For those looking for the perfect community to raise a family while still having plenty of opportunities for work and entertainment, there are few cities that can deliver it all as well as Lakewood, Colorado. As a member of the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area, Lakewood has access to all of the amenities and services that an area with almost three million residents can offer. But, in terms of being a perfect place to buy a home, LakewoodZip.com wants to show you all of the places where Lakewood can stand on its own. This city of 140,000 people is full of business and community opportunities that could be perfect for you.

Let's start with the basics. When you're looking for a place to live you want to make sure there are good schools, hospitals and a place to go to work every day. Lakewood can help you on all of these fronts. Lakewood High School was listed as the number one school in the state by Newsweek Magazine and is the only school in Jefferson County to offer the International Baccalaureate program. Colorado Christian University also is within the city for those looking for higher education.

Those looking for good healthcare options can find them less than five miles from the city at Centura Health - St Anthony Central Hospital. There are also two other facilities less than ten miles from Lakewood within Denver.

The economy of Lakewood is dominated by government positions but branches out into a variety of sectors. The city is the home of the Denver Federal Center, which is the city's leading employer and provides sixty-two hundred jobs. The next largest employer is the Jefferson County R-1 School Board, which employs nearly four thousand people. The top manufacturing company in the city is Gambro, which creates medical devices.

Before its incorporation in 1969, the city was little more than a few street lights and a volunteer fire service. Now, only forty years later, Lakewood is a mid-sized city with a thriving downtown. Belmar represents the downtown shopping area and is complete with retail options as well as entertainment and housing. Homes in Lakewood are now selling for the modest price of around $215,000, making them affordable to even first time buyers. If you're looking for a district of the Denver-Aurora metropolis where you can feel at home, Lakewood may be just the community for you.