As a suburb on the northwest side of Denver, some would think that Westminster, Colorado is a poor man's alternative to living in the big city. But, WestminsterZip.com is here to show potential residents of the area why is can be great to live in this bedroom community just minutes from Denver's downtown. In 2006, Westminster even took the twenty-fourth spot on Money Magazine's annual list of the best places to live in the country.

One of the major advantages of life in Westminster is its open space. The Big Dry Creek Trail alone is ten miles of trail extending all the way to the City of Standley Lake. There are areas throughout the community of open land preserving parks and the history of the city. There are also a number of lakes and ponds included in the Open Space System, providing even more facilities for area residents.

The cost of living compared to the city is another reason why many people are choosing to move into Westminster. The cost of living in Westminster is only 96.8 to the national average of 100 here. This is a few points higher than Denver, which sits at 100.5. The median price for a home is also quite different. You will pay around $300,000 for the average three bedroom home in Denver and get the same style of real estate for only $230,000 in Westminster. This is definitely a significant difference and could make all the difference for a first-time homeowner.

Single-family homes in the city are available in a variety of styles. More modest homes come in the townhouse and bungalow styles, while the homes selling for millions of dollars can be anything from a penthouse in a state-of-the-art condo building to sprawling landscapes with ranch-style homes.

There are also several attractions and entertainment options for residents and visitors on the city. Those with an interest in history can spend the day at the Bowles House Museum, which shows what life in Westminster was like one hundred years ago. The Pillar of Fire building is a glorious example of neo-Romanesque architecture and was built in the late 1800s. If you climb to the top tower of the City Hall building you get an amazing view of the surrounding Rocky Mountains and the entire city. There are also a number of golf courses within the city limits.

For those looking for that idyllic life between the city and the mountains, there is no better place to live than Westminster, Colorado. It's a perfect place to settle down without paying the big city home prices.