Do your research. Things change. - 11/4/2021

I'm not a CO native. I didn't move here from CA. We've been here over 16 years. We are looking to move. Now that I said that, I'll say this: This is a nice small CITY but the expansive growth has not been welcome to most who have lived here awhile. Housing prices are very high. Public schools are good. Crime is low but rising. Plenty of jobs within 30 miles or so but the traffic now is bigger city traffic and it can take awhile to get to Denver for work. Great if you work from home. It's sunny most of the time. It's also smoky most of the summer from wildfires. I wouldn't recommend this area if you have breathing/lung problems. You can still see the mountains and Pike's Peak in the distance but not like you used to be able to do partly due to the over development and partly due to the smoke in the summer and summers have been like this for YEARS. We are both retired USAF. Buckley AFB is nearby. There are a lot of military and retired military veterans here. We moved here for the large town, small city feel, good schools for our daughters, jobs and colleges nearby AND the wide-open spaces. We don't have much space around here anymore. Much of the open spaces, horse pastures, etc. that were supposed to be protected are now filled with overpriced but cheaply made apartments and houses and if you move here, you need to remember that CO gets very cold and it gets very hot and it's an alpine desert. Utilities are high. Lots of HOAs which I don't mind but green grass is still crazy popular here and it costs a lot of time, effort, water, chemicals and money to keep it lush and green. You're going to need to shovel snow or buy a snowblower. Not many folks around here will do it even for pay. We've used Sperling's for over 16 years and we moved a lot before coming here. We have one more move to go. One more thing: Many of the younger people who can afford to live here are living in the low-income apartments that have sprung up and others are living 2 couples in a 2 bedroom apartment, so, they can afford rent. Parker has lost much of it's charm.

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Do your research. Things change. - 11/4/2021

I'm not a CO native. I didn't move here from CA. We've been here 16 years. We are looking to move. Now that I said that, I'll say this: This is a nice small CITY but the expansive growth has not been welcome to most who have lived here awhile. Housing prices are very high. Public schools are good. Crime is low but rising. Plenty of jobs within 30 miles or so but the traffic now is bigger city traffic and it can take awhile to get to Denver for work. Great if you work from home. It's sunny most of the time. It's also smoky most of the summer from wildfires. I wouldn't recommend this area if you have breathing/lung problems. We are both retired USAF. We moved here for the large town, small city feel, good schools for our daughters, jobs and colleges nearby AND the wide-open spaces. We don't have much space around here anymore. Much of the open spaces, horse pastures, etc. that were supposed to be protected are now filled with overpriced but cheaply made apartments and houses and if you move here, you need to remember that CO gets very cold and it gets very hot and it's an alpine desert. Utilities are high. Lots of HOAs which I don't mind but green grass is still crazy popular here and it costs a lot of time, effort, water, chemicals and money to keep it lush and green. You're going to need to shovel snow or buy a snowblower. Not many folks around here will do it even for pay. We've used Sperling's for over 16 years and we moved a lot before coming here. We have one more move to go.

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GOOD, but become less. - 10/19/2021

This is my 15th year in Parker, CO. Very nice initially. VERY EXPENSIVE to buy a home now. I rented all this time and despite making over $100,000 per year, cannot buy a home here. This is a growing problem everywhere to be fair. The climate is dry, sunny, warm, little snow, and good access to the highways to go North or South in the state. 15 years ago, I would recommend Parker 1st, but Castle Rock is somewhat more pleasant now

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Growing City - 1/10/2016

We moved to Parker a year and a half ago from Oregon. So far the sun and wide open ranges have been very nice. Parker has a mixture of open land, farms and communities and apartments. Cherry Creek runs right through it so it is great for walking or bike riding. The down side is that there is a great deal of growth happening and every parcel of land in town is for sale. In about 10 years the city will be pretty covered with buildings unless you are in the eastside where the larger lots and homes are (which is more expensive). The schools are so-so. The school board has been awful and teachers and principals have left in droves. My son's high school lost over 20 teachers in one year. They hire teachers fresh out of school. The diversity is at a bare minimum, and this is frustrating. You need to go into Denver for the diversity and cultural experience. Cheerful people for the most part as the sun keeps you feeling good.

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dry - 11/13/2015

not enough rain no humidity skin peeling off fingers and feet it is so dry and awful!

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Cost of living is pretty high - 12/8/2014

In Douglas County Colorado the cost of living is among the highest in Colorado. You would be hard pressed to find a house for less than $300k with most decent houses in the $500k or higher range. Water & Sewage are high enough that you REALLY want to conserve water. It is a very beautiful, but costly place to live.

