Best Neighborhoods in Aspen, Colorado
Choosing where to live in Aspen can shape your daily life for years — commute time, school quality, neighborhood feel, home value appreciation. Aspen News has compiled a detailed look at the best neighborhoods in Aspen so you can match your lifestyle to the right area.
How we picked
These rankings consider: school quality (test scores, ratings), safety (crime statistics), commute (proximity to job centers), walkability, property value trends, and community feel. We weight these differently for different types of residents.
1. West End
Median home: $4M-$15M
Schools: Aspen School District (Aspen High School)
Vibe: Historic Victorian
Aspen's historic district of preserved Victorian homes from the 1880s silver era, walkable to downtown and the Aspen Music Festival tents.
Best for: Second-home buyers, history lovers
2. East End
Median home: $3M-$12M
Schools: Aspen School District (Aspen High School)
Vibe: Residential, ski-access
Quiet residential streets at the base of Aspen Mountain, mixing original miners' cabins with modern mountain-contemporary homes.
Best for: Skiers, families
3. Smuggler
Median home: $1.5M-$4M
Schools: Aspen School District (Aspen High School)
Vibe: Local, trail-access
One of Aspen's more attainable in-town neighborhoods at the foot of the Smuggler Mountain trail, with a strong year-round local community.
Best for: Year-round locals, outdoor enthusiasts
4. Cemetery Lane
Median home: $2M-$6M
Schools: Aspen School District (Aspen High School)
Vibe: Riverside residential
Family-friendly homes along the Roaring Fork River and the Rio Grande Trail, just northwest of the core.
Best for: Families, cyclists
5. Red Mountain
Median home: $10M-$75M+
Schools: Aspen School District (Aspen High School)
Vibe: Trophy estates
Aspen's ultra-luxury hillside — sometimes called "Billionaire Mountain" — with trophy estates and panoramic views of Aspen Mountain.
Best for: Luxury buyers
Tips for choosing your neighborhood
- Visit at different times — morning rush, afternoon, weekend evenings. Traffic and noise vary wildly.
- Drive your potential commute at the actual time you'd be commuting.
- Walk the neighborhood — talk to a few people if you can. Local insights are gold.
- Check school ratings on GreatSchools.org or Niche.com, but also visit campuses.
- Look at flood maps for any low-lying or near-water neighborhood (FEMA Flood Map Service Center).
- Get a property tax estimate from a current owner or recent listing — rates vary by ISD and special districts.
- Connect with a local agent who lives in or works extensively in your target area.
Related guides
More from Aspen
Local guides, business directory, and how to reach our readers.