With the average home in Aspen coming in at more than $4 million, it’s important to understand what you are getting. Many homes within the town sell for more than $10 million. Finding the right neighborhood makes all the difference, especially when searching for the perfect luxury property. Here’s a look at five of the top neighborhoods in Aspen, in no particular order.
Red Mountain
An enclave full of mansions overlooking Aspen, Red Mountain provides some of the most amazing estates in the entire town. It’s a place for the wealthy with low-end homes selling for $7 to $8 million and high-end estate selling for $20 million or more. Many residents of Red Mountain are celebrities, Fortune 500 CEOs and professional athletes.
The West End
The beauty found in the West End neighborhood is hard to find anywhere else. This neighborhood provides exquisite homes with a Victorian style found on well-manicured lawns. The neighborhood used to be known as a place for families, but it has changed over the years. Today, it’s a place for the super-rich and celebrities looking to visit a few weeks out of the year.
The West End is home to the Aspen Institute and the Aspen Music Festival & school. Every July, the Institute holds the Ideas Fest, which attracts royalty and dignitaries from all over the world. The Music Festival covers a full nine weeks providing plenty of music throughout the summer.
The West End also provides the Yellow Brick Schoolhouse, the Red Brick Center for the Arts, Aspen Writers’ Foundation and Aspen Public Radio. It’s within walking distance of Clark’s Market and not far from downtown.
Cemetery Lane
A bit of old Aspen is found on Cemetery Lane, which runs next to the Aspen Golf Couse. Many of the residents living in the Cemetery Lane area are full-time residents and longtime locals. Some of the residents are newer and have decided they want to live in Aspen year-round.
Homes found in Cemetery Lane are a mixture of new and old with mainly free market options. It’s a residential neighborhood secluded from Aspen with many trails and sidewalks. Bus service is available and the neighborhood is just a quick bike ride from downtown.
The East End
While the West End is a bit of a neat and proper neighborhood, the East End is more of a mixture of massive homes, housing projects and condos. Many residents choose the East End because of the amazing views of Aspen Mountain. Snyder Park is found at the center of the neighborhood and provides a great place for the entire family to enjoy.
Found just a short bike ride from downtown, the East End is home to many second-home owners, bank executives, artists and other area workers.
Centennial
Covering four blocks, Centennial is a neighborhood full of families, younger couples, small business owners, teachers and senior citizens. It provides at least eight different affordable-housing developments including Smuggler Trailer Park, Lone Pine, Hunter Longhouse and Hunter Creek. All of the developments are within walking distance of downtown and provide bus access.
This is the neighborhood for locals. It’s found just below Smuggler Mountain and provides plenty of hiking and biking nearby.
These five neighborhoods are all some of the best you will find in Aspen. While Red Mountain and the West End are home to many of the rich and famous, Centennial and the East End are a bit more modest and home to year-round locals. All five neighborhoods provide plenty of beauty and easy access to the entire town.