Aurora Highlands
Aurora, CO
Aurora’s most ambitious new community — 4,000 acres between the mountains and the plains, east of E-470 near Denver International Airport. Seven active builders with 30-plus model homes open, an on-site P-8 school, 22 miles of planned trails, 13 parks, a 110-foot clock tower marking the entrance, and a Beach Club and Ice and Recreation Center on the way. The Denver metro’s first large master-planned community in years, and still very much in progress.
- Zip Code80019
- Community Type4,000-acre master plan — actively building
- Home StylesSingle-family, townhomes — 8 residential villages
- Year Built2019–present (multi-phase buildout ongoing)
- Price RangeHigh $300s–$600s+
- HOA/CABYes — Community Authority Board
- School DistrictAurora Public Schools (APS)
- Key DrawDIA Access · 7+ Builders · Beach Club Planned
The Denver Metro’s First Large Master Plan in a Generation
Aurora Highlands is the kind of community that doesn’t come along often — a 4,000-acre master-planned development that, when complete, is planned for more than 32,000 residents across eight residential villages. The scale of the ambition puts it in the same category as Highlands Ranch and Stapleton in terms of what it represents for Aurora’s growth. A 110-foot clock tower marks the E-470 interchange entrance, and 30-plus model homes are now open from seven national and regional builders spanning a wide range of price points, home sizes, and design approaches. Aurora Highlands formally opened to the public in 2024 and has been steadily adding residents and infrastructure since.
The community is positioned east of E-470 approximately two miles north of I-70, placing it at the intersection of regional highway access and proximity to Denver International Airport — a location that appeals specifically to households with regular travel needs, DIA-area employment, or a desire to be positioned for the continued growth of the east Aurora and airport corridor. The community is served by Aurora Public Schools, with an on-site Aurora Highlands P-8 campus already welcoming students and Vista PEAK Preparatory serving high school-age residents.
Buyers choosing Aurora Highlands today are doing so in a community that is still being built. Construction crews are visible, new parks and retail pads are taking shape, and early residents are meeting their neighbors as amenities roll out. That is the trade-off and the opportunity: buyers who enter now get new construction at some of the metro’s most accessible new home price points, in a community whose infrastructure and amenity package will continue to grow around them over the coming years.
Note on planned amenities: The Beach Club (indoor/outdoor pools, slides, splash pad, hot tub, volleyball) and Ice and Recreation Center are planned community amenities that are not yet open. Hogan Park at Highlands Creek and Winged Melody Park are currently available. Buyers should verify the current status of specific amenities before purchasing with the expectation of immediate access.
E-470 at I-70 — DIA Under 20 Minutes
Aurora Highlands sits on E-470 approximately two miles north of I-70, with Denver International Airport accessible in under 20 minutes — a practical daily advantage for households with frequent travel needs, DIA-area employment, or a preference for easy airport access. The Denver Tech Center and downtown Denver are reachable via E-470 and I-70. Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center is visible from the community’s entrance. The east Aurora and DIA corridor has been the focus of significant commercial and infrastructure investment, which means the retail and dining landscape surrounding Aurora Highlands will continue to develop as the community fills in.
Buyers should understand that Aurora Highlands’ east location means Southlands and the established SE Aurora commercial corridors are a longer drive than from neighborhoods like Copperleaf or Tallyn’s Reach. The community is designed to eventually include its own civic center, retail spaces, and commercial amenities within the master plan footprint — but those are still in development.
22 Miles of Trails, 13 Parks, and a Beach Club on the Way
- Hogan Park at Highlands Creek (nearly 100 acres)
- Public art installations and performance plazas
- Climbing walls and zip line at Hogan Park
- Nature play with linear challenge courses
- Pollinator gardens and natural stream corridors
- Winged Melody Park (open)
- 13 parks planned throughout the community
- 22 miles of trails — paved and natural surface
- Athletic fields and playgrounds
- Beach Club (planned — pools, slides, splash pad, hot tub)
- Ice and Recreation Center (planned — indoor pool, climbing wall, courts)
Hogan Park at Highlands Creek is the community’s signature outdoor space — nearly 100 acres of open land with public art installations, a performance plaza, climbing walls, a zip line, nature play areas, linear challenge courses, and pollinator gardens running along natural stream corridors. It is designed as the gathering point for the entire community, and at its scale it offers a park experience more comparable to a regional destination than a typical neighborhood park. The full 22-mile trail network and 13-park system are being built out in phases alongside the residential villages.
