BUNGALOWS, WEST 32ND AVENUE & SLOAN’S LAKE
West Highlands
Brick bungalows on tree-lined streets, West 32nd Avenue as the main street and Sloan’s Lake at the south end. Northwest Denver at a slower pace than LoHi.
Location: Northwest Denver, Sheridan to Federal and 29th to 38th, bordering Highland, Berkeley and Sloan’s Lake | Vibe: Quiet, residential, walkable | Known for: West 32nd Avenue, early 1900s bungalows, Sloan’s Lake
West Highlands is the residential side of northwest Denver. The blocks are wide and tree-lined, the houses sit back behind front porches, and most of daily life happens along West 32nd Avenue. It’s close to everything LoHi has without the weekend crowds.
What the housing looks like
The original houses are mostly brick bungalows from the 1910s through the 1940s, with some Victorians, Denver Squares and Tudors mixed in. Over the last fifteen years many of those were scraped and replaced with modern single-family homes and duplexes, so it’s common to see a 1920s bungalow next to a three-story new build. The two sell at very different prices, which matters when you’re reading the neighborhood numbers.
West 32nd Avenue is the main street, with Highland Square at 32nd and Lowell as the center. You’ll find independent shops, restaurants, coffee and, since 2025, a Wax Trax record store. On Sunday mornings from May through October the Highlands Farmers Market sets up along 32nd.
Sloan’s Lake sits just south of the neighborhood, so the south side of West Highlands can walk to the 2.6-mile loop. Tennyson Street in Berkeley is just north, and LoHi’s restaurants are a short drive or bike ride east.
West Highlands at a glance
Residents
About 10,300 people at the 2020 census.
Getting around
There is no light rail station in the neighborhood. Downtown is a short drive or bike ride east, and Sheridan and Federal are the main north-south routes.
Public schools
Edison Elementary is on Quitman Street in the neighborhood. Assignments vary by address, so I check the DPS school finder for each house.
Rules to know
Many older bungalows here have been popped up or replaced with modern new builds. Since November 2024 Denver allows accessory dwelling units in all residential zones.
“Some of northwest Denver’s oldest houses are still standing here. Brick Victorians with corner turrets, a short walk from 32nd Avenue.”
Northwest Denver
Discover West Highlands
Local spots worth knowing
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Highland Square and 32nd Avenue
The neighborhood’s main street, centered on 32nd and Lowell. Independent shops, restaurants, coffee and a record store, a few blocks from most houses and without the Tennyson Street crowds.
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Highlands Farmers Market
Sunday mornings from May through October, 32nd Avenue closes to cars and fills with produce stands, food vendors and live music. Half the neighborhood walks over.
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The bungalow blocks
Brick bungalows with deep front porches line most of the side streets, with a few turreted Victorians mixed in. Walk the blocks between 32nd and 38th to see the neighborhood at its best.
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Sloan’s Lake Park
Just south of the neighborhood. The 2.6-mile loop is the easiest Saturday morning in Denver, and the city has committed $50 million to restoring the lake. More on that here.
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Tennyson Street
Just north in Berkeley, with more bars, galleries and shops. Easy to walk or bike to, and nice to have a neighborhood over rather than on your block.
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Dinner nearby
Duo on West 32nd is the neighborhood standby, and LoHi’s restaurants are a few minutes east. Close enough to go often, far enough that the crowds stay there.
West Highlands real estate
Values have been essentially flat over the past year. The neighborhood number blends original bungalows, new builds and condos, which trade at very different prices, so for a specific house I pull sales that match its age, size and block.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index for West Highland, Denver, as of August 31, 2026. All home types, including condos and townhomes.
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Who buys in West Highlands
Most West Highlands buyers have already looked around northwest Denver and know this is the part they want.
Bungalow buyers
People who want an original brick bungalow on a quiet block within walking distance of 32nd Avenue. The good ones don’t come up often, so these buyers watch the market and move quickly.
Families moving up
Often coming from a LoHi condo or a smaller house nearby, and wanting a yard, more bedrooms and a quieter street without leaving northwest Denver.
Relocating buyers
People moving from other cities who want a walkable neighborhood with older houses and character, and who want to live in Denver rather than next to it.
Coming up in West Highlands
Sundays through October 25, 2026
Highlands Farmers Market
West 32nd Avenue between Julian and Newton, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Local produce, mushrooms, baked goods, food vendors and live music. Market details
Every June
Highlands Street Fair
A one-day street fair on 32nd Avenue at Lowell with vendors, food and live music. Street fair details
West Highlands questions I get asked
Is it West Highland, West Highlands or “the Highlands”?
All three get used. The City of Denver’s official neighborhood is West Highland: Sheridan Boulevard to Federal Boulevard, and 29th Avenue to 38th Avenue. Listings, though, use “Highlands” loosely for everything from LoHi to Berkeley to the north side of Sloan’s Lake, because the name sells. If the neighborhood matters to you, check the actual address against the map. I do that before we tour anything.
Why are there modern new builds next to 1920s bungalows?
Many original bungalows were scraped and rebuilt over the last fifteen years, and zoning varies block by block, so some streets allow duplexes while others stay single-family. For buyers, the practical point is pricing. A renovated bungalow and a new build a few doors apart can sell hundreds of thousands of dollars apart, so the neighborhood average won’t tell you much. I compare a house only against sales of the same type.
Can I add an ADU behind a West Highlands house?
In most cases, yes. Colorado law now requires cities like Denver to allow an accessory dwelling unit alongside a single-family home. Lot size, setbacks, height limits and alley access still decide what actually fits, and many West Highlands lots have alleys, which helps. If an ADU is part of your plan, I look at those details on the specific lot before you make an offer.
How will the Sloan’s Lake restoration affect West Highlands?
Denver has committed up to $50 million to dredge and restore the lake and improve the park. Permitting is planned for 2027, with construction starting in 2028 and taking about 30 months. Blocks on the south side of West Highlands, closest to the lake, will notice the construction most. Longer term, a deeper and healthier lake is good news for the whole area.
Nearby neighborhoods
Berkeley is north across 38th Avenue, and Highland is east across Federal. Sloan Lake is south across 29th Avenue, and Wheat Ridge starts across Sheridan to the west.
Buying in West Highlands? My Denver home buyer’s guide walks through the whole process in 10 steps.
Thinking about West Highlands?
My husband and I bought our first Denver home here in West Highlands in 2013. Let’s talk about which blocks fit how you live, how a bungalow compares with a new build on the same street, and what homes like the one you want have actually sold for.
Or call or text 720.454.5432