7.7 out of 10

Capitol Hill

Ranked 13th best neighborhood in Denver
39.7365685237429 -104.979987499977
Great for
  • Internet Access
  • Eating Out
  • Neighborly Spirit
  • Public Transport
  • Gym & Fitness
Not great for
  • Pest Free
  • Parking
  • Childcare
  • Clean & Green
  • Lack of Traffic
Who lives here?
  • Singles
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters

Reviews

3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 2/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 1/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
2yrs+

"Truly downtown living"

When you drive through Capital Hill it seems as if it is much like any other neighborhood downtown. But when you slow down or walk, you can see the true charm of the area. The old brick buildings and houses are really lovely, with huge trees lining the streets and a great mix of little shops and restaurants. It has a good vibe to it and I always enjoy being in this area. Some years ago it wasn't as pleasant as it is now, with questionable characters roaming about at all hours of the night.

Due to it being in the heart of Denver there is obviously going to be traffic, especially on the more major arteries, but within the neighborhood on the smaller residential streets the traffic isn't bad. Parking is another story. If you don't have a space that you've paid for it can be tough finding one, especially if you get home later than most of the rest of the neighborhood.

Within Capitol Hill is the actual Capitol building. It's worth taking a look at as the inside is really pretty neat and dates back to 1908. If you call in advance they have tours available for anyone interested and sometimes you can sit in and listen to the legislature.

The northern side is bordered by Colfax Avenue and this part always look kind of dirty and unkept to me. Other than that I like this area overall. I'm not the kind of person who would enjoy living in the middle of downtown, but if I were I would probably look for an area like this. The people you meet all seem nice and the mix of restaurants and businesses would mean you wouldn't need to travel far to get what you're looking for.
Pros
  • friendly, mellow Denver people
  • great mix of people
Cons
  • difficult to find parking
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Pest Free 1/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 1/5
  • Parking 1/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Schools 3/5
2yrs+

"Classic eclectic Denver, a great laid-back urban vibe"

I lived in the heart of Capitol Hill for six years (near 11th and Penn). Like many locals, I love this neighborhood dearly. It is a truly quintessential Denver city neighborhood. It has seen boom-and-bust times. Decades ago, most of it was a pretty dangerous neighborhood, with lots of drugs and crime. Some of that still exists, but that's just one of many facets of Capitol Hill, and I was never afraid while living there. This neighborhood is for anyone who likes a mixed urban vibe.
It's adjacent to downtown and has access to everything. When I lived there I was reluctant to leave it. This is partly because everything I needed was already within walking distance, and partly because I wouldn't give up my parking spot without a very compelling reason. I had a car available to me, but either walked or took the bus to school at Auraria or work downtown because it wasn't worth the hassle to pay for downtown parking and then try to find a spot when I got home at night!
All of the buildings are brick or stone, and the streets are lined with huge old trees. Open spaces are minimal/nonexistent, but it's a great place to walk. It's been popular with students and young carreer singles for a long time because of the affordable rents and easy access to downtown. Rents are rising, and it's now not the clearest choice for cheap rents in a decently safe neighborhood, but it's still very affordable and most buildings have a lot of character. The many rentals are mixed in with very high-priced old homes and condos. The whole neighborhood is very pet-friendly, which is another bonus.
There are so many little neighborhood restaurants, bars, stores, and historic buildings (the Molly Brown House among others) that there is always something to do. Many shops and bars (Wax Trax, FashionNation, Buffalo Exchange, The Snake Pit, Pandora's, and on and on) are small places that have been beloved by locals for years. All of it is cheap, too!
If you want a quiet neighborhood with big lawns for the kids to run, then this place won't suit you. But if you love the city, you'll love it here.Everyone is accepted here. It's a neighborhood for students, gays, punks, young, old (although mostly young), hipsters, crazies, freaks, and the straight-laced. Nobody's surprised by anyone else in Capitol Hill. It's all just part of the scene.
Pros
  • affordable
  • great mix of people
  • access to downtown/Auraria colleges
  • friendly, mellow Denver people
  • LOTS to do!
  • safe neighborhood
Cons
  • dog-eat-dog fights for parking
  • costs are slowly rising
  • sometimes TOO youthful and energetic
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 1/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 1/5
2yrs+

