Anthem Highlands vs. Anthem Ranch: What Buyers Need to Know

Should you buy in Anthem Highlands or Anthem Ranch?

Anthem Highlands and Anthem Ranch share the same trails and Front Range views, but they serve very different buyers. For buyers 55 and older, Anthem Ranch offers about 1,300 single-level homes, with HOA dues of about $307 a month. Its homes sold for a median of about $821,000 from January through mid-October 2026. By comparison, Anthem Highlands is open to all ages, has mostly two-story homes, and has HOA dues of about $185 a month. Homes in Anthem’s all-ages neighborhoods sold for a median of $1,000,000 over the same period.

Why This Comparison Matters

Both neighborhoods sit inside the larger Anthem master plan in north Broomfield. Both were started in 2006, and both are now fully built out. From the road, you might not notice where one ends and the other begins.

Still, the two communities feel very different once you live there. The right choice depends on your age, how much space you need, and how you like to spend your time. It also depends on who you will sell to someday. If you are 55 or older, you can choose either one, so the decision is really yours to make.

The Biggest Difference: Who Can Live There

Anthem Ranch is a deed-restricted 55+ active adult community. At least one person in each household must be 55 or older. There are limited exceptions for some residents 45 and older. These rules can change, so confirm them with CCMC, the company that manages the Anthem Ranch HOA, before you make an offer.

Anthem Highlands has no age restriction. You will see young families, empty nesters, and retirees living on the same street. Thunder Vista P-8 sits inside the neighborhood, so you will also see plenty of kids on bikes heading to school.

How Home Prices Compare

We looked at every single-family sale in Anthem from January through mid-October 2026, using REcolorado and IRES MLS data. The 46 Anthem Ranch homes that sold had a median price of about $821,000. The 69 homes that sold in Anthem’s all-ages neighborhoods, including Anthem Highlands, had a median of $1,000,000.

That gap of about $179,000 comes almost entirely from size. The median Anthem Ranch home that sold this year had a main floor of about 1,955 square feet, and 19 of the 46 had no basement at all. Anthem Highlands homes are generally larger, with more bedrooms and more total living space.

Size for size, though, Anthem Ranch is not the cheaper neighborhood. Anthem Ranch homes sold for a median of about $429 per square foot of main-floor space this year. The single-level homes in Anthem’s all-ages neighborhoods sold for about $421. Anthem Ranch values have also held steady, with prices per square foot almost identical to 2025.

Prices vary widely in both neighborhoods. Lot position, mountain views, a finished basement, and recent updates can move a home’s price well above or below the median.

The Homes Themselves

Anthem Highlands Homes

Most Anthem Highlands homes are two-story homes built by Pulte, Lennar, Richmond American, Epic Homes, and other builders. Floor plans run from about 1,700 to more than 5,000 square feet, usually with 3 to 6 bedrooms. Many have basements, and walkout basements on sloped lots are some of the most sought-after homes in the neighborhood.

Anthem Ranch Homes

Anthem Ranch homes are single-level ranch homes, most with stucco or brick exteriors. Del Webb began building the community in 2006, Toll Brothers took over in 2013, and the last homes were finished in 2018. Main floors run from about 1,200 to 3,000 square feet, and homes with basements can reach about 5,900 total square feet. About half of the homes that sold this year had 2 bedrooms, and most homes have a 2-car or 3-car garage.

If you are looking at an Anthem Ranch home with a basement, here is something worth knowing. In 2025 and 2026 sales, finished basement space added about $126 per square foot to the sale price, while unfinished space added about $73. That difference of roughly $50 per square foot is about half of what finishing a basement adds in Anthem Highlands. Many Anthem Ranch buyers want to avoid stairs, so a finished basement matters less to them. If you plan to finish a basement after you buy, do it because you will use the space, not because you expect to get the full cost back.

Want a Ranch Home Without the Age Restriction?

This is one of the most common questions I hear from buyers in their 50s and 60s. Ranch homes do exist in the all-ages parts of Anthem, but there are not many of them. We looked at the 69 single-family homes that sold in Anthem outside of Anthem Ranch from January through mid-October 2026. Only 12 of them were single-level homes, according to REcolorado MLS data.

Those 12 homes sold for $800,000 to $1,450,000, with a median of about $1,017,500. That is higher than in Anthem Ranch, but these homes were also bigger. Every one of them had a basement, and their median main floor was about 2,361 square feet.

Here is the surprising part. When we compared homes of similar size with similar basements, the all-ages ranch homes sold for roughly $130,000 less than Anthem Ranch homes. They also took longer to sell, with a median of 39 days compared with 15 days in Anthem Ranch. With only 12 sales, treat that number as a rough guide. Still, the pattern is clear. Buyers pay extra for the Anthem Ranch lifestyle, and if you don’t need it, a ranch home elsewhere in Anthem may give you more house for your money.

HOA Fees and What They Cover

The HOA difference adds up. At about $307 a month, Anthem Ranch dues cost roughly $1,464 more per year than Anthem Highlands dues of about $185 a month.

In Anthem Ranch, your dues cover Aspen Lodge, the pools, fitness facilities, and outdoor courts. They also cover common-area landscaping and snow removal in common areas. On top of that, they pay for a full-time activities director and year-round events.

