Peterson House · National Register of Historic Places
Dakota Ridge’s story
Dakota Ridge in pictures
The archive holds 5 maps from 1945 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →
Dakota RidgeCO
A town of 33,753.
2 bordering townsMap →
Bradford House II · Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 3.0
Population
33,753
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$605K
Census ACS
Household income
$121K
median
Median age
41.1
years
Jobs based here
3,992
A commuter town
TownGrade
A
#14 of 158 in CO
Is Dakota Ridge a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Dakota Ridge grades A overall, ranked 14th of 158 in Colorado. It has 24 miles of trail. CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 96% of the country and the median household earns $121K. The trade-off is money: the typical home is worth about $605K, 5.7 years of the Denver metro’s $106K median household income. Dakota Ridge’s trail density is 2.5 miles per square mile, above both the Colorado town median (1.3) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4). Peterson House and Bradford House II is on the National Register of Historic Places. Dakota Ridge is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 75% of U.S. towns.
What makes Dakota Ridge stand out
Where Dakota Ridge beats most towns.
Get outside
24 miles of trails in Dakota Ridge
23.1% of the town is conserved land, across 23 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Dakota Ridge grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Colorado), ordered by how far Dakota Ridge is from typical.
HealthCentura Health-St. Anthony Hospital 6.8 miles awayA+Open →Jobs & incomeAOpen →Cost of livingC−Open →SchoolsA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.2 of 20; 1.8% of households have no car; 1.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →Hazard riskhail tops the listC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 93 attractions →Red Rocks Amphitheatre and 62 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Dakota Ridge. Close and well known come first.
Big draw5 mi TheatreRed Rocks Amphitheatre
Big draw11 mi Stadium & arenaEmpower Field at Mile High
11 mi Stadium & arenaBall Arena
3 mi LandmarkColumbine Memorial
12 mi Stadium & arenaCoors Field
11 mi Theme parkElitch Gardens Theme ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Red Rocks Amphitheatre: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Empower Field at Mile High: Thelastcanadian, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ball Arena: KM Newnham, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Columbine Memorial: Denverjeffrey, CC BY 3.0 · Coors Field: Matt Kozlowski, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Elitch Gardens Theme Park: USGS, Public domain
Getting set up
Moving to Dakota Ridge: who provides what
Dakota Ridge is unincorporated, so Jefferson County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerXcel Energy15.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterLakehurst WSDNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet10 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesJefferson CountyJefferson County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Colorado you can register online until 8 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 8 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereJefferson County Clerk and RecorderJefferson County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP codes80127, 80465, 8023580127 70% · 80465 26% · 80235 4%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Dakota Ridge.
Dakota Ridge sends most of its workers to Denver and beyond and has a shorter frost-free season than most of the country, though not than most of Colorado.
OutdoorsA+
Conserved land covers 23.1% of Dakota Ridge
Robert A. Easton Regional Park, at 448 acres with 3.1 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
#34for trails in CO
23.1%
conserved · 1,422 of 6,166 acres
24 mi
of trails · 2.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Robert A. Easton Regional Park | 3.1 mi | 448 |
| 2. Harriman Lake Park | 3.1 mi | 132 |
| 3. Weaver Creek Park | 0.8 mi | 21 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsA−
Dakota Ridge’s schools rank ahead of 78% of Colorado districts
Its public schools are run by the Jefferson County School District No. R-1. Three of its 11 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
78%of CO districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Ridge Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 851 | B− |
| Dakota Ridge Senior High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,277 | A |
| D'Evelyn Junior/Senior High SchoolTop results in townGrades 6–12 | Grades 6–12 | 1,212 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CO on state tests and graduation
HealthA+
For health, Dakota Ridge earns an A+
21% of Dakota Ridge adults binge drink, where Colorado’s towns sit at 18% and U.S. towns at 16%. 12% of adults get no exercise outside work in Dakota Ridge. Dakota Ridge beats the Colorado average on 7 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 0.
