Living in Westminster Colorado
Westminster is a growing suburban community that offers a broad choice of homes for sale, excellent schools, and public facilities. The best features in Westminster include the hundreds of recreational activities. In addition to traditional suburban neighborhoods, homes for sale in Westminster are located in new pedestrian-friendly developments with built-in retail, office and recreational amenities. For a modern view of Westminster, visit City Hall, where you can climb the 181 stairs to the top of the bell tower for a fabulous view of the entire metro area and the Rocky Mountains. Westminster’s real estate includes a variety of housing and neighborhoods, from apartments and starter homes up to luxury executive homes. If you are planning a move to Westminster, you’ll find the information you need right here.
Discover What It’s Like Living in Westminster
Westminster is a located in both Adams and Jefferson County, a northwest suburb of Denver. The Westminster Municipal Center is located 9 miles from the Denver metro area. The city population is estimated at 113,140. In July 2006, it was ranked as the 24th best place to live in the USA by Money magazine. With direct access to major highways, the City of Westminster is centrally central located between the Denver metro area and Boulder, putting it within easy reach of the main business centers, retail centers, and a variety of entertainment and recreational facilities. New urbanism and mixed-use neighborhoods have been developed, and many Westminster neighborhoods are nestled in and around parks, golf courses, and open space. The list of fun things to do in Westminster is endless. There’s movie theaters, recreation centers, golf courses, parks, open space trails, ice skating and roller skating, soccer, miniature golf, swimming, and hundreds of restaurants and retail stores. Westminster has everything you need for doing business and having fun.
Gold discovered in the South Platte River in 1858 brought national attention to the area that would become Westminster, Colorado. The promise of fortune and the Land Act of 1862 encouraged many settlers from the east to make Colorado their home instead of heading over the Rocky Mountains and on to California. Before the settlements came, wildlife like antelope and buffalo made their homes in this area. In 1891, Construction began on the Westminster Castle, which can still be seen as of today at West 83rd Avenue and Federal Boulevard. Westminster borders Arvada along Sheridan Boulevard with Arvada on the west side and Westminster on the east side. Preserving open spaces throughout the city has been a priority in Westminster for more than 25 years. Since 1985, when voters first approved a sales tax specifically earmarked to acquire and maintain open space, the city has bought approximately 2,953 acres in all parts of Westminster. These vital open space areas preserve essential view corridors in the city, enhance recreational opportunities for residents through a series of interconnected trails, and sustain a rich variety of plants and wildlife. There are lots of fun family activities in Westminster, but few compare to the transforming experience you’ll have at the Butterfly Pavilion. Get up close and personal with over 5,000 animals! Meet Rosie the tarantula and explore the tropical rainforest where 1,600 butterflies rule the sky! It’s the zoo of small wonders and BIG experiences!
The City of Westminster is embarking on a process to transform the former auto-oriented Westminster Mall into a vibrant, mixed-use urban downtown in the heart of the city. By acquiring the land and preparing the master plan for its downtown, Westminster has put itself in a strong position to build the urban center its community expects, not a lifestyle or retail center developed by one master developer. Downtown Westminster will be an actual city center – unique, vibrant and genuine – developed over time, one block at a time, by different developers and builders. Early market interest in the new downtown by the real estate and development community has been strong, affirming the city’s strength of vision for an authentic, mixed-use city center built out on a block-by-block basis. The city plans to begin construction in the summer of 2015, starting with the utilities, parks, streets, parking structures, and pedestrian and bike paths. By as early as late 2016, the first mixed-used residential, office and commercial buildings could begin to rise, with the first residents, businesses, and visitors to follow as early as late 2017 or early 2018. In November 2014 Westminster City Council adopted the Westminster Downtown Specific Plan, a detailed plan that sets out the framework for the streets, public spaces and land uses for the new Downtown Westminster. The award-winning* design vision for Downtown Westminster is for a high-density, urban-scale, mixed-use development that will become a community and regional destination. The Westminster Mall was previously center for the city, and the new downtown will lift the site to an even higher level. Downtown Westminster will be an active urban center with distinctive parks and open spaces paired with retail, office, hotel, civic and residential uses.
Goals for the Project Include:
- Creating an urban district with a vibrant street level that is active and engaging.
- Supporting architecture and public spaces that emphasize the site’s visual and physical prominence.
- Encouraging an active, engaging pedestrian experience.
- Designing for all modes of transportation, including vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians.
- Creating an extensive network of parks, trails and other green spaces.
- Providing easy access to transit options, including the Park-n-Ride station and a future FasTracks commuter rail station.
Cost of Living and Median Home Price
Highest Sale Price | Median Home Price | |
Single Family Detached Homes | $1,652,907 | $219,000 |
Townhomes and Condominiums | $409,000 | $143,000 |
Rental Housing | NA | $775 |
Couple the low unemployment rate with the more than reasonable cost of living and Westminster may be for you. Though the cost of living comes in at 7.1 percent higher than the national average, the minimal figure does not threaten thousands of locals from living a quality life. According to CNN Money, a median family income of $80,967 and a median home price at $187,500 are made in the city. If you’re looking to rent rather than purchase property, the common one-bedroom space in the sector starts at $700. As for utilities, the cost of services greatly depends on family size and usage. Check out the following link for more information. Best Places Cost of Living
About Westminster Schools
Top Rated Schools in Westminster
Commute Time is about a 20-minute drive in either direction, and the drive from Westminster to Denver International Airport takes approximately 30 minutes. There is easy access to Denver and Boulder.
Top Employers
# | Employer | # of Employees |
---|---|---|
1 | Avaya | 900 |
2 | St. Anthony North Hospital | 800 |
3 | Ball | 533 |
4 | Black Knight Financial Services | 500 |
5 | McKesson | 500 |
6 | Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association | 490 |
7 | Alliance Data | 479 |
8 | Trimble Navigation | 362 |
9 | Kaiser Permanente | 340 |
10 | Reed Group | 325 |