In Anthem Highlands, your dues cover the Parkside Community Center, common-area landscaping, and trail and park maintenance. An Architectural Review Committee approves exterior changes such as paint colors and landscaping.

Before you buy in either neighborhood, ask for the current HOA budget, the reserve study, and the rules. Then compare what you would pay each month with what you would actually use.

Community Centers and Amenities

Each neighborhood has its own 32,000-square-foot community center, and each one reflects who lives there.

Anthem Ranch residents have Aspen Lodge, which is open only to residents. It has a two-story fitness center with an indoor track, an indoor lap pool, and an outdoor resort-style pool. You will also find a ballroom, a movie theater, a billiards hall, card rooms, and craft studios. Outside, you will find bocce, shuffleboard, pickleball, and tennis courts.

Anthem Highlands residents have the Parkside Community Center. It has indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness floor, basketball courts, and multipurpose rooms, plus swim lessons, fitness classes, and family events.

Both neighborhoods connect to Anthem’s 48-mile trail system. Anthem Ranch residents are also close to the 90-acre Anthem Community Park, with its fishing lake and picnic pavilion.

Schools

If you have school-age children, the decision is already made for you, because Anthem Ranch is a 55+ community. Anthem Highlands is in the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district. Thunder Vista P-8 sits inside the neighborhood, and Legacy High School serves most homes. Always confirm school boundaries with the district before you buy, because assignments can change.

Daily Life in Each Neighborhood

Life in Anthem Ranch revolves around Aspen Lodge. There are more than 50 clubs for interests like art, singing, quilting, photography, travel, and fitness. The activities director keeps the calendar full with concerts, car shows, holiday parties, and classes. If you are moving to Broomfield and want to build a social circle quickly, that structure can make a big difference.

Life in Anthem Highlands is more like a traditional neighborhood. The social life centers on the school, the pool, the parks, and your neighbors. It is busier, louder, and more family-focused.

The commute is about the same from both neighborhoods. Downtown Denver is about 30 minutes away, Denver International Airport is about 35 minutes, and Boulder is about 25 to 30 minutes. Groceries, FlatIron Crossing, and hospitals such as UCHealth Broomfield and Good Samaritan are all a short drive away.

Think About Who Will Buy Your Home Someday

Resale is easy to overlook when you are excited about a home. However, the buyer you sell to someday matters as much as the home you buy today.

When you sell an Anthem Ranch home, your buyer pool is limited to households that meet the age rule. In theory, that is a smaller pool than you would have with an all-ages home. Anthem Highlands homes appeal to families, move-up buyers, and downsizers.

In practice, demand for Anthem Ranch is strong right now. This year, the median Anthem Ranch home sold in 15 days, compared with 22 days in Anthem’s all-ages neighborhoods. Anthem Ranch homes also sold for about 98% of their original asking price on average, compared with about 96%. A smaller buyer pool is worth keeping in mind for the long run, but it has not slowed Anthem Ranch sales so far.

What Buyers Should Know About Negotiating in Anthem Right Now

How much room you have to negotiate depends on which neighborhood you choose.

In Anthem’s all-ages neighborhoods, you have more room. Of the 69 homes that sold there this year, 47 sold for less than their original asking price. In addition, 32 of those sales included money back to the buyer at closing.

In Anthem Ranch, you have less room. Only 26 of the 46 homes that sold this year went for less than their original asking price, and half sold within about two weeks. Well-priced homes there can draw more than one offer, so be ready to move quickly.

In both neighborhoods, a home that has been for sale for a while is your best chance at a better price. The five Anthem Ranch homes that sat more than 60 days this year sold for about 94% of their original asking price on average. In early November 2026, six Anthem Ranch homes were for sale and one was under contract.

Which Neighborhood Fits You?

Here is a simple way to think about it:

• Anthem Ranch may fit you if: You are 55 or older and want everything on one floor. It also suits you if you want a built-in social calendar with neighbors at a similar stage of life, and you are comfortable paying extra for it.
• Anthem Highlands may fit you if: You have kids at home or want room for visiting family. It also suits you if you want an all-ages neighborhood and a wider pool of buyers when you sell.
• Either one may fit you if: You are 55 or older and want Anthem’s trails, views, and location. In that case, tour homes in both neighborhoods, including the ranch homes in Anthem’s all-ages neighborhoods, before you decide.

I’ve lived in Anthem Highlands since 2014 and sold 19 homes there. I know how different these two communities feel once you are inside them. The best way to decide is to walk both neighborhoods, visit both community centers, and compare specific homes side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

Anthem Highlands and Anthem Ranch share the same trails, views, and location, but they are built for different stages of life. For buyers 55 and older, Anthem Ranch offers single-level living and a full social calendar, with a lower median price that mostly reflects smaller homes. On the other hand, Anthem Highlands offers larger homes, a school inside the neighborhood, and a wider pool of future buyers. If you qualify for both, tour both before you decide.

I’d be glad to help you compare specific homes in either neighborhood. I’ve been helping Broomfield buyers and sellers since 2017, with more than 80 closed transactions and five-star reviews on every platform. You can reach me, John Grandt with The North Star Team Powered by Real Broker, at 720.351.8488.

Looking for a trusted Anthem Highlands real estate team? Work with our Anthem Highlands listing specialist and review recent Anthem Highlands closings first. Call John Grandt and The North Star Team at 720-351-8488.