Douglas County, Colorado
Moving to Douglas County
Five towns, one county, and they run very differently. Compare what homes cost, who runs each place, who you call about water and who picks up the trash, then go read the full guide for the town that fits.
By Connor Tien, DougCo Social · Updated September 2026
Douglas County gets talked about like one big suburb, and it really is not. Highlands Ranch has no city government at all. Lone Tree picks up the trash for free at single-family homes, Castle Pines sends you to your HOA for it, and in Parker the answer to "who is my water company" depends on your subdivision. So before you fall for a kitchen online, spend two minutes with the table below. Then pick a town and read its full guide; those are the long version, and every number on this page has its source at the bottom.
The Towns
Each one has its own guide: cost of living, neighborhoods, schools, things to do and a first-90-days checklist.
Moving to Castle Rock
A town of 83,815 by the Census estimate, with its own police department, its own water utility and a 4.2 percent town sales tax.
Moving to Parker
A town of 65,985 with its own police and a 3 percent town sales tax, where the water district depends on which subdivision you pick.
Photo: HRCA
Moving to Highlands Ranch
Not a city at all: 103,444 people in the 2020 Census, run by a Metro District and the County, with the Sheriff for police and HRCA as the HOA.
Photo: City of Lone Tree
Moving to Lone Tree
A city of 15,278 with its own police, a 2.5 percent city sales tax and free trash pickup for single-family homes.
Photo: City of Castle Pines
Moving to Castle Pines
A city of 15,583, incorporated in 2008, that contracts its police from the Sheriff and leaves trash to the HOAs.
Compare the Towns
The questions that actually change your first month, side by side. Census figures are the latest the Bureau publishes; everything else is from the town, city or district itself.
| Question | Castle Rock | Parker | Highlands Ranch | Lone Tree | Castle Pines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PopulationCensus estimate, July 1, 2025 | 83,815 | 65,985 | 103,4442020 Census; no yearly estimate for an unincorporated place | 15,278 | 15,583 |
| Median home valueOwner-occupied, ACS 2020-2024 | $652,900 | $646,300 | $712,700 | $874,100 | $895,500 |
| Median household incomeIn 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 | $145,197 | $133,369 | $159,307 | $123,741 | $191,229 |
| Who runs it | Town of Castle Rock | Town of ParkerA municipality since 1981 | No city governmentHighlands Ranch Metro District and Douglas County; HRCA is the HOA | City of Lone TreeIncorporated 1995 | City of Castle PinesIncorporated 2008 |
| Police | Castle Rock Police Department | Parker Police Department | Douglas County Sheriff | Lone Tree Police Department | Douglas County SheriffBy City contract |
| Water | Castle Rock Water, the Town utility | VariesMostly Parker Water and Sanitation; five other districts serve parts of town. Which one is yours | Highlands Ranch Water | VariesSouthgate west of I-25, Parker Water east of it, and a third district for some Terra Ridge homes. Details | VariesCastle Pines North Metro west of I-25, Parker Water east; the Village has its own district. Details |
| City sales taxThe town or city share only | 4.2%8.1% combined | 3.0%8.0% combined inside RTD, 7.0% outside | NoneThere is no city; state, county and district taxes still apply. The breakdown | 2.5% | 3.75%7.75% combined; no city tax on groceries |
| Trash | You hire a haulerOr your HOA already has one; the Town does not provide it | You hire a haulerOr your HOA already has one; the Town does not provide it | PrivateHRCA runs an opt-in program with Waste Connections | The City, freeFor single-family homes | Through your HOAThe City does not coordinate it |
Local tip: Median home value is what owners told the Census the house is worth, averaged over 2020 to 2024, so it trails today's listing prices. Use it to compare towns with each other, not to set a budget.
The Smaller Towns
No full guides yet, but here is what they are and where to start.
Larkspur
The Town of Larkspur is a home rule town with a mayor and council, off I-25 at exit 172 northbound and exit 173 southbound, between Castle Rock and the Tri-Lakes area. The Town puts downtown Denver about 40 minutes north, with Palmer Lake, Monument and Colorado Springs to the south. Everything Larkspur · Larkspur events · Larkspur businesses
Sedalia
Sedalia is an unincorporated rural community, so the County is the local government. Per the County's plan it started as a cattle holding and shipping point called Round Corral; after the railroad arrived in 1871 it was Plum Station, and in 1872 postmaster Henry Clay renamed it after his hometown of Sedalia, Missouri. Things to do in Sedalia · Sedalia events · Sedalia businesses
Franktown
Franktown is also an unincorporated rural community. The County's plan says it was Douglas County's first county seat, in 1861, named after James Frank Gardner, and sat on the original Cherry Creek stage route. Things to do in Franktown · Franktown events · Franktown businesses
Local tip: Living outside a town line means the Douglas County Sheriff's Office is your law enforcement agency and the County handles what a town hall would. Ask the seller who hauls the trash and where the water comes from before you close.
Countywide Essentials
The same no matter which town you pick. Each town's checklist has the local version.
The first-90-days checklists, by town: Castle Rock, Parker, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree and Castle Pines.
FAQ
Castle Rock and Parker are towns, Lone Tree (incorporated 1995) and Castle Pines (incorporated 2008) are cities, and Larkspur is a home rule town with a mayor and council. Highlands Ranch is unincorporated: its local government is the Highlands Ranch Metro District, with Douglas County and the Sheriff's Office covering the rest. Franktown, Sedalia and Louviers are unincorporated rural communities in the County's Comprehensive Master Plan.
