niche. Then, they may go to Broomfield Heights Middle School. In addition to its overall A-minus grade from Niche, the school offers a variety of exploratory extracurriculars, including multimedia production and three-dimensional design. Lastly, at Broomfield High, students can earn certifications in career and technical programs like welding or physical therapy, thanks to the school's partnership with Boulder Technical Education Center. The school even receives an A-minus in academics from Niche with core classes like social media for business and environmental science. Brighton Academy is also in Interlocken. The private school serves students in kindergarten through 12th grade. <br><br>“We don’t technically have a downtown district in Broomfield, but Interlocken is about as close as it gets,” says Gilmore. “Everyone knows it as a place where there’s a ton of shopping and dining options.” For instance, Flatiron Crossing is a shopping mall with over 200 nationally known retailers, including Apple, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Macy’s. You can also grab groceries at the Walmart Supercenter. However, if you’d rather go out to eat, the neighborhood’s southern region has a few locally-owned restaurants. Tucked inside Hilltop Inn, The Burns Pub may not look like much from the outside, but its folksy interior, British bar bites and extensive Whiskey list are beloved across the community. Another local favorite is 4 Noses Brewing Company. There isn’t an on-site kitchen, but a different food truck parks outside every day. <br><br>U.S. Route 36 runs along Interlocken’s eastern boundary and a 12-mile drive north on the road leads to Boulder. Follow the thoroughfare south for 17 miles, and you’ll reach Denver. Eight Regional Transportation District bus stops are sprinkled across the neighborhood, making travel to the two cities even more accessible. With a bustling atmosphere amid a traditional suburb, Interlocken offers excitement and quiet all at once.

You won’t find many big businesses in the quietness of Arista in Colorado, but that’s the beauty of this planned community: residents settle down in its town houses and they’re within walking distance of shops, dining and other aspects of the local scene. “All the homes are perfect for low-maintenance and carefree living,” says Carol Powers, Realtor with the Colorado Luxury Group at Coldwell Banker Realty. “You’ll see residents strolling around the neighborhood with their dogs in the mornings and evenings.” The town houses mostly fall between $400,000 and $600,000, with some others going above the $600,000 mark, but rarely exceed $700,000.<br>The neighborhood isn’t the only place people can take those strolls, though. Southwest of most of the town houses and right beside several of them sits Shepsfield Park, where a path winds around its greenspace and dog park while running alongside its playground. On the northwestern corner is Arista Sensory Park, which was constructed with an emphasis on inclusivity and offers a playground, a swing set and more, while Redpoint Ridge Park features a climbing wall and other amenities representative of the state’s geographical legacy. Attendees can also go to its playground, shoot hoops on its basketball court or take walks through the gardens.<br>Arista and the surrounding area are just east of the Colorado Rockies, and there’s also trails that stretch for miles nearby. “The scenery is beautiful,” Powers says. “We enjoy over 300 days of sunshine. Many homes have views of the foothills and the snow-capped Rocky Mountains, but even if you don’t have a view from your home, you don’t have to go far to take in views of the Flatirons and the mountains. Sunsets over the mountains are especially beautiful.”<br>Schools in the area include Emerald Elementary School, which ranks at a B+ on Niche; Mandalay Middle School, which scores a B with Niche; and Broomfield High School, coming in at an A- rating. Broomfield High holds the distinction of ranking sixth in Colorado of the best high schools for athletes.<br>In uptown Broomfield, check out the co-branded Sushi-Rama/Osaka Ramen with its sign harkening back to the iconic Cinerama logo. “For a sports bar atmosphere, the Colorado Keg House will be the place to watch a game or try a craft beer on tap,” Powers says. “There are almost 100 different beers there.” Other local stops include Hickory & Ash, Proto’s Pizza and Arista Deli & Coffee, which is a go-to for early or midday meals.<br>1stBank Center is also located in Arista, but will be demolished in 2024 after hosting its last event in September. Arista and the surrounding area are just off of Highway 36 and mark a midpoint between Boulder and Denver, allowing accessibility for residents to two of Colorado’s biggest metropolitan areas. Colorado Springs is around two hours away. Also nearby are the UCHealth Broomfield Hospital, minutes outside of the neighborhood, and the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.<br>“The area is attractive to those who love an active lifestyle and getting outside for walks, hikes, bike rides, yoga, skiing, running, pickleball, golf and more,” Powers says. “Arista is the center of it all.”