"The Roaring Twentysomethings"

Historically one of Denver’s oldest neighborhoods, Capitol Hill is demographically one of its youngest. Originally settled in the late 1800s, Capitol Hill underwent a period of decline in the 1960s and ‘70s. As the neighborhood became decrepit, violent, and impoverished, residents fled the city for the suburbs.

Today, their grandchildren drive in, every Friday and Saturday night, to frequent Capitol Hill’s bars, restaurants, and concert venues. Far from its former reputation for drugs, madness, and violent crime, Capitol Hill is generally a very safe neighborhood. Its density, walkability, and the amount of people taking advantage of its density and walkability all mean that you’ll rarely find yourself alone on a dark street. Those practicing city common sense will probably avoid being victims of crime. Unfortunately, residents don't have nearly as much control in defending themselves from bedbugs, which in this neighborhood, with a high proportion of renters and a lot of apartment turnover, is not an "if" but a "when" if you live in an apartment or condo.

A mere mile or less southeast of the Central Business District, Capitol Hill is an easy walk, bike, or bus commute for those working or studying downtown. Like some other central Denver neighborhoods such as Uptown and Highlands, Capitol Hill’s selection of delicious, eclectic, and relatively inexpensive places to eat and drink seem to present a paradox when viewed side-by-side with the fit and athletic residents – until, that is, you see the amount of runners pounding the pavement every morning and evening. Housing ranges from historic mansions to relatively inexpensive studio apartments, although the area’s traditionally low rents have been rising. Although there’s a good amount of urban grit – spray-painted walls, discarded pizza plates on the sidewalks, and a few too many people who don’t clean up after their dogs – there’s also enough old trees, beautiful historic architecture, and front-yard gardens to take the edge off.

The area’s very youthful demographics could mean that thirty- or forty-somethings looking for a quiet Friday night at home might sigh wearily as they drive their car around and around the block in the futile search for a parking spot, or wake up at 2 a.m. to packs of twenty-one-year-olds shouting drunkenly as they reel down the sidewalk. The area is still diverse enough, however, to avoid feeling like a college flashback. Although Capitol Hill has drawn in the young for well over a decade now, if you take an evening walk you might see, in addition to all the hipsters, a retired couple walking their dachshunds, an orange-robed female monk gardening in front of the Buddhist meditation center, and the guy who drives the #40 bus, all of whom have lived in and loved the neighborhood for years.
Pros
  • LOTS to do!
  • safe neighborhood
  • friendly, mellow Denver people
Cons
  • sometimes TOO youthful and energetic
  • people don't clean up after their dogs
  • could lose diversity and charm in the future
Recommended for
  • Singles
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish

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Best Streets in Capitol Hill

1

East Colfax Ave

3.5/5
"Always interesting and active"
39.7400136013145 -104.986596080306
2

Logan St

3/5
"Careful with Parking on Logan Street - but it's still a great street :)"
39.7336385725038 -104.982282958787

Unranked Streets in Capitol Hill

Clarkson St

3.5/5
"Beautiful homes in the city"
39.7346491023635 -104.977594277351

Corona St

2.5/5
"Little more residental street in the city"
39.7336690549033 -104.974113484208

East 8th Ave

3.5/5
"Nice Quiet friendly area"
39.7290632936258 -104.980025521707

Ogden St

3.5/5
"Nice street in the city"
39.7346466056802 -104.975278638378

Pearl St

2.5/5
"Pretty old buildings, but a lot of crime"
39.7332862480635 -104.979854825803

Sherman St

2.5/5
"Hip street located just off the main streets of the city"
39.7362428636521 -104.984855833453

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