Parker, Colorado is one of the best suburbs in the state to live in. The town is full of things to do and it seems like there is always an event going on downtown. This city currently has a population of around 54,000 people, but that is rising quickly.
Is living in Parker the right move for you? By the end of this article, you will be able to determine through our detailed list of pros and cons of living in Parker is really a good fit for you and your situation.
The Pros and Cons of Living in Parker, Colorado
Pros of Living in Parker
- Fantastic Neighborhoods and Places to Live
- High Livability Score
- Great Education System
- Unique Town Events
- Centralized Location
Cons of Living in Parker
- Population and Traffic Are Rising
- High Cost of Living
- Snowy, Icy Roads
- Expensive Homes
- Everything Branches Off of One Road
Continue reading to dive into each one of these pros and cons to get all the details you need to know how you feel about Parker living!
Pros of Living in Parker
There are a lot of pros to living in Parker, as you will see below. Many Colorado residents think of Parker as one of the state’s best suburbs. It is newer and smaller than large, established suburbs like Centennial or Aurora. It also has a more spacious feel to it since it is just far enough from Denver to not feel cramped. Continue reading to learn more about some of Parker’s biggest pros!
1. Fantastic Neighborhoods & Places to Live
Parker has amazing neighborhoods and communities to live in. These neighborhoods are always surrounded by incredible views, open fields, and trails. Some neighborhoods are older, but there are many new developments of homes being built constantly. There are also various luxury communities to live in as well.
These neighborhoods are often filled with various parks and pools. There are also some excellent golf courses in Parker’s higher-end communities.
Check out our list of Parker’s top neighborhoods to live in below!
The 11 Best Neighborhoods and Places To Live In Parker Colorado
| Neighborhood | Median House Price |
| 1. Stroh Ranch | $560,000 |
| 2. Cottonwood | $473,000 |
| 3. The Pinery | $780,000 |
| 4. Antelope Heights | $550,000 |
| 5. Pine Bluffs | $715,000 |
| 6. Stonegate | $684,000 |
| 7. Bradbury Ranch | $552,000 |
| 8. Canterberry Crossing | $650,000 |
| 9. Newlin Meadows | $650,000 |
| 10. Pradera | $1,200,000 |
| 11. Downtown Parker | $676,000 |
The neighborhoods above vary in size, age, style, and price so there is typically a good fit for anyone on our list despite what your budget and preferences are! If you want to see current Parker listings in these communities, click below!
2. High Livability Score
Parker’s overall livability score is higher than the national average. It is also ranked very highly in the state of Colorado. This rating is the aggregate of the city’s data point and characteristics, which are then weighted to determine a good standard quality of life in comparison to other cities.
The livability score takes into account education, crime, cost of living, and overall satisfaction of a city’s residents This is a good indicator of how comfortable you will feel living in a given city. Parker ranks 16th in Colorado with a score of 78 out of 100.
3. Great Education System
Education is a very important part of life, and Parker is doing it right. Parker’s schools and overall education system rates are high nationally and state-wide when compared to other cities. These rankings take into account things like public school graduation rates, enrollment rates, teacher-to-student ratios, and student-parent feedback.
Here is a list of some of Parker’s schools
- Chapparal High School
- Legend High School
- Ponderosa High School
- Lutheran High School
- Sierra Middle School
- Sagewood Middle School
- Cimarron Middle School
- Pioneer Elementary School
- Pine Lane Elementary School
- Northeast Elementary School
- Pine Grove Elementary School
Despite what area you live in Parker, there are going to be great schools for the kids to attend. No matter what their age is!
4. Unique Town Events
Paker seems to have more city-wide events than any other Colorado town. The beautiful downtown Parker area is the perfect spot for all sorts of activities that are held all the time throughout the year. It is very common to drive down Parker road and see all sorts of booths, rides, food, and crowds of people completely enjoying themselves. The newly built PACE Center in Parker Colorado is home to 542 seat arts theaters which is one of the best arts theaters there.
Here is a list of popular Parker events
- Parker Days Summer Festival
- Easter Egg Hunt
- Moves in the Park
- Free Music Concerts at Discovery Park
- Art in the Park
- Parker Wine Walk
- Oktoberfest
- Trick or Treat on Mainstreet
- Country Christmas Parade
Some of these events cost money while others are completely free!
5. Centralized Location
Parker’s location is centralized in a good handful of Colorado’s most popular suburbs. You can reach the mountains, downtown, and the airport in a reasonable period of time. The city is located almost halfway between Denver and Colorado Springs, which are Colorado’s biggest cities.
Parker’s Proximity to other cities
- Parker to Denver – 40 Minutes
- Parker to Colorado Springs – 60 Minutes
- Parker to Castle Rock – 20 Minutes
- Parker to Castle Pines – 15-20 Minutes
- Parker to Lone Tree – 15-20 Minutes
- Parker to Highlands Ranch – 20 Minutes
- Parker to Centennial – 10-15 Minutes
- Parker to Aurora – 25-30 Minutes
The city has many quick access points to popular highways such as I-25, 225, E-470, etc which make getting around the Denver Metro area very efficient.