Lexington Estates offers a slice of suburbia in a serene northeast Colorado setting. “Proximity to Boulder and Denver is a draw for residents,” says Joy Castillo of LIV Sotheby’s International Realty, “but one of the main reasons people come to Lexington Estates is for easy access to open spaces and amazing Rocky Mountain views.” Spacious homes and open layouts lend to the plein-air lifestyle in Lexington Estates. Craftsman tri-level homes and rambling designs commonly feature large windows to take in the Colorado scenery, while neutral tones and stone accents compliment the natural surroundings. Single-family detached houses with two- to three-car garages are the most common in the neighborhood, but there are also some townhomes. “You have everything from high-density subdivisions with single-family homes to big estates on one-acre lots,” Castillo says, adding that prices can range between town houses for $500,000 to estates fetching $4 million. The median price for real estate in Lexington Estates is $1 million, and homebuyers can expect to pay an average of $316 per square foot. Castillo says Broomfield’s highly rated schools are also a big draw for residents. Students in Lexington Estates may get their education within the Adams 12 Five Star Schools, ranked the seventh best school district in the Denver area by Niche. Meridian Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade, while sixth through eighth graders can attend Rocky Top Middle School. With an A- overall Niche rating, Legacy High School is recognized by the Colorado Department of Education as a high-achieving and high-growth institution. Freshmen through seniors can participate in the Legacy 2000 Program, which focuses on student-driven studies, job shadowing and internships in STEM. Residents take advantage of the area’s open spaces at the various parks and natural amenities, including McKay Lake, where bird-watching, canoeing, and kayaking are popular activities. In the summer, you might find a few people swimming in its chilly waters or camping by its shores. The Rocky Mountains provide a breathtaking backdrop to walkers and runners who enjoy the 1.7-mile loop that hugs along the edge of the lake. Kids can climb and play on the neutral structures of McKay Lake Park’s playground, designed to blend in with the landscape or let their imaginations take off at the space-themed playground at Quail’s Crossing Park. Residents take to the many nearby trails for longer hikes, including the 13.3-mile Big Dry Creek Trail in Westminster. After a day of adventuring in the great outdoors, head to the Shops at Quail Creek within the neighborhood to refuel with a refreshing boba tea at Master Tea or handmade sushi at Snowfox or Go Fish. Opt for fresh groceries and stock up the pantry at King Soopers. The Orchard Town Center attracts folks for dining, shopping and entertainment at its multiple stores, including department stores like Marshall’s, chain restaurants and AMC Orchard 12 Movie Theater. Castillo says residents frequent Boulder and Lafayette for a more extensive selection of restaurants. “Plus, you have super easy access to the highway and interstate, which connects you to additional shopping and entertainment in the area,” she adds.

Tucked away amongst the scenic expanse of Broomfield County, McKay Landing emerges as a sought-after neighborhood where community living and natural beauty collide. “Broomfield’s location is a big deal in itself. It’s a strategic spot for those who work in Boulder but can’t afford to live there,” says Amanda Shaver, Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. Nearby Interstate 25 and US Route 7 make commutes to Boulder or downtown Denver accessible. <br><br>Upon entering, you’re greeted by streets lined with hackberry trees, each season draping them in a different hue, from spring’s vibrant blossoms to autumn’s fiery foliage. “The area is fairly new for Broomfield but still has all the established foliage that people look for in a community,” Shaver says. “The neighborhood feels like an Eastern coastal town, without the coast. It almost gives off a Denver cottage feel.” Shaver says. Walking through the neighborhood, modern Craftsman style homes with covered front porches provide a community-oriented lifestyle, where neighbors drink and converse on their front stoops, Shaver says. As a planned community, there is a range of homes for any price range. Here, prospective homebuyers can expect to pay in the high $300,000s for a 2 bed, 1 bath condo, around the low $400,000s to the $600,000s for a town house. Single-family homes can range between the $700,000s to the mid $900,000s for a single-family home, with an average lot size of around 8,000 square feet. <br><br>Served by the Adams 12 Five Star Schools District, schools in the neighborhood display high ratings on Niche, such as Meridian Elementary with an A-minus and Westlake Middle School with a B-plus. Legacy High School revels in its stellar A-minus rating. Legacy takes pride in its name as one of the best schools in Colorado, ranking 46th-best public high school in Colorado out of over 500 schools. <br><br>With greenery all around, nearby McKay Lake Park and Open Lands is a neighborhood gem. The Root House Studio Group carefully crafted the almost 45 acre site into a nature-based recreation area that reflects the regional landscapes of Colorado. Here, dog owners stroll around the 1.5 mile loop while paddleboarders