Anthem Ranch vs BackCountry: 55+ Living and Home Prices Compared

Anthem Ranch vs BackCountry by the Numbers

MLS closed sales Nov 6, 2025 to Oct 30, 2026; listings as of Oct 31, 2026. Counts change daily. BackCountry figures cover the whole community, including homes outside its age-restricted section.

I'm Brian Lee Burke, and I've been a REALTOR since 2003. Anthem Ranch in Broomfield and BackCountry in Highlands Ranch both have big amenity packages, but they're different kinds of communities: Anthem Ranch is a 55+ active-adult community, and BackCountry is a gated community with no age restriction. Here's how they compare, using MLS data I pulled on October 29, 2026 and official community and city sources.

Chapters

1. Anthem Ranch and BackCountry Side by Side
2. A 55+ Community vs an All-Ages Gated Community
3. Prices
4. Broomfield vs Highlands Ranch
5. Choose Anthem Ranch or BackCountry Based on These Points
6. Questions I Hear Most

Anthem Ranch and BackCountry Side by Side

MLS data pulled October 29, 2026, by MLS community name. Community facts: Anthem Ranch Community Association; Associa Colorado (Backcountry Association, 2022).

A 55+ Community vs an All-Ages Gated Community

Anthem Ranch describes itself as an active-adult, 55+ community of 1,335 homes, run by the Anthem Ranch Community Association, with the 32,000-square-foot Aspen Lodge as its community center. Age-restricted rules apply, so read the covenants before you buy.

BackCountry has 1,255 single-family homes behind gated and staffed entrances, with its own Backcountry Association; Shea Homes opened its first models in September 2007. It isn't age-restricted. It sits next to the HRCA's 8,200-acre Backcountry Wilderness Area.

Prices

Over the year ending October 28, 2026, 55 Anthem Ranch homes sold at a median of $835,000 ($390 a square foot), and 67 BackCountry homes sold at a median of $1,542,500 ($356 a square foot). Each had 7 homes for sale on October 29, 2026. Across Broomfield the median was $615,000; across Highlands Ranch, $705,000.

Broomfield vs Highlands Ranch

Broomfield has been a consolidated city and county since November 15, 2001, with 79,174 residents in the 2025 Census estimate. Highlands Ranch is unincorporated Douglas County, where the HRCA, the Highlands Ranch Metro District and the county share the roles a city would play. The two are on opposite sides of the metro, so commute and airport trips differ a lot; drive yours from the address.

Choose Anthem Ranch or BackCountry Based on These Points

Anthem Ranch may make more sense if you want:

• A 55+ age-restricted community
• A single large community center
• A lower price range

BackCountry may make more sense if you want:

• A gated community with no age restriction
• Larger, higher-priced homes
• The Backcountry Wilderness Area next door

More: Colorado 55+ communities, 19 Things to Know BEFORE Moving to Highlands Ranch.

Questions I Hear Most

Still Deciding?

One is a 55+ community and one isn't, so start there. Then compare price, location and what each association covers.

Call or text my office at 303-955-4220, or send us a message, and we'll pull the taxes, HOA, water and boundary details for any address in either one.