Denver is known as the Mile High City because it is located exactly 5,280 feet above sea level. Denver is the heart of an active metropolitan area that embraces newcomers and visitors. The Metro Denver area consists of seven counties—Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson.
Denver is on the high plains of Colorado at the base of the Rocky Mountains. The city features moderate temperatures, low levels of humidity and abundant sunshine which provide an ideal climate for year-round activities. In fact, the area has more annual days of sunshine than either San Diego or Miami Beach.
Winter storms are usually short-lived, and snow melts rapidly. However, the nearby mountains and ski resorts receive significant annual snowfall, allowing residents to enjoy the best of both worlds—a mild climate for hiking, biking and a variety of outdoor activities, as well as a nearby environment for snow skiing, snowboarding and other mountain activities.
Denver's climate is best described as "semi-arid," averaging a little less than 16 inches of precipitation annually. This diverse region ranges from a vibrant central business district with a cosmopolitan urban atmosphere to small communities with a distinctly rural flavor and picturesque mountain towns in the foothills of the Rockies. From the stately Victorian houses of Five Points to the hip restaurants and nightclubs of historic LoDo. Denver's laid-back attitude is evident in its neighborhoods. You can explore the city on a B-cycle, Denver's pioneering bike sharing system.
Denver is Colorado's shopping capital, with unique stores in Larimer Square, Denver Pavilions, LoDo, and both upscale shops and independently-owned boutiques in the Cherry Creek Shopping District.
The City of Denver is home to an active and historic downtown area with lofts and high-rise housing options, as well as tree-lined neighborhoods that also have historical roots.A city of distinctive neighborhoods, Denver's cost of living remains affordable. Living here is easier on your wallet than California or East Coast cities, as well as Chicago, Minneapolis or Portland. Colorado's focus on low taxes, coupled with the region's high household incomes, has kept the area's cost of living at or near the national average. Denver ranks slightly above the national average for cost of living, but well below many other major cities.
Although housing has appreciated in recent years, the Denver market has recently stabilized and offers some of the best housing values of any major metropolitan area. Numerous housing options are available in the area, ranging from executive housing to entry-level homes and apartments.