7.3 out of 10

University

Ranked 17th best neighborhood in Denver
39.6729629854707 -104.966655468016
Great for
  • Internet Access
  • Medical Facilities
  • Resale or Rental Value
  • Eating Out
  • Neighborly Spirit
Not great for
  • Gym & Fitness
  • Lack of Traffic
  • Pest Free
  • Public Transport
  • Cost of Living
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • LGBT+
  • Students

Reviews

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

"A great part of Denver"

University is aptly named due to the University of Denver, a private university located here. The Iliff School of Theology is also here as well. I am often in this neighborhood as I enjoy a good game of hockey and other than the Avalanche, the Richie Center at DU is the best place to see one. As a visitor to the area I get frustrated with the traffic on University and especially when you come off of I-25 it can be a nightmare at rush hour. However, if you're willing to pay a few bucks there are plenty of parking lots open during the game and sometimes on a weekend night you can find street parking. For anyone interested in seeing a game at Richie Center (all the college sports teams play there), the arena is really nice and extremely clean compared to other venues. I guess that's par for the course since it's a private university.

When I was younger one of my best friends attended DU and I'd often visit her in the dorms, which I'd say were average. When she moved out she lived in a nice older home in the neighborhood and many of those older brick homes are still there, commanding a hefty price. The neighborhood itself has tons of large, older shade trees and beautiful brick homes they just don't make anymore. There are a ton of small cafes and restaurants within walking distance, but you need to take heed at night. This area unfortunately has a higher crime rate when compared to many other similar areas, and a lot of it seems to be opportunistic crime and assault. It's not unusual for University to be on the news with a reporter telling residents to be on the lookout for someone.

Another good thing about University is its location. Just a sort drive to Denver or shopping further south. It's also really close to Washington Park, one of the best parks in all of Denver. People who live in University tend to really like it and are more than willing to pay a higher price to live here. Although things do quiet down a bit at night, there is always something going on, as is normal for an area with such a strong presence of college aged kids.
Pros
  • gorgeous homes
  • beautiful tree-lined streets
  • Feels like a vibrant university town
  • Great quality of life
  • Lots to do!
Recommended for
  • Trendy & Stylish
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
  • Schools 5/5
2yrs+

"The academic heart of Southeast Denver"

The aptly-named University neighborhood is due to the University of Denver (DU) campus located here. Its old brick buildings and beautiful green campus make this place look like just what it is: a prestigious private university. It's quite self-contained in an older, upscale neighborhood. There are plenty of local restaurant options here, and the neighborhood is also easily accessible to beautiful Washington Park.

Schools of all kinds are peppered through the adjacent neighborhoods, which is one more reason that this area is very popular with families as well as students. The cost of housing can be high here. While there are some affordable apartments, as you might expect in an area with a large student population, there are also many high-priced older brick homes. When I lived near this neighborhood, there also seemed to be a higher crime rate than you might expect for an upscale community of this kind. That might simply be due to the fact that the population density in this area is high. Overall, though, this is a beautiful neighborhood with a lot going for it.

This area is one of the greenest-feeling parts of Denver. There are huge trees everywhere, growing out of lawns and park spaces. If you can't get enough of manicured green spaces, this spot is also close to Harvard Gulch, with its walks, rec center, and par-3 golf course. This is a good spot for families, students, and faculty.
Pros
  • Feels like a vibrant university town
  • Great quality of life
Cons
  • Can feel like a cultural bubble
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • LGBT+
  • Students
4/5
2yrs+

"A College Town Within Denver"

Visitors and new residents are often thrown by Denver’s severe case of University Acronym Dyslexia. The University of Colorado is UC, right? Wrong! It’s CU. And the University of Denver is DU. (Thank goodness for the Community College of Denver, which is, reassuringly, CCD.)

The University of Denver is a large private university, with about 12,000 students. The campus is a tightly-packed mixture of old and new buildings that still preserves a lot of green space. Its students, and the college vibe, spill out into the surrounding University neighborhood.

The neighborhood includes the DU campus as well as the abutting Iliff School of Theology. DU’s strong graduate programs mean that the area is home to, in addition to many undergraduates, graduate students and assorted white-collar professionals. Around the university, you’ll find many apartment complexes geared towards students. Further south, the neighborhood is mostly made up of cute older wooden cottages – many without off-street parking, so residents have learned to parallel-park their Subarus well.

Although the interior of the neighborhood, away from the campus, is quiet, University Boulevard bustles at all hours with students on their way to and from school, or frequenting the many bars, stores, and inexpensive eateries.

Rosedale, Platt Park, University Park, and Wellshire, together with University, constitute a DU-centric enclave south of I-25. Residents are well-educated. Neighborhoods are safe. There’s a lot to do nearby, especially considering the performing arts, music, and sports going on at the university. Owning a home is costly, but the area offers a great quality of life if you enjoy the feel of living in a university town. This, however, can be its own drawback: taken in the context of Denver as a whole, the area around DU can feel like a cultural bubble.
Pros
  • Great quality of life
  • Lots to do!
  • Feels like a vibrant university town
Cons
  • Can feel like a cultural bubble
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • LGBT+
  • Students

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