and row boats glide along the sparkling lake. The open space also offers a nature-based fitness course, an eclectic playground and the notable Broomfield Bike Park, which spans over 4 acres and features dirt trails and varying terrain for riders of any ability. Quail Creek Park is another park within walking distance in the heart of the neighborhood. Home to baseball and soccer fields, the vast, grassy fields are perfect for an evening of star gazing. <br><br>Here, locals can walk about a half mile to the Shops at Quail Creek and back within minutes. “McKay Landing is an extremely walkable area. You can easily run to King Scoopers for a quick grocery trip,” Shaver says. However, that’s not the only shopping nearby. Within a 3 mile radius, The Orchard Town Center is home to big box stores, nail salons and restaurants, such as Target, Nordstrom Rack, TJMaxx and HomeGoods. It’s the perfect spot to complete all your errands before watching a movie at AMC Orchard movie theater, practicing your axe throwing at Yukon Axe or hitting the gym at Life Time. Across East 144th Avenue lies Denver Premium Outlets for seasonal shopping, boasting labels like Adidas and Tommy Hilfiger. <br><br>Local restaurants and popular chains can be found scattered amongst the various shopping centers. La Distileria is a favorite spot, serving flavorful Mexican cuisine and delicious margaritas, while Go Fish Sushi is known to have the best selection around town. The Town Center is also home to Volcano Ramen, serving ramen with a twist and appetizers, like the beloved, fluffy Pork Bao Buns. The infamous Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar is just next door for some homegrown flavors, serving as a great spot to end the evening under the vast Colorado sky with a drink in hand.

A public golf course runs through the Broadlands neighborhood and Longs Peak Mountain stands tall to the west, giving this Broomfield suburb the laid-back perks of a golf community with steadfast mountain views. “Broadlands residents, golfers or not, benefit from living by a golf course: The neighborhood does all the landscaping,” says Sharon Lage, a Realtor at Keller Williams Realty Urban Elite with five years of experience in the Broomfield area. <br><br>“Broadlands is a unique neighborhood, where there are single family homes that feel like patio homes, as well as condos and town houses,” Lage says. On the east side, you can find 2,800- to 3,800-square-foot split-level ranch houses in the $825,000 to $950,000 price range. Throughout the community, there are also larger 3,500- to 5,000-square-foot Spanish revival and contemporary Craftsman homes for $1 million to $1.2 million. Sidewalks run along both sides of the residential roads, and homes come with attached garages and driveways, leaving the tree-lined streets empty for plenty of driving and walking room. The backs of many homes come with stone patios and lounge areas with grass and garden spaces and privacy fencing. <br><br>Students living in Broadlands can attend schools in the Adams 12 Five Star Schools public school district. Younger learners can go to Coyote Ridge Elementary School, which receives a B-plus grade on Niche and is reported by GreatSchools to have above state average test scores. Students can then move on to Westlake Middle School, also graded a B-plus on Niche and ranked among the Best Public Middle Schools in the state. Legacy High School can serve the area’s oldest school-aged children, a public STEM school that not only receives an A- grade on Niche but is also ranked in the top for Best College Prep Public High Schools in Colorado. <br><br>The 18-hole fairway of the Broadlands Golf Course encompasses most of the Broadlands neighborhood and is open to the public. Visiting golfers and locals can grab-and-go or dine in at the Grille, the golf course’s restaurant known for its barbeque menu options. Toward the center of the community is the Broadlands Club House, where residents can enjoy the outdoor pool and basketball court while their children can have fun on the well-kept playground. On the west side of the neighborhood is Broadlands Park West, where locals can have soccer and baseball practice, picnic under the pavilion, walk the paved trails and play on the playground. <br><br>To the north near the Broadlands Golf Course pro shop, residents can grocery shop, fill up on gas, keep up with appointments and grab a Jet’s Pizza pie to-go at the Safeway Shopping Center. “There are grocery stores and retail shops surrounding the neighborhood a mile or two in every direction,” Lage notes. “Some residents might go into Lafayette just five miles away for more grocery and dining options,” says RE/MAX of Boulder Realtor Janet Leap. Also in Lafayette are the WOW Children’s Museum and Waneka Lake, where people can play on the pickleball or basketball courts and kayak or swim in the water. <br><br>“Broadlands is centrally located to Boulder and Denver, about fifteen to twenty minutes southeast of Boulder and thirty minutes north of Denver,” Lage explains. You can drive five minutes to the north and hop on Colorado E-470, a major highway that circles the capital city. Or you can head five minutes east to merge onto Interstate 25, which runs north and south through Colorado and its fellow western states. Broadlands residents benefit from an easy-going way of life and convenient highway access, with the added bonus of mountainscapes all around.