Blog > 8 Small Towns Near Denver Everyone Is Moving To in 2026
8 Small Towns Near Denver Everyone Is Moving To in 2026
by Alex Saldana
8 Small Towns Near Denver Everyone Is Moving To in 2026
By Alex Saldana, Colorado Real Estate Broker (License #042865) · July 29, 2026
▶ For the full breakdown, watch the video on YouTube.
The eight small towns near Denver pulling in the most new residents right now are Castle Rock, Parker, Elizabeth, Brighton, the Carbon Valley trio, Berthoud, Bennett, and Erie, with median prices ranging from about $467,000 to $750,000.
Which small towns near Denver are growing the fastest?
Erie, Elizabeth, and Castle Rock lead the pack, with Erie ranked the 15th fastest-growing city in the entire country by the Census Bureau.
Not everybody moving to Denver wants packed suburbs and an hour of traffic every day. That's exactly why buyers keep pushing out into the smaller towns around the metro that still offer more space, newer homes, and a different pace of life. One quick geography note before we get into the list: unlike a lot of metros, Denver's real growth towns aren't out west. That's the foothills and the mountains. The new construction and the space are mostly to the south and to the north. The eight towns seeing the biggest influx right now are Castle Rock, Parker, and Elizabeth to the south and southeast, Brighton, the Carbon Valley trio of Firestone, Frederick, and Dacono, Berthoud, and Erie up north, plus Bennett out east. I've been helping people relocate to Denver since 2010, and these are the towns coming up in almost every conversation lately.
Why are buyers choosing Castle Rock and Parker?
Castle Rock's population now sits around 80,000, up from about 73,000 just a couple of years ago, and it's still climbing.
Castle Rock sits in Douglas County right on I-25, about halfway between Denver and Colorado Springs, so it works for commuters heading either direction. You get that newer master-planned feel with serious amenities: The Meadows and Founders Village neighborhoods, the outlets, The Promenade, and the giant Philip S. Miller Park. The median home price runs right around $650,000 to $690,000, more than double the $308,000 median from 2010. Parker, just north and still in Douglas County, is a bit more established. It kept a real downtown along Main Street with local restaurants, the PACE Center for the arts, and year-round community events. Medians run around $660,000 to $700,000, with condos and townhomes noticeably cheaper as an entry point. Parker is one of my favorite suburbs because you can find 4 to 5 acres of horse property just 5 minutes outside of town. Both feed into the well-regarded Douglas County School District.
Where can you still find acreage and a rural lifestyle near Denver?
Elizabeth, in Elbert County, is one of the fastest-growing communities in Colorado by percentage and still offers genuine horse property.
Elizabeth sits southeast of the metro and has something the newer suburbs can't recreate: a true rural, small-town feel with open land and that wide-open Colorado lifestyle. The draw is simple. Buyers can still get acreage and a country setup within striking distance of the metro, and for less than they'd pay in Parker right next door. Traditional homes land somewhere in the high $400s to the $600s, with acreage properties that include barns and horse setups climbing from there. Some larger parcels can even qualify for agricultural exemptions, which knock down property taxes once you get into real acreage. Elizabeth runs its own smaller school district, and a lot of families like that tighter-knit setup. New subdivisions are opening, so the town is growing, but it still feels like the country. If acreage is the priority, Elizabeth belongs at the top of your list.
What are the most affordable small towns near Denver?
Bennett has a median price around $467,000 with new construction in the low $400s, about 35 miles east of Denver on I-70.
Bennett is still genuinely small, around 4,000 people, with a grain elevator standing over the old town center and open prairie all around. New construction in the low $400s is almost unheard of this close to Denver, and you're only about 30 minutes from the airport. Brighton, 20 miles north of downtown, is another value play with a median around $475,000 to $500,000, well below the metro average. It has an actual historic downtown dating to the 1870s, plus newer communities like Brighton Crossing, and District 27J schools run a four-day week a lot of families love. Then there's Carbon Valley: Firestone, Frederick, and Dacono in Weld County, about 20 minutes from both Denver and Boulder. Medians run in the low to mid $500s, but new construction starts in the $300s to low $400s, served by the highly regarded St. Vrain Valley School District.
