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I'm Brian Lee Burke, and I've been a REALTOR since 2003. Centennial, Highlands Ranch and Parker sit next to each other south of Denver. Here they are side by side, using MLS data I pulled on October 29, 2026 and official city, county and district sources.
| Suburb | Median sold | $/sq ft | For sale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centennial | $650K | $282 | 282 |
| Highlands Ranch | $705K | $292 | 225 |
| Parker | $681K | $270 | 593 |
MLS data by mailing city, pulled October 29, 2026. Median sold covers October 29, 2025 to October 28, 2026; for sale is as of October 29, 2026.
Centennial had the lowest median at $650,000, Parker was in the middle at $681,000, and Highlands Ranch was highest at $705,000 and $292 a square foot. Parker had by far the most homes for sale, 593, and the most new construction.
Each has a small city or town levy, and the total comes from the districts on each address. Centennial's city levy is 5.076 mills; sample Centennial tax areas run about 94.6 to 115.0 mills for 2025. Highlands Ranch's most common total is 98.821 mills, and every home pays the HRCA, $696 a year in 2026. In Parker, an in-town home with no metro district is 85.123 mills, but metro district areas reach 210.035. Check the exact parcel.
Centennial has Dry Creek light rail station inside the city, with Arapahoe at Village Center and Orchard just over the line in Greenwood Village. Highlands Ranch sits along C-470, with Littleton–Mineral, County Line and Lincoln stations just outside it. Parker has RTD bus service and FlexRide but no rail. Drive your real commute from the address at rush hour.
South Suburban Parks and Recreation serves central and west Centennial, and the Trails Park and Recreation District serves much of the east side. Highlands Ranch has more than 70 miles of Metro District trails and the HRCA's 8,200-acre Backcountry Wilderness Area. Parker's Town maintains 41 miles of trails and the Cherry Creek Trail runs through it.
Centennial is served by several water districts, Highlands Ranch by Highlands Ranch Water, and most of Parker by Parker Water and Sanitation District. School districts depend on the address: Cherry Creek or Littleton Public Schools in Centennial, and Douglas County RE-1 in Highlands Ranch and Parker. Use each district's locator.
Go deeper: Highlands Ranch vs Parker, Centennial vs Littleton, 19 Things to Know BEFORE Moving to Parker and 19 Things to Know BEFORE Moving to Highlands Ranch.
Call or text, or send us a message, and we'll answer your questions about any home or neighborhood.
