DENVER -- Denver is among the 25 fastest growing cities in the country. The distinction is pointed out in the Census Bureau's population report for 2008.

According to the report, Denver is now the 24th largest city in country with a population of 598,707. Denver is sandwiched between Milwaukee and Seattle on the list.

Some of the people moving to the city are from the suburbs.

"I enjoy it immensely, I wouldn't move back," said Michael Larter, one of the new additions to the city.

Larter admits he is usually a suburban dweller, but after 12 years of living in Highlands Ranch he decided to move to the city.

"I wanted to get into an area that had a lot more activity and a lot more convenience," he said.

The new census figures are proving to be big business to realtor Mari Takeshita. She attributes the rise in population to the boom going on downtown. After years of suburban sprawl, she said efforts to bring people back downtown are paying off.

It is a far cry from the city she remembers only a decade ago.

"You couldn't even go a few blocks away from here," Takeshita reflected. "It was uncomfortable, not safe, and dangerous. Now it's like you can walk in any direction."

The growing population means good news to the city of Denver. It has been hit by hard times financially. Each new person that moves to the city pays for city services and taxes. In these tough times, every cent matters.

Three months into his new life downtown, Larter has no regrets.

"It is a great city," he said. "Pretty much anything you'd want to do in a big city is here in Denver."

Realtors expect the boom in downtown to continue. They point to the fact that affordable housing, such as the Spire highrise, as proof.