Cons of Living in Parker
Now that we have talked about the Pros of Parker, Colorado let’s talk about the cons of living there. Not every place is perfect, and there are some disadvantages to living in Parker.
Parker Colorado is not a huge city and inventory is very limited. The neighborhoods are great, the schools are great, and the businesses are great as mentioned earlier. This brings a high demand to live in Parker Colorado, but there is not a lot of inventory to support the rising population. This low inventory ultimately results in you/residents paying higher than usual to live in Parker CO.
So, if you really want to live there, be prepared to spend more than you would in other Colorado suburbs. Now, let’s talk about other cons of living in Parker Colorado.
1. Population and Traffic Are Rising
Since 2010, Parker’s population has grown 20.2%. This growth is obviously very fast and it is hard for the infrastructure of the town to catch up. This is part of the reason that the traffic in the city is bad.
If you are used to living in a city, rush hour traffic is something you’re used to dealing with. You are aware that if you go during off-peak hours, you will be able to manage your driving times more effectively. When you live in Parker that is not the case. Despite the town being relatively small, there is still a pretty heavy amount of traffic.
There are often high levels of traffic throughout the day, especially on Parker Road. Weekdays are especially unpleasant since everyone is out and about working or checking off their daily to-dos.
2. High Cost of Living
Many Colorado cities have a high cost of living, and Parker is no exception. In fact, Parker’s cost of living is higher than the state and national averages, especially in the grocery, housing, and transportation areas.
Check out the graph below for a full breakdown of Parker’s cost of living compared to Colorado and US averages,
| Cost of Living | Parker | Colorado | USA |
| Overall | 138.4 | 121.1 | 100 |
| Grocery | 103 | 100.7 | 100 |
| Health | 91.4 | 95.8 | 100 |
| Housing | 207.4 | 166.1 | 100 |
| Median Home Cost | $647,600 | $488,600 | $291,700 |
| Utilities | 97.9 | 98.4 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115.8 | 106.7 | 100 |
3. Snowy, Icy Roads
Winters are rarely super harsh in Colorado in general, but the roads can get pretty snowy and icy. Colorado often has sunny days right after snowfall which melts the snow and turns it into deadly ice when it gets dark. This can be very dangerous in areas like Parker, even just in slow-speed neighborhood areas. This is a big con because you never know when you or a driver near you is going to hit an ice patch and lose control. Inexperienced drivers from out of state can be extra hazardous as they aren’t used to driving in these conditions.
4. Expensive Homes
This disadvantage applies to most towns across the state. The issue that Parker is dealing with is the rate at which housing prices are rising in comparison to the rate of inflation. There are many jobs available in Parker, but they do not pay enough to get the average family into a conventional starting home.
As seen in the table above, the median home price in Parker is $647,600 which is well above what many people can afford, especially those who are first-time home buyers. What makes this crazy is that the housing cost of living index in Parker is double what the US average is. According to Sperling’s Best Places, the average cost of living in Parker CO Is 34.8% higher than the rest of the country.
Take a look at some active Parker listings below and see how it compares to your budget.
5. Everything Branches Off of One Road
Parker is laid out, for the most part, vertically. Parker Road is the main way of transportation throughout the city. It is a north-south road that most everything in the city branches off of. So, in order to get from one area to another, you pretty much have to take Parker Road because there are not many other north-south roads connecting all the neighborhoods, communities, shopping areas, etc together.
This caused a big problem with traffic, as mentioned earlier, but in many cases, it is just inconvenient. In Castle Rock, a neighboring city, there are many different and alternate routes to take beside Meadows/Founders Parkway, the main road throughout the town. If there is ever an accident or road construction, those residents have options. In Parker, you are, for the most part, limited to just Parker Road as your way across town.
More Information about Parker, Colorado
Parker is known for its unique Western-Victorian downtown and its community feel, which it has worked hard to maintain, despite its expanding affluence over the years. Parker has been recognized as a Tree City USA for its outstanding urban forestry for the past 22 years.
Money.com named Parker no.2 on its list of the best places to live in America. Parker is the second most populous town in Douglas County and has a combination of urban and small-town vibe. Parker is located 20 miles southeast of Denver and has a population of a little higher than 50,000 people.
There is a lot to do and see in and around town! Wine walks, concerts, Parker Days, and Christmas Parades are all held near the historic main street. Parker’s residents enjoy the town’s wide-open areas and community-like ambiance, which allows them to feel worlds away from adjacent urban city Denver. But you know if any place has pros, then there will be cons too. So here we are going to tell you some major Pros and Cons of town Parker CO.
On a national and state level, this assessment ranks the elements used to determine liveability and also compares them to another city. While this study should provide a thorough understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of living in Parker, it may not include all aspects that may attract some people. Because shifting to a new city is a significant decision. Hopefully, this article can assist you in making a career shift, relocating, or simply making a change.
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Best Places has more good information on living in Parker, Colorado.
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Very informative.
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