Living in
Aurora, CO
Colorado’s third-largest city stretches across three counties and offers some of the most affordable homeownership opportunities in the Denver metro. Aurora is one of the most diverse cities in the state, with distinct neighborhoods ranging from affordable starter homes to upscale lakefront communities, and access to some of Denver’s best amenities right at its doorstep.
Why Buyers Choose
Aurora
Aurora is the value play of the Denver metro. At 163 square miles spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties, it’s large enough to have genuine neighborhood variety. From affordable entry-level condos near the Anschutz Medical Campus to lakefront single-family homes in Southshore and Aurora Highlands. No other community in the metro offers this range in a single city.
The city’s diversity is a genuine strength. Aurora is home to residents from over 100 countries, which is reflected in an exceptional variety of international restaurants, cultural events, and community organizations. The Global Bistro on Havana Street and the Aurora Cultural Arts District have helped transform parts of the city into some of the most interesting neighborhoods in the entire metro.
For buyers focused on value, Aurora’s median home price of around $460K is significantly below the metro average, and the Cherry Creek School District, one of Colorado’s best, covers a substantial portion of southeast Aurora. Proximity to Denver International Airport and the medical corridor at Anschutz makes this an excellent location for healthcare workers and frequent travelers.
Aurora Highlights
- Cherry Creek State Park — 880 acres with a reservoir, beach, and marina
- Stanley Marketplace — one of Denver metro’s best food and retail destinations
- Anschutz Medical Campus — major employer and world-class medical center
- Denver International Airport — 10-15 minutes from most of Aurora
- Light rail access via multiple lines to downtown Denver and DIA
- Aurora Reservoir — swimming, paddleboarding, and fishing
- Over 100 parks and 60+ miles of trails
- Widest range of price points in the Denver metro
What to Expect
Outdoor Recreation
Cherry Creek State Park and Aurora Reservoir offer swimming, boating, fishing, and beaches. Over 100 parks and a growing trail network make Aurora one of the better outdoor cities in the metro.
Food & Culture
Aurora’s diversity drives one of the best dining scenes in Colorado. The Havana Street corridor offers authentic Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Mexican, and dozens of other cuisines. Stanley Marketplace anchors the food scene citywide.
Employment
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is one of the largest medical campuses in the US and a major employer. Denver International Airport, Buckley Space Force Base, and a growing tech corridor round out the job market.
Commute & Access
DIA is 10-15 minutes from most of Aurora — unmatched convenience for frequent travelers. Light rail connects Aurora to downtown Denver and Union Station. I-70, E-470, and I-225 provide road access in every direction.
Schools in Aurora
Aurora spans three school districts. Cherry Creek School District covers most of southeast Aurora and is consistently ranked among Colorado’s top districts. Aurora Public Schools serves the central and northern areas.
Cherry Creek School District
Covers southeast Aurora. One of Colorado’s highest-rated districts with strong AP programs, athletics, and career pathways.
Grandview High School
Cherry Creek District. Consistently ranked as one of Colorado’s top public high schools with excellent college prep programs.
Eaglecrest High School
Cherry Creek District. Strong academics, arts, and athletics with a diverse student body and high graduation rate.
DSST: Montview
Award-winning STEM-focused charter school in Aurora with a strong college matriculation record and project-based learning approach.
Aurora Neighborhoods
Aurora – The Tale of Two Cities. North Aurora features established neighborhoods, higher density and proximity to downtown at an affordable price point. Southeast Aurora concentrates some of the Denver metro’s strongest family neighborhoods — master-planned communities built around Cherry Creek School District access, E-470 convenience, and resort-style amenities that comparable suburbs can’t match. Aurora offers an exceptional number of choices for buyers.
SE Aurora’s flagship planned community — 2000 Parade of Homes showcase, Black Forest Hills Elementary in the neighborhood, Cherokee Trail High’s IB program, pine trees and mountain views that make it feel more mountain than plains, and Southlands five minutes away.
Aurora’s only waterfront community — built on the south shore of the 800-acre Aurora Reservoir with a resident-exclusive Lakehouse, a private Boathouse on Senac Lake, Altitude Elementary on-site, and Fox Ridge Middle and Cherokee Trail High adjacent. Resale market only as of 2025.
A master-planned golf course community built around a Golf Digest Top 10 public course and former Colorado Open host — condos from the mid $300s to custom single-family builds on fairway lots, Grandview High School ranked #7 in Colorado, and European-inspired architecture throughout.
SE Aurora’s fastest-growing master-planned community — Craftsman-style homes, The Arboretum pool and clubhouse, an enclosed bark park, six themed parks, the Canyon Trail through greenbelts, Mountain Vista Elementary walkable from many homes, and new construction phases still being added.
East Aurora’s golf course neighborhood centered around an 18-hole municipal course, with an on-site PK–8 school serving the community, new construction from Lennar, and a price point that gives Cherry Creek SD access at more approachable entry levels than southeast Aurora’s established neighborhoods.
Aurora’s premier active-adult golf community — a gated, primarily 55-plus neighborhood centered on an 18-hole course with resort-style HOA amenities, pickleball, and a social calendar built around active retirement. One of the Denver metro’s most recognized age-restricted communities.
Aurora’s most ambitious current development — a 4,000-acre master-planned community northeast of E-470 with DIA proximity, multiple builders, a town center in progress, and entry price points that give buyers a new-construction option at a cost below SE Aurora’s established neighborhoods.
An established SE Aurora family neighborhood with Cherry Creek School District access at more accessible price points — approximately 7,250 residents, mature landscaping, and the combination of CCSD schools and E-470 access that makes SE Aurora worth buying into at any price tier.
A lakeside SE Aurora community adjacent to Aurora Reservoir with resort-style amenities and a premium price tier that reflects the water proximity and the view quality. Beacon Point gives buyers a Southshore-adjacent lifestyle at a slightly different location and price point.
An established east Aurora neighborhood with E-470 access, Cherry Creek School District coverage, and a price range that gives buyers solid SE Aurora bones at entry-level cost. A practical option for households whose priorities are CCSD and commute over resort-level amenities.
Aurora neighborhood guides added regularly. Not sure which Aurora neighborhood fits your lifestyle, budget, and commute? DC Turner works across the entire Aurora market — from established golf course communities to new construction and waterfront resale.
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Aurora
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Aurora Home
Aurora’s size means the right neighborhood matters enormously. I can help you find the areas that match your priorities, whether that’s Cherry Creek schools, proximity to DIA, or simply the best value in the metro.
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