Highlands Ranch is a city of around 103,000 people located about 20 miles south of Denver. Known for its rich history, sprawling properties and 22,000 acres and open spaces, it was originally settled as various independent homesteads in the 1860s, becoming a master-planned Denver suburb in the late 1970s. “We offer a remarkable blend of nature, community and opportunities," says Mike Bailey, the Highlands Ranch Community Association’s General Manager. "Our location makes us easily accessible to Denver and the mountains, but we still maintain a nice suburban feel.”
Highlands Ranch is a city of around 103,000 people across 4 master-planned neighborhoods, about 20 miles south of Denver.
Bask in the natural beauty that surrounds Highlands Ranch.
Highlands Ranch-Lone Tree sits around 19 miles south of Denver.
The mountains are never far away when you're in Highlands Ranch.
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Subdivisions divided among four neighborhoods
Highlands Ranch’s four primary neighborhoods are Eastridge, Westridge, Northridge and Southridge. Northridge has curving cul-de-sacs of new traditional houses. Contemporary and new traditional houses line Eastridge’s gated communities, including the streets around the Links Golf Course. Westridge and Southridge are primarily residential, with Millennium Mansions and new traditional homes with Craftsman influence on expansive lots, some backing into natural areas. Townhouses and condos vary between traditional and modern architecture and also dot each of the four neighborhoods. The median sales price for a single-family home in Highlands Ranch is $738,000. The county’s market update also says that the median sales price for a townhouse or condo was $475,000 in October, a decrease of 5% year-over-year. Highlands Ranch’s median townhouse price is around $571,000.
Highlands Ranch-Lone Tree has curved street lined with mountain views of the front range.
Traditional homes with window shutters and brick accents are common in Highlands Ranch.
The median sales price for a single-family home in Highlands Ranch is $738,000.
If you're into golf, head to the Highlands Ranch Golf Club in Highlands Ranch-Lone Tree.
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Education in top-rated Douglas County School District
Highlands Ranch students attend schools in the Denver Metro Area, which filters into the Douglas County School District. Graded an A-minus and ranked as the No. 3 best school district in the Denver area by Niche, the district is the third largest in Colorado, serving over 62,000 students across 92 schools, including six alternative and 20 charter schools. The closest community college is Arapahoe Community College, located over 5 miles away in Littleton.
Coyote Creek Elementary is an award winning school in Highlands Ranch.
Ranch View Middle School in Highlands Ranch is a top school with an A minus on Niche.
Thunderridge High School in Highlands Ranch maintains an A minus score from Niche.
The closest community college to Highlands Ranch is Arapahoe Community College.
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Natural and indoor recreation near Chatfield State Park
Located in the Colorado Front Range Urban Corridor, Highlands Ranch’s outdoors span 2,500 acres of open space and 8,200 acres of conservation space within the Backcountry Wilderness Area. Over 70 miles of walking and biking trails weave through the community’s open spaces and parks, including 26 miles through the wilderness area. The Highlands Ranch Community Association has a recreation center for each of its four neighborhoods, where it hosts art and education camps and several youth and adult outdoor recreation leagues. The Northridge and Southridge recreation centers both have batting cages and golf simulators, while each of the city's neighborhoods has both indoor and outdoor pools.
Nearby public golf courses include the University of Denver Golf Club Highlands Ranch and Links Golf Course. Chatfield State Park hugs the community’s western edge and has a beach area and reservoir.
Chatfield State Park lines the western boarder of Highlands Ranch-Lone Tree.
The Backcountry Wilderness Area of Highlands Ranch spans 8,200 acres.
Practise your swing at the Links Golf Clb in Highlands Ranch.
The Highlands Ranch Community Association has a recreation center for each neighborhood.
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Programming and celebrating at Highlands Ranch Mansion
At the heart of the city’s rich history and culture is the Highlands Ranch Mansion, a long-standing homestead completed in the 1890s, passed down through generations. With a long-standing beef and dairy production history, the mansion and attached ranch opened to the public in 2012 as a local landmark and tribute to the area’s Western heritage. Many of the city’s annual events are held at the mansion, including the old west-themed celebration Highlands Ranch Pioneer Days in September and the winter market, which features Santa Claus, called “Holiday Celebration” in early December. “We host numerous gatherings, like farmers’ markets, concerts in the park and holiday celebrations. Our goal is to foster a sense of togetherness,” Bailey says.
Visiting Highlands Ranch Mansion in Highlands Ranch-Lone Tree makes for a historic day out.
The Highlands Ranch Mansion is a local landmark and tribute to the area’s Western heritage.
The Highlands Ranch Mansion area pays tribute to the neighborhoods ranching roots.
The Highlands Ranch Mansion is a long-standing homestead completed in the 1890s.
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Shopping centers along East Highlands Ranch Parkway
Shopping centers with big box stores and national grocers dot centrally located thoroughfares, including East Highlands Ranch Parkway and South University Boulevard. “Our master-planned community strategically places commercial services within a 2-mile radius of residential properties,” Bailey says. “Our restaurants range from family-fun establishments to fast food-style eateries and five-star establishments.” Village Center West shopping mall and Highlands Ranch shopping center have a variety of restaurants and name-brand retailers selling clothing, hobby supplies and hardware. Just northeast of the city, Park Meadows is a traditional indoor mall.
Pick-up essentials from the Target in Highlands Ranch-Lone Tree.
Just northeast of Highlands Ranch is Park Meadows, a traditional indoor mall.
Highlands Ranch's restaurants range from family-fun establishments to fast food-style eateries and five-star establishments.
Highlands Ranch
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Commutes from the DTC to Denver
Centered between U.S. Route 85, regionally recognized as “CanAm Highway,” on the west side and Interstate 25 on the east, Highlands Ranch has direct access to two Denver-bound roads. According to United States Census Bureau data, the average commuter time for Highlands Ranch is about 25 minutes, which is on par with the national average of almost 27 minutes. In addition to Fortune 500 companies downtown, I-25 leads to the Denver Tech Center (DTC), roughly 15 miles away. Many of Highlands Ranch’s roads are either bike-friendly or have dedicated lanes; still, most travel by car. The Regional Transportation District (RTD) serves the community with bus stops along the west- and east-bound roads of East Highlands Ranch Parkway and South University Boulevard. Just east of Highlands Ranch, in Lone Tree, there are two RTD light rail lines: the E Line, which leads about an hour north to Denver’s Union Station and the R Line, which runs to Aurora’s Center Station in roughly an hour and a half.
State Highway 470 runs east to west, traveling through the city’s northern area where the UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital and the Children’s Hospital Colorado South Campus are both located. The highway merges into Extension 470, a toll road beginning around the I-25 and CO-470 interchange that leads directly to the Denver International Airport. Although the Centennial Airport is about a 10-mile drive away, it is primarily a general aviation airport. The nearby Denver International Airport provides commercial flights to over 200 destinations, including nonstop flights to international cities.
Lower crime scores than the national average
Highlands Ranch is served by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, which has a Community Camera Program that partners with local homeowners for neighborhood surveillance. Despite county-wide increases across both property and violent crime reports, the city’s neighborhoods maintain a CAP Index crime score below 3 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
Written By
Lauren Melton
Photography Contributed By
Laurel Turton
Video By
Anne Sheridan
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GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Highlands Ranch, CO sell after 36 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Highlands Ranch, CO over the last 12 months is $710,000, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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