I recommend Jefferson county - public schools are good and go can option into any school if your neighborhood school isn't right for you. I specifically recommend Lakewood. In most areas, it's very low crime & stable home prices - even now.
I suggest you look at the Meadowlark and/or Alameda Heights (east & west)area of Lakewood. West Alameda heights is the lowest cost but these 3 neighborhoods are really one neighborhood. Zip is 80226.
There are reasonable costs for housing & you can walk to tons of stuff (BelMar Park, the public library, the new BelMar "downtown"). It is also near the primary bus hub (which is by the Lakewood Police station). You can take the #1 bus to downtown Denver (which is also about a 10 minute drive).
The neighborhood public school is South Lakewood Elementary (you can also option into Dennison one neighborhood over or the Jefferson County Open School, which is not too far).