Highlands, Denver: The North Side's Restaurant District

Highlands at a Glance

Highlands sits on Denver's north side, just across the South Platte River from LoHi and a short drive from downtown. It's one of the most walkable neighborhoods in the city — a 95 Walk Score puts nearly every errand within reach on foot — and the dining and bar scene along 32nd Avenue and Tennyson Street is what most buyers come here for first [1]. If you're comparing Denver neighborhoods where you can actually leave the car at home most days, Highlands and LoHi are the clear leaders among the north-side options.

Highlands is a premium market. The median single-family list price is $1,262,500, and homes here are sitting on the market for a median of 61 days — longer than the Denver metro's 46-day pace [2][3]. It moves more slowly because there are fewer buyers at this price range. If you're looking here, you can take your time and make sure it's a good fit, but know that well-priced homes still move.

Living in Highlands

Getting Around

You can get almost anywhere you need on foot and run most errands without a car — Highlands earns a 95 Walk Score and an 89 Bike Score, making it one of the easiest places in Denver to live without relying on driving [1]. Transit is available if you need it, but not as convenient here, with a Transit Score of 64 [1]. If transit is important to you, you'll want to pay close attention to where in the neighborhood you live.

Amongst the north-side neighborhoods, Highlands and LoHi both score much higher than Sloan's Lake, Sunnyside, and Berkeley [1]:

Neighborhood	Walk Score	Bike Score	Transit Score
Highlands	95	89	64
LoHi	93	87	66
Sloan's Lake	60	80	38
Sunnyside	60	66	40
Berkeley	65	75	33

The Houses and Streets

You'll find older brick homes and Victorian-era houses on tree-lined blocks. The blocks closest to the shops on 32nd and Tennyson tend to have the most foot traffic and the most renovation activity; the quieter streets further out feel more residential and private.

The neighborhood spans a wide price range — from entry-level cottages to significant luxury builds — so the median doesn't tell the whole story. What you see walking the streets is a neighborhood in active transition, with renovated originals sitting next to brand-new construction.

What's Around

Highlands has an amazing food and nightlife scene, with over 80 restaurants, bars, cafes, and pubs closely packed together [4]. Popular spots include My Brother's Bar, Linger Restaurant, Forest Room 5, Just Be Kitchen, and Kunjani Cafe Denver — and that's just scratching the surface of what's within walking distance of most residential blocks [4].

If you like green space, Highlands has more than 13 acres of park space between Viking Park, Fishback Landing Park, and Hirshorn Park [4]. Runners and bikers will love the South Platte River Trail, which runs through the neighborhood for about 1.5 miles and connects you to Denver's broader trail network [4].

Schools

Highlands is served by Denver Public Schools [5]. At the elementary level, families here choose between five K–5 schools through the DPS SchoolChoice process rather than being assigned to one: Beach Court, Centennial, Edison, Rocky Mountain Prep Berkeley, and Trevista at Horace Mann — the Northwest Elementary School Enrollment Zone covers most Highlands addresses [5]. From there, students feed into Lake Middle School (grades 6–8, 1820 Lowell Blvd) and North High School (grades 9–12, 2960 North Speer Boulevard) [5].

Who Lives Here

Most residents here are renters, with just 36% of homes being owner-occupied [6]. Households tend to be smaller — the average is about 1.7 persons, so your neighbors are mostly singles and couples rather than families with kids [6]. Median household income is $132,014 [6]. If you're planning to stay a while, that's worth thinking about: renters move more often than owners do.

Buying in Highlands

The Market

Highlands is a premium market. Homes here sit on the market longer than in Sloan's Lake, and prices run meaningfully higher [2]. Higher-end homes are around $1.6 million [2].

Neighborhood	Median list price	Price per sq ft	Median days on market	As of
Highlands	$1,262,500	$454	61 days	Aug 2026
Sloan's Lake	$1,025,000	$432	47 days	Aug 2026
Denver metro	$800,000	—	46 days	Aug 2026

Across Denver, homes are selling for about what sellers are asking [3]. Here in Highlands, with homes sitting longer than the metro pace, you may have slightly more room than you would in a faster-moving market, but don't expect to talk someone down significantly on a well-priced home.

Strategy

The wide price spread in Highlands means comp selection matters a lot. Homes that look similar from the outside can be priced very differently based on interior finish, lot position, and recent renovation. I'd recommend getting a detailed comp analysis before making any offer, not just a quick neighborhood average.

That 61-day pace gives you time to be deliberate — you're unlikely to get pulled into a bidding war on most listings here [2]. That said, well-priced homes at this level still attract serious buyers quickly, so when you find something that fits, be ready to move. The right home and the overpriced home can look similar from the outside; the difference shows up when you compare recent sales, and that's exactly what I'll walk you through.

Ready to See Highlands for Yourself?

If you're weighing Highlands against LoHi, Sloan's Lake, or other north-side options, the price points and lifestyle differences are real and worth walking through with current comps in hand. You can get a deeper look at how Highlands compares to its neighbors in our LoHi neighborhood spotlight, or browse the broader picture in our Denver neighborhoods overview. I'm happy to pull recent closings, show you what's active at your price point, and help you figure out whether the neighborhood fits what you're looking for. Book a consultation and let's talk through your situation.

Sources

1. Walk Score
2. Zillow listings data — Highlands (August 2026)
3. Zillow listings data — Denver Metro / FRED (June–August 2026)
4. OpenStreetMap
5. CDE District + School Performance Framework (2024-25); Denver Public Schools SchoolChoice
6. U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year (2020-2024)

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Paul McCoy, Realtor | Fathom Realty | License #: FA.100105533 | (319) 325-0668 | pmccoy626@gmail.com

Paul McCoy is a licensed real estate professional in Colorado. Equal Housing Opportunity.