96%healthier than U.S. townsA+Health Grade
| Dakota Ridge | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 18% | 16% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 16% | 25% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 26% | 35% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 27% | 35% |
26 measures vs. Colorado
7 better19 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Dakota Ridge | CO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 7.4% | 11.1% |
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 6.3% | 9.2% |
Centura Health-St. Anthony Hospital
6.8 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
74th
percentile among CO towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Most working residents commute out of Dakota Ridge
Dakota Ridge has 3,992 jobs for its 17,222 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out. Jobs based here grew from 2,884 in 2013 to 3,992.
Most working residents leave Dakota Ridge for work: only 4% work in town. 24% of Dakota Ridge workers work from home. Jobs based in Dakota Ridge grew to 3,992 in 2023, 1,108 more than in 2013.
4%work in town
| Dakota Ridge | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 24% | 18% | 11% |
| Median household income | $121,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 4.4% | 8.5% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.6% | 7.8% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Dakota Ridge4%
Denver25%
Lakewood15%
Centennial4%
Aurora4%
11 mi
median commute distance
3,992
jobs based in Dakota Ridge
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 75% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Dakota Ridge has four seasons and pleasant summers
The Marston Fltr Plt weather station records that the frost-free season runs about 160 days: shorter than most of the country, but longer than 89% of Colorado places with climate records.
Dakota Ridge has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. July afternoons reach 87°, January nights drop to 19° and about 34 inches of snow falls in a winter.
34″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter19–47°
Spring34–62°
Summer55–85°
Fall36–66°
Oct 11
typical first frost
May 2
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than Colorado overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 43% of residents (39% statewide). 51% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 46% across Colorado.
41.1median age · CO 37.7
| Dakota Ridge | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 51% | 44% | 29% |
| Under 18 | 20% | 22% | 22% |
| Median age | 41.1 years | 38.3 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 16% | 15% | 18% |
Dakota RidgeColoradoUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school18%
Some college18%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s34%
Graduate17%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±1.4 points. Across Colorado, 49.3% of residents are women. Median age: women 42.5, men 39.5.
| Dakota Ridge | CO | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 8.3% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.7% | 10.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.7% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 14.1% | 15.7% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.6% | 14.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.1% | 12.2% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 15.5% | 11.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 10.7% | 9.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.3% | 5.9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.3% | 7.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 17.8% | 19.7% | 26% |
| Some college | 17.9% | 19.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10% | 8.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 33.6% | 28.1% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 17.4% | 17.6% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Moderate risk in Dakota Ridge, with hail at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 52% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Dakota Ridge since 2023.
52risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HailInland floodingTornadoes
1
paid flood claims since 2023
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade C−
For cost of living, Dakota Ridge earns a C−
Dakota Ridge’s median rent is $2,176 a month.
$605Kmedian sale price
| Dakota Ridge | Colorado towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,176 a month | $1,807 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 84% | 71% | 73% |
Market temperature
16
days on market
99.6%
sale-to-list price
52
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Dakota Ridge
17pages on Dakota Ridge
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
14 within 15 miles of the center of Dakota Ridge
Denver SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Littleton6 miArapahoe Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Littleton6.1 mi$4,434 in-state tuitionColorado School of MinesUniversity or college · Public · Golden10.3 mi$21,914 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Dakota Ridge residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Colorado.
A commuter town
96% of working residents leave Dakota Ridge for work
Where Dakota Ridge’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
3,992jobs based in Dakota Ridge
4%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Dakota Ridge’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Dakota Ridge.
Ken CarylLakewoodDakota Ridge
How the neighbors grade
| Town | CO rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota Ridge | #14 | A | C− | — | A− | A+ |
| Ken Caryl | #11 | A | C− | — | A− | A+ |
| Lakewood | #97 | B− | C− | D− | A− | A |
Dakota Ridge and Ken Caryl report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Dakota Ridge with a neighbor →
Questions about Dakota Ridge
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Dakota Ridge, CO a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Dakota Ridge grades A overall, better than 90% of U.S. towns and #14 of 158 in Colorado. It grades A+ for health and A− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Dakota Ridge, CO expensive?
Yes. The typical home is worth about $605,000, 14% above the Colorado typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.