Castle Rock, Parker and Lone Tree run their own police departments. Castle Pines contracts with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, and the Sheriff is the law enforcement agency for unincorporated communities like Highlands Ranch, which has a Sheriff substation at 9250 Zotos Drive.
There are three: Castle Rock at 301 Wilcox Street, Highlands Ranch at 2223 Wildcat Reserve Parkway, Unit G1, and Lone Tree at 9350 Heritage Hills Circle. All three take walk-ins Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm and appointments from 9am to 4pm. The phone number for all three is 303-660-7440.
The Colorado DMV says that once you establish residency (living in Colorado for 90 consecutive days is one way), you have 30 days to transfer your driver license and 90 days to register your vehicle. Plates and titles are handled at the county motor vehicle offices.
Register, check or update your registration at GoVoteColorado.gov, the Colorado Secretary of State's site, or at any Colorado driver license office. Your ballot for each election is mailed to the mailing address on your registration. Douglas County Elections is at 125 Stephanie Place in Castle Rock, 303-660-7444, Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm.
For the 2027-28 school year, first round open enrollment runs from 8am Monday, November 2, 2026 to 4pm Tuesday, December 1, 2026. The second round runs from 8am Friday, January 22, 2027 through 4pm Monday, August 2, 2027. New families register through DCSD's Online Registration with ID, birth certificates, immunization records and proof of residency.
Douglas County's emergency notification system, for wildfires, floods, severe storms, evacuations, shelter-in-place orders and missing persons. Sign-up runs through Smart911. If you were signed up for the old CodeRED system, the County says you need to register again for DougCoAlert.
Seven branches: Castle Pines (360 Village Square Lane), Castle Rock (the Philip and Jerry Miller Library, 100 S Wilcox Street), Highlands Ranch (9292 S Ridgeline Boulevard), Lone Tree (10055 Library Way), Louviers (7885 Louviers Boulevard), Parker (20105 E Mainstreet) and Roxborough (8357 N Rampart Range Road, #200).
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Sources
Every figure on this page was read at the source on September 30, 2026. Population, home value and income are the Census Bureau's; government, police, water, tax and trash answers come from each town, city or district; the countywide essentials come from Douglas County, the Colorado DMV and DCSD.
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, the five towns side by side (V2025 population, 2020 Census, ACS 2020-2024): census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/castlerocktowncolorado,parkertowncolorado,highlandsranchcdpcolorado,lonetreecitycolorado,castlepinescitycolorado/PST045224
- Town of Castle Rock, FAQ (sales tax): crgov.com/faq.aspx
- Town of Castle Rock, Other Services (trash and recycling): crgov.com/2572/Other-Services
- Castle Rock Water, Customer Service: crgov.com/1695/Customer-Service
- Castle Rock Police Department: crgov.com/police
- Town of Parker, About Parker: parkerco.gov/159/About-Parker
- Town of Parker, Sales and Use Tax Rates: parkerco.gov/1787/Sales-and-Use-Tax-Rates
- Town of Parker, Recycling Options (trash is not a Town service): parkerco.gov/2081/Recycling-Options
- Town of Parker, Services Provided by Others (water districts): parkerco.gov/142/Services-Provided-by-Others
- Parker Police Department: parkerpolice.org/
- Parker Water and Sanitation District, New Resident Information: pwsd.org/2253/New-Resident-Information
- Highlands Ranch Metro District, How Highlands Ranch Operates: highlandsranch.org/government/about-highlands-ranch/how-highlands-ranch-operates
- Highlands Ranch Water, New Customers: highlandsranchwater.org/new-customers
- HRCA, Opt-in Trash Provider: hrcaonline.org/Property-Owners/Residential/Opt-in-Trash-Provider
- Douglas County Sheriff's Office (Highlands Ranch substation): dcsheriff.net/
- City of Lone Tree, City History: cityoflonetree.com/about-us/city-history/
- City of Lone Tree, Taxing and Business Licensing: cityoflonetree.com/finance/taxing-and-business-licensing/
- City of Lone Tree, Police Department: cityoflonetree.com/police/
- City of Lone Tree, Utility Providers: cityoflonetree.com/utility-providers/
- City of Lone Tree, Trash and Recycling: cityoflonetree.com/public-works/trash-and-recycling/
- City of Castle Pines, About Castle Pines: castlepinesco.gov/city-services/about-castle-pines/
- City of Castle Pines, Taxation in Castle Pines: castlepinesco.gov/taxation-in-castle-pines/
- City of Castle Pines, Public Safety (Sheriff contract): castlepinesco.gov/city-services/city-departments/public-safety/
- City of Castle Pines, Rumor Has It (trash): castlepinesco.gov/rumor-has-it/
- Town of Larkspur, Explore Larkspur: townoflarkspur.org/explore-larkspur
- Douglas County 2040 Comprehensive Master Plan, Section 4: Rural Communities (PDF): douglasco.gov/documents/cmp-section-4.pdf/
- Douglas County Motor Vehicle: douglasco.gov/motor-vehicle/
- Colorado DMV, Welcome to Colorado: dmv.colorado.gov/new-to-colorado
- Douglas County, DougCoAlert: douglasco.gov/board-county-commissioners/board-priorities/public-safety/codered-be-informed-and-receive-updates
- Douglas County Elections, Voter Registration: douglasco.gov/elections/voter-registration/
- Douglas County School District, Open Enrollment: dcsdk12.org/about/departments/choice-programming/open-enrollment
- Douglas County School District, Student Enrollment: dcsdk12.org/admissions/student-enrollment
- Douglas County Libraries, Locations: dcl.org/locations/
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