Why is Erie the headline growth story right now?
Erie's population jumped more than 9% in a single year to around 38,000 to 39,000 people, and it has more than doubled since 2010.
Erie sits up north between Denver and Boulder, and the Census Bureau recently ranked it the 15th fastest-growing city in the entire country, the highest of any community in Colorado by a wide margin. It's an old coal mining town that reinvented itself into one of the most desirable spots in the metro. The draw is location and lifestyle: minutes from Boulder's job market, an easy run into Denver, tons of trails and parks, a great community center, and the Colorado National golf course. I'll be honest, the desirability shows up in the price. New construction medians run around $750,000, and Erie has one of the highest median household incomes in the metro area. Schools are split between the St. Vrain Valley and Boulder Valley districts, so always check which one a specific home feeds into. If you can stretch the budget, Erie is the energy center of north metro growth.
Is Berthoud worth the longer commute?
Berthoud grew from about 8,000 people in 2018 to around 13,000 today, sitting about 45 minutes north of Denver and 20 from Fort Collins.
Berthoud calls itself the garden spot of Colorado, and it earns the nickname. You get quaint, tree-lined streets with Victorian-era homes mixed in with brand new developments, a cute downtown, an annual Oktoberfest, and even hot air balloon launches. Because it's a little further out, Berthoud tends to draw people who want small-town character and don't need to be in downtown Denver every day. The TPC Colorado golf course and Lone Tree Reservoir are right there, schools are top-rated, and newer construction medians run in the low to mid $600s with plenty of options around that number. It's been growing fast, but it has held onto its charm better than most towns on this list. If you want a town with real soul that still has new homes going up, Berthoud is kind of a special one, especially if your work points you toward Fort Collins or Loveland.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest small town near Denver to buy a home?
Bennett is the value leader with a median around $467,000 and new construction in the low $400s about 35 miles east of Denver. Carbon Valley (Firestone, Frederick, Dacono) is close behind, with new builds starting in the $300s to low $400s depending on the builder and floor plan.
What is the fastest-growing town in Colorado right now?
Erie holds that title. The Census Bureau ranked it the 15th fastest-growing city in the entire country, the highest of any Colorado community. Its population jumped more than 9% in a single year to roughly 38,000 to 39,000, and it has more than doubled since 2010.
How far is Castle Rock from downtown Denver?
Castle Rock is about 30 minutes from downtown Denver on I-25, and roughly the same drive south into Colorado Springs. That halfway position is a big reason it keeps growing, since it works for commuters heading in either direction. The population is now around 80,000.
Can you still buy horse property near Denver?
Yes. Elizabeth in Elbert County is the standout, with acreage, barns, and horse setups still available, and some larger parcels qualify for agricultural tax exemptions. Parker also has 4 to 5 acre horse properties about 5 minutes outside of town, and Brighton has horse-friendly pockets like Weddle Farms.
Which small towns near Denver are best for airport commuters?
Brighton and Bennett are the two best picks. Brighton sits about 20 minutes from Denver International Airport with a median around $475,000 to $500,000, and Bennett is about 30 minutes away with new construction in the low $400s. Both give you easy access without airport-adjacent congestion.
What school districts serve these growing towns?
Castle Rock and Parker feed the well-regarded Douglas County School District. Carbon Valley and part of Erie use St. Vrain Valley, with the rest of Erie in Boulder Valley. Brighton's District 27J runs a four-day week, and Elizabeth and Bennett each run their own smaller districts.
Thinking about buying or selling in Denver?
Call or text (303) 552-4804 for a no-pressure conversation about your situation.
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