25. Broomfield, Colo.
| AT A GLANCE | |
| Population | 63,676 |
| Median Home Price | $365,000 |
| Property Tax | $2,590 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% |
| Commute time | 26 minutes |
Situated roughly halfway between Denver and Boulder, and with the Rocky Mountains towering in the distance, Broomfield has an enviable location for both living and work. The town is home to Interlocken Advanced Technology Environment, a 963-acre business park where corporations such as Level 3 Communications, a telecomm giant, and Vail Resorts, the global ski operator, are headquartered. Last year alone, the number of businesses that opened in Broomfield jumped 9.1%, helping keep the city’s unemployment rate well below the national average.
With such a strong job market, Broomfield is attracting new residents and building homes rapidly, causing some areas of town to look more like construction zones than neighborhoods. Also, while many of Broomfield’s schools receive top marks, overcrowding has become a problem in some locations.
If Broomfield can work through these growing pains, though, the future looks bright. Plans for a mixed-use city center are in the works, and already residents have access to two recreation centers, more than 8,000 acres of open space ,and 281 miles of trails. And if you want to get out of town, you don’t have to drive. A newly launched rapid-bus transit service will get you to downtown Denver in about 20 minutes and Boulder in 30 minutes.