Meet the Amazing Adams County, CO
This gem just northeast of Denver offers affordability, bountiful job opportunities, diverse communities, and endless outdoor options.
Encompassing metro Denver’s upper right-hand corner and several miles east into not-yet-urbanized territory is Adams County, home to a collection of standout communities that offer residents a winning combination of high quality of life, economic opportunity and diversity.
Adams County is a welcoming community that includes a large Hispanic population and a growing Asian population. That diversity is celebrated throughout the community.
Plus, the community is home to several ethnic markets. “Every weekend, there’s a different cultural event,” says Lisa Hough, president and CEO of the Adams County Regional Economic Partnership economic development organization.
In This Article
Is Adams County Affordable?
Being a quick drive to downtown Denver and offering ample opportunities for jobs and entertainment alike, Adams County makes for one of the best places to live in Colorado. Part of the appeal is its affordability.
“Adams County offers affordable options in the Metro Denver region,” says Cooper Raines of Colorado Home Realty. “It’s a huge draw to the area both on the consumer side and the developer side; affordability for developers translates to affordability for consumers.”
According to Realtor.com, the average home value was $480,000 in April 2022, compared to $530,000 in Denver.
Celebrating Cultures
Adams County held its first-ever Dragon Boat Race in 2021, in addition to a community festival featuring Asian cuisine and performances.
Job Opportunities in Adams County
“What I’m seeing and what we’ll continue to see here is an immense amount of growth, especially along the I-70 corridor,” says Raines, who notes another valuable aspect of Adams County is its plentiful job opportunities.
“There are some big projects that will create a ton of jobs as well as established companies already doing so, like Port Colorado, the Aurora Campus for Renewable Energy, the Colorado Air and Space Port, and Denver International Airport,” he says. “Commercial industries are continuing to move farther out of the Denver metro area, creating jobs in areas like Adams County, which is an affordable place to live and work.”
On the Grow
In 2019, Adams County led all U.S. counties in percentage gain in job growth. The civilian workforce has grown by more than 28,000 since 2016.
Hough says the major industry sectors present in the region are fueling the abundant job opportunities in the area, including aerospace, life sciences, health care, transportation, manufacturing and construction.
“It’s a hub for construction activity and manufacturing,” Hough says.
Companies Here Focus on the Future
And these are not your grandparents’ manufacturers. High-end architectural door maker TruStile Doors LLC built a 260,000-square-foot facility in Adams County in 2019. Maxar Technologies, a maker of space technology products such as satellites and communication equipment, is based in Westminster.
Tech- and research-driven enterprises are taking root in Adams County, the cornerstone of Colorado’s booming life science industry. This is home of the $5.4 billion Fitzsimons Innovation Community, the country’s largest medical-related redevelopment project, and the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, which collectively employ nearly 25,000.
Easy to Go Anywhere
Connectivity is another critical advantage of Adams County. A trip into the heart of downtown Denver or a getaway into the mountains (or another place altogether) is a breeze. Denver International Airport, which is surrounded by Adams County, is within easy reach.
“Adams County is so centrally located between Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins,” Hough says. “You can commute easily locally or globally because it’s so easy to get to the airport.”
Explore the Outdoors in Adams County
Residents also have ample opportunities for outdoor adventure.
Riverdale Regional Park, Barr Lake State Park and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge are popular places to run, bike, fish and enjoy water sports. Fresh-air activities abound, with a myriad of trails, birding locations, and golf courses. And of course, with Denver close by, a world of fine dining, live entertainment, sporting events and other unique ways to have fun awaits.
“We offer a huge variety, from living situations to people to entertainment, a mix that not many counties offer,” Hough says. “There’s space for growth in Adams County. If you’re looking to grow.”
Get to Know Adams County
Want to learn more about living and working in Adams County, CO? Check out the new edition of Livability Adams County Region, Colorado.
