Founded:  1864

County:  Douglas

Zipcode: 80134 & 80138

Population: 42,000 within the town's boundaries

Land Area: 18.8 square miles
 

Median Income: $82,691

Median Age:  34.7

Home Median Value:  $250,000

School District:  Douglas County School District RE 1

Student/Teacher Ratio:  16.8/1

About Parker

What is there not to love about Parker, Colorado?  It is truly amazing for a town with a traditional American main street to be so close to a major city like Denver. This is why Parker, Colorado has become one of the major relocation destinations in the Denver metro area.

Parker has quickly become one of Colorado's fastest growing cities by offering an incomparable quality of life to young families, single people, and retirees alike. With its close proximity to Denver (only 20 miles), Parker offers easy access to the city of Denver while still maintaining its small town charm. Parker residents enjoy a strong family-oriented country lifestyle with urban conveniences. This makes it an ideal place to live and work and why it is often one of the most popular places for relocation to Colorado.

Parker residents appreciate all of this while enjoying breathtaking views of the majestic Rocky Mountains spanning from Pikes Peak to Long's Peak. The community also offers endless recreational opportunities through a multitude of walking trails, parks and a solid recreation system.

Development

As Denver expanded to the south decades ago, Colorado residents yearned for a more countrified lifestyle but still needed access to major highways. Many homebuyers found Parker to be their logical choice for relocation.  Only 20 years ago, Parker was considered to be the state's rural equestrian capitol with only a county market and two-lane highway.  This all changed in the past two decades as many of the local country stores gave way to well-planned residential communities, commercial developments and shopping centers.

The Parker area is now home to almost every major convenience imaginable including three major supermarkets, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, a newly opened Target Super Center, an array of casual and fine dining opportunities.

In addition, Parker residents have easy access to the major highways including I-25 and E-470, and to major business centers in the Denver Tech Center. All of these conveniences have contributed to Parker's reputation as a wonderful place to live and raise a family.

Schools

The exceptional Parker lifestyle would not be complete without the benefit of Douglas County's award-winning schools.  The Douglas County School District has an exceptional reputation based partly on high rankings among both state and national schools.  The district´s test scores are consistently higher than state and national averages and its student to teacher ratio of 26-1 is admirable. The graduation rate in the two Parker high schools, Ponderosa and Chapparal, is 95% with 83% of all graduates pursuing additional schooling from universities, business or technical schools.

Housing

Options abound when planning Parker relocation.  Parker residents can choose between town home developments, condominiums, traditional homes, home sites with acreage, and many award-winning communities.

Some of the popular Parker communities include Pradera, where the 2006 Parade of Homes was held, Stonegate, The Pinery, Stroh Ranch, Canterberry Crossing, Auburn Hills, Bradbury Ranch, Clarke Farms, The Timbers, Hidden River, Meridian, and many more desirable communities.

Parker, Colorado, located in northern Douglas County, is 20 miles southeast of Denver. Between 1990 and 2000, Douglas County grew an astounding 191%, making it the fastest growing county in the country. The Town of Parker grew 332% during the same period, which ranked as the fastest growing municipality in the country.

Parker homebuyers have many housing options including traditional suburban homes, condominiums, homes with acreage, and even horse properties. There are many communities in the Parker area to choose from including Pradera, where the 2006 Parade of Homes was held, Stonegate, The Pinery, Stroh Ranch, Canterberry Crossing, Auburn Hills, Bradbury Ranch, Clarke Farms, The Timbers, Hidden River, NeuTowne at Parker, and Meridian.

Parker is located right off of E-470, I-25, and U.S. Highway 83, which allows for easy traveling for work or for pleasure.

Parker Demographics

Very few large businesses are based in Parker so the majority (78%) of residents, who are mainly employed primarily in professional positions, commute to the major business centers based in the Denver Tech Center or in downtown Denver.

The median income in Parker is around $83,000 per year, which means that residents generally fall into the middle class to upper middle class category.

As is typical in most suburban communities, the majority (70%) of Parker residents are married and just over half (52%) have children. Parker residents are highly educated with over 82% having completed at least some college. The Town of Parker currently has a population of 40,000, but projections indicate that this number will likely top 80,000 in 2030.
 

Education

The Douglas County School District is generally considered to be one of the best school districts in the state. City dwellers are often attracted to these top-notch schools and make the move to the suburbs for improved education for their children.

The Douglas County School District, which has a student to teacher ratio of 26-1, has test scores that are consistently higher than state and national averages. The admirable graduation rate in the two Parker high schools, Ponderosa and Chapparal, is 95% with 83% of all graduates pursuing additional schooling from universities, business or technical schools.

Recreation

Parker, which prides itself on its sense of small town charm, holds many community events throughout the year including an annual Christmas horse drawn carriage parade, a country festival every summer, and numerous cultural events throughout the year.

Parker, Colorado, a boomtown over the past few decades, is attractive to real estate investors for many reasons including its close proximity to the city of Denver, its highly-educated population, its elevated median household income, and its quaint small-town feeling.

Only a few decades ago, Parker was considered a rural equestrian area. The town consisted of a country market, a two-lane highway, and a few locally owned businesses. Today, there are over 70,000 in the greater Parker area and approximately 41,600 people living within town boundaries. From 1981 to 2005, the Town of Parker grew from a population of 285 to a current population of 41,600. Projections from the Town of Parker show that the population will further grow to over 52,000 in 2010, close to 60,000 in 2015, and to 72,000 in 2030. Eventually, the Town of Parker will have a population of around 85,000 while the greater Parker area will reach close to 150,000 people. These growth projections make Parker an attractive place to invest in real estate for long-term equity gains.

Parker property values have appreciated close to 3% per year over the past few years, which is comparable to other communities in the Denver metro area. While this may be a small gain compared to other areas, Parker is due for an increase in property values over the next few decades as more people move into the area. Parker is located right off of E-470, I-25, and U.S. Highway 83, which centers it in an ideal location to capitalize on the entire Denver metro area´s growth.

Investors looking at the Parker real estate market have many different options to choose from in the communities of Pradera, where the 2006 Parade of Homes was held, Stonegate, The Pinery, Stroh Ranch, Canterberry Crossing, Auburn Hills, Bradbury Ranch, Clarke Farms, The Timbers, Hidden River, NeuTowne at Parker, Cottonwood, and Meridian. While single-family homes primarily dominate the Parker landscape, there are also many condominiums available for investors.

Parker´s Economy

Parker´s economy is based primarily on Denver´s economy with the majority (78%) of residents commuting to companies located in downtown Denver or in the Denver tech center. The Town of Parker, which employs 350 people, is one of the largest employers in Parker. Parker residents, who work in mainly professional, sales, managerial, or technical positions, have a median household income of around $83,000 per year.

Although many large corporations are within a 15-minute drive of the Parker area, there are plenty of local amenities built on 2.2 million square feet of retail space. Parker is also home to the new Parker Adventist Hospital and borders the top-notch Sky Ridge Hospital in Lone Tree.

Parker Rental Market

Some Parker residents, who are weary of higher interest rates and a sluggish housing market, are choosing to rent and enter the housing market later. This is optimal for investors wishing to rent properties. According to Apartmentratings.com, a one-bedroom apartment in the Parker area currently rents from $738 to $851 per month, which is an increase of over $80 per month from 2008.