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Parker, Colorado - 2/2/2013

Winters have tamed down 2009 to present. Summers are very dry and mild-hot. Cost of living offers something for every family. Crime (i. e. youth drugs) remains an issue and concern. Arts and culture is coming alive with the new Parker Arts Center. Nice. Parker operates within a reasonable economy. Parker offers good public and private school choices. 30 minutes - 2 hour radius to excellent colleges. Air and water quality is excellent as reported by Army Corp of Engineers. Housing options range from low-income apartments to breath-taking homes. That's Parker, something for every family. Best mayor in Colorado 2004-2012, in my opinion. Involved, accessible, for the people. Good quality of life - Denver jobs; international airport; modest housing price changes; fantastic outdoor recreation. Reasonable drive to mountains; new water reservoir 2013; excellent bike paths between Parker and CO State Parks Most religious faiths represented in the Parker area. Good RTD access in Parker to Denver, Colorado Springs business centers and major colleges. Direct highway to airport.

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Denver-area small town - 2/2/2013

Good small town in Denver-area for families.

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mountain views - 10/13/2011

Beautiful place to live. Great views of the front range.

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schools cost - 8/12/2010

If you live in Parker you are in the Douglas County school district. This district does not give the schools the money they need. This year we lost Spanish and are being charged a bus fee per bus ride. Its too bad they can't put more money into the schools nobody is poor in this county.

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Quality of Life - 8/7/2009

Great sunny weather, okay cost of living, low crime, awesome recreation, low utilities, athletic people, low sales tax (2.9%)

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Perky Parker - 6/1/2009

Parker is full of middle class suburban families living in medium size houses on small lots. It does, however, take its open space and recreational oportunities very seriously. Most families are active in both structured and unstructured outdoor pursuits. And almost everyone has at least one dog....most likely a lab. Schools are considered good, and all manner of big box stores (etc) are available. Crime is low and mostly petty. The growing season is quite short, but the views of snow-covered mountains help to make up for that.

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My favorite place! - 5/15/2009

I LOVE living in Parker. I grew up farther south in Colorado, moved to Utah for ten years, and now I am back. This community is my favorite of all that I have lived in. The town is small enough that traffic isn't a problem. It has all of the basic shopping that I need 90% of the time. The people are great. Everyone has been so nice and friendly. The HOAs make sure that the neighborhoods are well kept up. The schools are great. I have 4 children and this is a great place to raise them. I haven't yet found anything to complain about!

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A New Community with Old Fashioned Traditions and - 12/8/2007

Parker, CO is one of the nicest and most beautiful places to live in America. We are a small and quiet community with many traditional country values. In addition to our annual events like the Parker Country Festival, we also have regular block parties in our communities and care about our neighbors.

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Voted # 26 out of top 100 best places to live by M - 11/9/2007

Parker, Colorado. Country living close in. Booming job market and large community with small town feel.

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Cost of living - 8/20/2007

Cost of living is too high.

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Wow - Great Place - 6/27/2007

I have lived in Parker for 10 years. So, in the beginning, there were very few stores, just what you needed. In the past 7 years an enormous number of retail and resturant establishments have openned. This is good and bad. But overall, this is an awesome place to raise children, if you live south of town you can move into the treed area, and people are friendly. There are all walks of life, and very little crime. Very few people feel the need to protect themselves or be on guard. Children can play freely (as you might remember in your own youth, and didn't think could happen now). The climate is great, mostly sunny - even in the winter. People are involved, there are lots of local sports (golf, tennis, yoga) and events (Parker Days, the Art Guild show). It is small enough that neighbors meet each other, parents work together, and people are generally helpful. I read a few negative comments, I was really quite bewildered! I have never met anyone who didn't like living here!

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Suburbia - 6/23/2007

Parker is a safe, growing, family-oriented community. It offers little to do for college students, like myself. There is plenty of open space and parks. THe people are generally friendly and courteous.

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two for the show - 7/12/2006

I have lived here for 47 years and I naturally have seen alot of changes. The comments I have been reading pretty well sum up what was once a very coveted place to live. Like every where,to many people spoil a good thing and with the increased lack of respect people have for a good situation there is only one outcome and it is not the most desirable. Trying to use the mountains has become impossible on weekends, it now has to be during the week so that you use vacation time. I staybecause I know the area and most times can circumvent bad situations. It is sad to see what was once a very fun place to be with nice suburbs turned in to a money pit driven by the greed of developers and the graft of politicians chasing the tax revenue base that comes from overdevelopment.

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not Utopia - 7/3/2006

Parker is like living in Kansas: too far from the mountains, not much to do. People herald this place as the "place to live" in Denver. But really, there is nothing to support that this place is special. Kid friendly? Yes, just like every other suburb of Denver, Colorado Springs, Albuqueque....At least Castle Rock has mountainous features..

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