Living in Highlands: A Denver Neighborhood Guide for Homebuyers

Is Highlands a good place to live?

The Highlands, just northwest of downtown across the Platte, packs Victorian streetscapes, one of Denver’s densest restaurant scenes, and skyline views into a few square miles. Highland Square, LoHi, and Sunnyside each carry their own personality — and their own price tag.

Housing and prices

Victorians and Denver Squares share blocks with sleek modern duplexes — the slot-home era reshaped whole streets here. LoHi trades highest on the strength of its dining scene and views; Sunnyside to the north remains the relative-value play with the same bones.

As of mid-2026, the median sale price sits around ~$800K. Treat that as a snapshot rather than gospel — Highlands is a small market, and a handful of sales can swing the number from month to month.

Schools

Denver Public Schools serves the area, with Edison Elementary a neighborhood staple and North High School the traditional anchor. Many families here look to Edison Elementary. (Buyers with school-age kids: confirm current zoning and enrollment directly with the district — boundaries and policies change year to year.)

Getting around

The pedestrian Highland Bridge drops you from LoHi into downtown in minutes on foot — few Denver neighborhoods are this genuinely walkable to the core. Typical commute: ~5–10 minutes to downtown.

Things to do

LoHi’s restaurant row is the calling card — rooftop patios with skyline views, James Beard-nominated kitchens, and a bar scene that keeps evolving. Highland Square on 32nd Avenue adds the neighborhood-scale strip, and Sloan’s Lake — Denver’s biggest — is a short ride west.

The honest trade-offs

Density has costs: parking is tight, slot homes divide opinion, and construction is constant. Prices per square foot rival Wash Park with generally smaller lots, and the nightlife blocks are loud on weekends.

The bottom line

The Highlands fits buyers who rank restaurants, energy, and downtown proximity above yard size. In short, Highlands rewards buyers looking for young professionals and foodies who want skyline access on foot.

If you’re weighing a move, the smartest first step is talking with an agent who knows Highlands street by street — in a market this specific, the local nuances are the entire decision.

Thinking about Highlands? Get in touch for a straight conversation about this market. Browse more Denver neighborhoods, or — if you’re an agent who wants a guide like this for your own market — that’s exactly what we do.