Looking to rent in liberal, outdoorsy, funky 'hood (Denver, Boulder: loans, neighborhoods)

[Veeg]

I'm moving to Colorado from Evanston, IL in June, and am looking for a place to rent in Denver (I've loved Evanston - been there 10 years - but it's time for me to get back to Colorado!). I would love a place that has pretty neighborhoods, a liberal vibe, and cool coffee shops/places to hang out. Someplace where I can have my space when I want it but be near people when I want to be too. I'm single and 40, so I'd also love to be in an area where it's easy to meet people. It sounds like the Highlands or Wash Park might be good places to look ... any advice on how one might choose between the two? Anyplace else you'd recommend?

[2bindenver]

Sloan's Lake

[Sockeye]

Are you kidding?
Boulder by a mile, Veeg.

[zoonik]

Boulder is a good choice, but also check out Wash Park/DU area, lots of grad students, young professionals, and friendly open minded people from all over, with a good in town vibe.

[yodi]

I'd say Highlands

[Katiana]

If you want the college town vibe like you have in Evanston, go for either Boulder or DU/Wash Park.

[kristenfromdenver]

I like Highlands (I live there so I'm biased), but there are cute little coffee shops, people walk around alot. You can easily walk to Lodo the farther east you are. Commons Park near REI and Zengo is full of friendly people. If you have troulbe meeting people, get a dog and you'll be striking up conversations very easily.

[tfox]

Highlands and Wash Park are both great Denver neighborhoods. About 5 years ago, the buzz in Denver was that Highlands was "the next Wash Park." That basically tells you what you need to know.

Highlands is noticeably younger, parts much closer to downtown proper, and more-mixed income than Wash Park. Until very recently, it was known to be much cheaper than always-spendy Wash Park, but parts of Highlands have caught up. Recently, Highlands has a lot more kids (mostly babies -- there has been quite a baby boom there), though Wash Park's schools are at this time undeniably better (more older kids there as well as babies, but still mostly D.I.N.K.s).

Wash Park also has its namesake park. Northwest Denver has several nice parks: Sloans Lake, Berkeley Lake, Rocky Mountain Lake, Highland Park, and some parts are close to Commons Park, but none of them quite measure up to Wash Park, which is IMO the crown jewel of one of America's best park systems. The other thing about Wash Park is that it's pretty much always been a desirable neighborhood, even in the bad old days of the 1980s. Highlands was once seen as the next thing to a ghetto until the very late 1990s.

Really, you're looking at a couple of great Denver 'hoods. The main thing that used to separate them was cost, and Wash Park is still much more expensive. Both have become really expensive, and sadly show no signs of coming back down even in the housing bust. In both cases, some of the nearby neighborhoods (West Wash Park, for Wash Park, and Berkeley, Sunnyside, Sloan's Lake for Highlands) are at a more accessible price point.

[steveindenver]

The Baker Neighborhood is a perfect fit.

[Myblock]

HMM all of Denver now! IF you want yuppies you got them a whole mouthload of them