Why Young Professionals Love Living in Adams County, CO

Christopher Chase Edmunds

The median age of those living in Adams County is 34, which is among the lowest in Colorado and below the statewide average – a clear indicator that young professionals love living and working in the region. 

Adams County resonates with young professionals because it offers all the advantages of a Colorado lifestyle but at a more affordable cost of living. 

Made up of diverse communities that neighbor Denver and stretch out to the Eastern Plains, Adams County offers its residents wide-open spaces, great restaurants, a thriving arts and culture scene, plenty of job opportunities and built-in support for entrepreneurs. 

Westminster: ‘Hidden Gems’

When Callie Sumlin Sutton and her husband were ready to buy a house in 2019, they knew they wanted to be near Denver but still be close to Boulder. They found the sweet spot: a home in historic Westminster, which is one of several unique communities that make up Adams County. 

A publicist who works with local restaurants, Sumlin Sutton says she loves her neighborhood because she has easy access to the Big Dry Creek Trail and is close to the studios and shops in the arts district. Plus, she has proximity to a light-rail station that zips down to Denver. On top of all that, her neighborhood is close to major highways, making trips to the airport and heading into the high country a breeze.

“I work from home, so I love being able to enjoy the area’s various coffee shops and get out of the house,” says Sumlin Sutton, who is a member of the Denver chapter of the Junior League and various local food- and writing-focused networking groups. “I also frequent the Irving Street Library for a change of scenery and to check out new cookbooks and novels.”

Sumlin Sutton is a short walk from Subjective Coffee, her neighborhood coffee shop, and Valente’s, an Italian deli and institution that’s been in business for more than six decades. (“Get the cannoli,” she says).

Sumlin Sutton also loves Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters, an airy and bright coffee shop that hosts coffee classes and is a favorite for the work-from-home crowd. She also says to check out Kuluka Boba + Sweets, the spot in town for fluffy, chewy mochi doughnuts. Other great restaurants include Machi Ramen & Poke, Woody’s Wings N Things and Guadalajara for green chile everything. 

“We have so many great restaurants and markets here,” she says.

As for other weekend destinations, some of her favorite outings include picking up groceries at H Mart (an Asian supermarket), shopping for plants and flowers at a local garden center and settling in for a movie at Alamo Drafthouse.

Aurora: Stunning Views

Ainslee Reese, a grant project research assistant and restaurant server, moved to Aurora in the summer of 2023. She grew up in nearby Boulder and went to college there, so after graduation, she wanted to check out a new part of the metro area. Aurora turned out to be the right move.

“One great pro about this area is all of the diverse cuisine,” Reese says. “There are so many different options for meals, drinks or snacks nearby where we live that I can walk to and experience new things.” 

Her home is close to the Stanley Marketplace, which has a collection of more than 50 shops and restaurants that are independently owned. Reese loves to meet up with friends for dinner here or connect with them over a cup of coffee and shop from the local businesses come the holidays. 

Another advantage of living in Adams County? All of the open space and scenic views of the mountains to the West. Some of the highlights spread across the county include Barr Lake State Park, which has an ADA-accessible fishing pier and is a spot to see bald eagles, and Rocky Mountain Arsenal, a former chemical weapons plant that’s now a wildlife refuge. 

“I don’t think a lot of people realize how much open space there is, and how stunning the views are from where we live,” Reese says. “It’s incredible!”

Q&A: Housing Is More Affordable in Adams County

Looking to set down roots in Adams County? You’ve made a good choice. Not only will your dollars stretch further here because home prices are more affordable than they are in Denver and surrounding areas, but this section of the metro area has new neighborhoods popping up that are great for young professionals and growing families. Tara Bazata, a Realtor with Distinct Real Estate, details the housing market in Adams County. 

What are some popular areas in the region for young professionals and growing families?
Thornton is growing quickly, and there are many opportunities to find a home that’s great for growing families since there are several neighborhoods with pools and active HOAs. Some neighborhoods that stand out are Signal Creek, Hunters Glen and Rolling Hills, just to name a few. 

Northglenn is a solid choice, too, with some well-built mid-century homes and a diverse generational mix. Karl’s Farm is a new neighborhood in the heart of Northglenn that’s located at the site of a former dairy farm and has a mix of home styles. 

There’s a fair amount of new construction going on in Brighton, so prospective buyers have more options than ever. If you’d like to head east, Bennett is a wonderful community, and they have a lot of new development in the area. Commerce City has been a new construction workhorse for many years, and they continue to have a new construction presence in Adams County, too. The same applies to Aurora.

What’s the range of median home values in Adams County?
Home appreciation has definitely settled. From January 2023 to January 2024, single-family homes saw an appreciation rate of 2.93% in Adams County. While this is lower than we’ve seen in Colorado over the last nine or 10 years, it is still up over the national rate of 1.4%.