CENTRAL DENVER · BROADWAY TO DOWNING, COLFAX TO 7TH AVENUE
Capitol Hill
Denver’s most crowded neighborhood, with old mansions, brick apartment buildings and condos a short walk from downtown.
Location: Central Denver, from Broadway to Downing Street, between Colfax and 7th Avenue | Vibe: Dense, walkable, a lot of history | Known for: Mansions, apartment buildings, Colfax music venues
Capitol Hill runs from Broadway east to Downing Street, between Colfax and 7th Avenue. It had 16,675 residents in the 2020 Census, more than any other Denver neighborhood, packed into a few dozen blocks.
Denver’s wealthy families built mansions here in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and a few of the best ones are still standing along 8th Avenue and Pennsylvania Street. Most of the old houses were split into apartments or torn down for apartment buildings, which is why the blocks now mix 1900s brick with mid-century buildings.
What the housing looks like
Around nine out of ten homes here are in apartment buildings, and most residents rent. Many of the buildings went up between 1940 and 1969. For buyers, that means condos: studios and one-bedrooms in older brick walk-ups, units in mid-century buildings, and a few lofts and townhomes. Single-family houses are rare.
The condo you buy is only as good as the building it’s in. I look at the HOA budget, the reserves, recent assessments, parking and the heating system before I look at the paint.
Capitol Hill at a glance
Residents
16,675 people in the 2020 Census, up from 14,708 in 2010.
Getting around
There’s no rail stop here, and the downtown D, H and L light rail lines are suspended until early 2027. Buses run on Colfax (15 and 15L), 12th Avenue (10), 6th Avenue (6) and Broadway (0), and 6th Avenue leads west to I-25.
Public schools
Listings across the neighborhood show Dora Moore ECE-8 at 846 Corona St, then Morey Middle School and East High School. Check the DPS school finder for a specific address.
Rules to know
Parts of Capitol Hill are Denver historic districts, including Quality Hill (designated 1993) and the Pennsylvania Street district. Inside them, exterior alterations, additions, new construction and demolition go through Landmark Preservation design review.
“Capitol Hill is where I send buyers who want to walk to work, walk to a show and own something for less than a house costs.”
Central Denver
Discover Capitol Hill
Local spots worth knowing
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Governor’s Residence
The Boettcher Mansion at 400 E 8th Ave, built in 1908 and designed by Marean and Norton. It’s the official governor’s residence now, and free tours are offered on a schedule.
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Malo Mansion
A Spanish Colonial Revival house at 500 E 8th Ave, designed by Jacques Benedict around 1921. It’s a block east of the Governor’s Residence.
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Grant-Humphreys Mansion
The 1902 mansion at 770 Pennsylvania is now a History Colorado event venue. The lawn beside it is one of the few patches of green in this part of Capitol Hill.
Capitol Hill real estate
Most of what sells in Capitol Hill is a condo, and values are down 5.6% over the past year, so buyers have more room to negotiate than they did a few years ago. Condo prices also vary a lot from one building to the next. Two one-bedrooms a block apart can sell tens of thousands of dollars apart because of HOA dues, parking or the state of the building. For a specific unit I pull recent sales in that building and the ones like it.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index for Capitol Hill, Denver, as of August 31, 2026. All home types, including condos and townhomes.
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Who buys in Capitol Hill
Most Capitol Hill buyers want to own close to downtown at a price below what a house costs.
First-time buyers
People who want to stop renting and stay in the middle of the city, in a studio or one-bedroom.
Car-light buyers
People who walk or bike to work downtown and don’t need a garage.
Investors
Buyers looking for a condo that rents easily, in a building whose rules allow it.
Capitol Hill questions I get asked
Is Capitol Hill the same as Cheesman Park?
No. Downing Street is the line. Capitol Hill is west of Downing and Cheesman Park is east of it. Listings and locals often blur the two, so I check the address.
What should I check before buying a condo in an older Capitol Hill building?
The HOA budget and reserve study, recent and planned special assessments, what the dues cover, whether a parking space comes with the unit, the age of the boiler or heating system, rental rules, and whether the building is approved for FHA or VA loans if you need one.
Is parking a problem?
On many blocks, yes. Plenty of older buildings have no off-street parking, and some blocks use residential permit parking. If you have a car, a deeded or assigned space adds real value, and I make sure we know exactly what comes with the unit.
Nearby neighborhoods
Cheesman Park is just east across Downing. Golden Triangle is west across Broadway. Alamo Placita is just south, with more single-family houses.
Buying in Capitol Hill? My Denver home buyer’s guide walks through the whole process in 10 steps.
Thinking about Capitol Hill?
Let’s talk about which buildings are well run and which have big repairs coming, what you’d give up on parking, and what units like it have actually sold for.
Or call or text 720.454.5432