I grew up in Lakewood as well. It's a great place -- affordable, close to the mountains and and easy drive to downtown! There are lots of clean, affordable neighborhoods. I'm particularly partial to Green Mountain. Most of the houses are Hutchinsons, a builder in the 1950's and '60's who built these little brick "forts." They're amazingly well constructed, and many of the neighborhoods they were built in have aged well. If access to the 6th Ave. freeway and downtown are important, the Meadowlark and Meadowlark Hills area (roughly Alameda to 6th, Wadsworth to Garrison) is good as well. Particularly east of Carr and north of 1st Ave., there's a wide variety of architectural styles and the houses have very large lots. There's also a large park in the middle of the Meadowlark neighborhood (between 1st and 6th, Carr and Garrison.) We used to sled there when I was a kid!