Education in Aurora Highlands
Aurora Highlands is served by Aurora Public Schools. The on-site Aurora Highlands P-8 school serves the community from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. High school students attend Vista PEAK Preparatory. APS plans four new schools in the community as buildout continues.
Aurora Highlands is served by Aurora Public Schools, not Cherry Creek School District. School assignments are address-specific and subject to change as new schools open. Always verify your specific school assignment directly with APS before purchasing.
Many Active Builders — Something for Every Budget and Style
Aurora Highlands launched with the broadest builder lineup of any new Denver metro community in years, covering entry-level new construction through semi-custom homes across eight residential villages. Builder collections vary significantly in size, price, and design approach — touring multiple model homes is the most effective way to identify which builder and collection fits your needs before committing.
Richmond American is one of Aurora Highlands’ most active builders, offering four distinct collections spanning a wide range of home sizes, price points, and design approaches. From the larger Estate collection to the more compact Urban collection, Richmond covers more of the community’s price spectrum than any other single builder.
View builder website →Taylor Morrison offers three collections in Aurora Highlands covering single-family and townhome options. The Town collection targets buyers looking for lower-maintenance attached living within the master plan, while Landmark and Horizon serve single-family buyers at different size and price tiers.
View builder website →Tri Pointe brings three collections to Aurora Highlands with a focus on contemporary design and open floor plans. Their approach to indoor-outdoor flow and modern interior aesthetics tends to appeal to buyers prioritizing design quality alongside community infrastructure.
View builder website →Century Communities offers its Colorado Collection in Aurora Highlands, providing an additional single-family option with the national builder’s focus on value-driven construction and accessible entry price points within the master plan.
View builder website →Colorado-based Bridgewater brings 17 semi-custom home designs to Aurora Highlands — a product that allows more personalization than typical production home builders. Bridgewater’s presence gives buyers who want more design input a local builder option within the master plan.
View builder website →David Weekley, the first builder to earn the Triple Crown of American Home Building, offers its Vistas Collection in Aurora Highlands. Known for an extensive custom choices program and a focus on strong personal relationships with buyers through the build process.
View builder website →Life in Aurora Highlands — What Early Residents Say
Aurora Highlands residents in the community’s early phases describe a neighborhood that feels like it is in motion — new parks taking shape, neighbors introducing themselves, model home tours becoming social events, and the DIA commute that turns out to be more manageable than expected. The trade-offs are real: retail and dining options within immediate reach are limited while the commercial areas of the master plan are still being built, and construction activity is a daily reality in an actively developing community. The buyers who are happiest here are the ones who chose it specifically for what it will be — and who view getting in early as the point, not a compromise.
Aurora Highlands’ signature outdoor space — nearly 100 acres with public art, a performance plaza, climbing walls, a zip line, nature play, pollinator gardens, and natural stream corridors. Designed as a regional-scale gathering place rather than a typical neighborhood park.
The planned Beach Club will anchor Aurora Highlands’ aquatic recreation with indoor and outdoor pools, water slides, a splash pad, a hot tub, and a volleyball court. Verify current construction status before purchasing with the expectation of immediate access.
The planned Ice and Recreation Center will add an indoor pool, a climbing wall, and basketball courts to the community’s amenity package — a state-of-the-art facility that will serve as the community’s indoor recreation anchor once complete.
Denver International Airport is under 20 minutes via E-470 from Aurora Highlands — one of the most practical daily-life advantages the community offers for frequent travelers, households split between locations, or residents with DIA-area employment.
Aurora Highlands P-8 is built into the community’s master plan, keeping the elementary and middle school journey within the neighborhood. APS plans to add additional schools as the community’s population grows toward its long-term buildout target.
New construction in Aurora Highlands comes with builder warranties, energy-efficient systems, contemporary finishes, and the ability to personalize selections — advantages that established resale neighborhoods in SE Aurora can’t offer at comparable price points.
Homes for Sale in Aurora Highlands
Ready to Call Aurora Highlands Home?
Multiple builders, 30-plus model homes, price points from the high $300s, an on-site P-8 school, DIA under 20 minutes, and a master plan that keeps growing around you. Navigating the builder collections takes a knowledgeable advocate. Let’s figure out which one fits your life.