Apartments for Rent in Golden, CO
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Renter's guide to Golden, CO

Idyllically located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, and lying along Clear Creek, Golden is a suburb of Denver. The small, historic gold-rush town of Golden is rated the 4th best place to live in Jefferson County, and ranks 22nd best suburb for young professionals in Colorado. It’s also rated the 37th suburb with the best schools in the state, making this small, olde worlde town extremely popular with families as well as young professionals. Tourism is popular in summer, and local colleges lend a college town vibe.

With a population of 20,365, Golden is a mid-sized city compared to other Denver suburbs, and is somewhat dwarfed by nearby cities such as Lakewood (156,000), and Arvada (120,000). It has an area of around 10 sq. miles, making it around 15 times physically smaller than Denver City.

Golden is around 15 miles west of Denver, and downtown can normally be reached within 15 to 25 minutes via State Highway 58, or U.S. Highway 6, both of which pass through the city providing quick and easy access east and west. The city is located on the southeast section of Denver belt, with State Highway 470 heading south and 93 heading north 20 miles to Boulder.

Golden’s climate is characterized by hot, pleasant summers, and cold, snowy winters. July is the warmest month, with highs averaging 85°F, while January sees lows of around 19°F. With an average of 19 inches of rainfall per year, Golden is below the national average of 38 inches. Rain is more common during summer and autumn, with August and September seeing the highest levels. Golden sees an average of 73 inches of snowfall per year, which is heaviest between November and April.

Tips for renting in Golden, CO

Things to do in Golden, CO

While the Rocky Mountains provide plenty of hiking, climbing, and skiing opportunities just outside of town, there are a number of parks within Golden, offering a wealth of activities to enjoy. Parfet park is a popular choice near downtown and along the banks of Clear Creek, offering volleyball courts, fishing in the creek, a walking trail, picnic areas, tubing in the river, and seasonal events, such as ‘Movies in the Park’ throughout summer. Along the creek you’ll also find a variety of paved and unpaved walking and cycling trails, as well as kayaking and rafting areas.

The Golden Farmers Market runs every Saturday morning in summer, and provides fresh, local produce, as well as local arts, crafts, and delicacies. Golden Town Center is one of the most popular malls, with decent prices and a good selection of stores, ensuring you can find almost all you need within one place, as well as restaurants.

For more bespoke, boutique stores however, it’s worth heading to downtown, while you’ll find a variety of independent shops, from thrift stores to leather works, jewelers to mountaineering supplies, there’s something for everyone. Downtown is also home to a huge number of breweries, distilleries, restaurants, bars, and taverns to satisfy every taste. Take the Coors Brewery Tour for a slice of history, and then compare old with new at Barrels & Bottles Brewery taproom just around the corner.

Golden, CO employment & economy

The median household income in Golden is $61,918, just over the national average, but somewhat lower than state and county averages. Employing 16.1% of the workforce, Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services is the most common industry in the city, followed by Educational Services (14.9%) and Health Care and Social Assistance (11.7%). Meanwhile, the highest paid industry is Mining, Quarrying, and Oil & Gas Extraction.

The most common jobs held by residents of Golden are in sales and related occupations, management occupations, and office and administrative support roles. Compared to other cities, Golden is home to more residents employed in physical and social science occupations, while the highest earners hold positions in legal occupations and computer and mathematical occupations.

Education in Golden, CO

Golden is served by the Jefferson County R-1 School District. There’s only one public high school in the city, Golden High School, which is ranked as the 11th best public high school in Jefferson County, and 69th best in Colorado. It continuously scores above average in terms of test scores, college readiness, and student progress. Bell Middle School is the only middle school, which does well in terms of test scores, but could improve in other areas. There are 5 elementary schools in the city, and Mitchell is the top-rated, ranking 10th best elementary school in Jefferson County and 100th in Colorado.

In terms of higher education, Golden is home to the Colorado School of Mines, which specializes in engineering and applied science. It continuously ranks as the top institution in the world for mineral and mining engineering.