Top 10 most dangerous cities in Colorado

Colorado, known for its majestic Rocky Mountains and outdoor recreational opportunities, is a state that captivates with its natural beauty and vibrant cities. From skiing in Aspen and Vail to hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado offers a plethora of activities for nature enthusiasts. Denver, the state's capital, is a bustling metropolis with a rich cultural scene, including museums, theaters, and a thriving craft beer industry. Despite its many attractions, Colorado faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Colorado are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where caution is advised. The contrast between the state's natural splendor and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of living in this diverse state.

Efforts to enhance safety in Colorado's cities involve comprehensive strategies, from increasing police presence to implementing community outreach programs aimed at preventing violence. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Colorado. While these areas present significant challenges, they also offer opportunities for community engagement and improvement. Colorado's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of natural beauty, economic opportunities, and cultural richness continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Glendale Population: 5,186 1,866 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.11 chance of being a victim: 1 in 54 Total Crimes / 100k: 22,834

Glendale, CO holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Colorado with 1,866 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,333), robbery (200), rape (311) and homicide (22) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 279% higher than the Colorado average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Pueblo Population: 111,776 1,621 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.44 chance of being a victim: 1 in 62 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,010

The second most dangerous city is Pueblo. With a population of 111,776 and a violent crime rate that is 229% higher than the Colorado average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Pueblo are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,621 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 62 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Aurora Population: 379,434 1,077 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.95 chance of being a victim: 1 in 93 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,307

Home to 379,434 residents, Aurora, CO ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Colorado. Unfortunately for residents of Aurora, crime is widespread, with more than 1,077 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.95 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 119% higher than the Colorado violent crime rate.

Denver Population: 715,878 1,070 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.93 chance of being a victim: 1 in 93 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,498

With a violent crime rate that is 117% higher than the Colorado average, it's not hard to see why Denver made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (184), assault (765), rape (107) and homicide (13). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Denver more vulnerable to high crime.

Sheridan Population: 6,072 905 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.48 chance of being a victim: 1 in 110 Total Crimes / 100k: 11,117

The ongoing battle with crime in Sheridan, CO, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 905 and a 1 in 110 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Sheridan has a violent crime rate that is 84% higher than the Colorado average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Sheridan.

Federal Heights Population: 13,537 844 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.31 chance of being a victim: 1 in 119 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,390

Federal Heights, CO comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 844 per 100,000 people, which is 71% higher than the Colorado average. Federal Heights has a population of 13,537, which translates to 2.31 crimes per day and 1 in 119 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Federal Heights which are much safer than others.

Trinidad Population: 8,076 826 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.26 chance of being a victim: 1 in 121 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,467

A 1 in 121 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.26 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Trinidad makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 826 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 68% higher than the Colorado average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (743), robbery (12), rape (72) and homicide (0).

Lakewood Population: 155,733 814 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.23 chance of being a victim: 1 in 123 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,137

Lakewood, CO is another one of the most dangerous cities in Colorado and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 155,733 and a violent crime rate of 814 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 553 counts of assault, 182 counts of robbery, 71 counts of rape and 8 counts of homicide. All told, the Lakewood violent crime rate is 65% higher than the Colorado average.

Englewood Population: 34,840 813 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.23 chance of being a victim: 1 in 123 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,964

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Englewood, CO comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Colorado with a violent crime rate of 813 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.23 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 123 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Alamosa Population: 9,360 770 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.11 chance of being a victim: 1 in 130 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,937

Rounding out our list at #10 is Alamosa, CO. With a population of 9,360 and a violent crime rate of 770 per 100,000 people (56% higher than the Colorado average), some parts of Alamosa are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 547 counts of assault, 51 counts of robbery, 132 counts of rape and 41 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 130 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Colorado

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Glendale	5,186	1,866	22,834
2	Pueblo	111,776	1,621	8,010
3	Aurora	379,434	1,077	5,307
4	Denver	715,878	1,070	7,498
5	Sheridan	6,072	905	11,117
6	Federal Heights	13,537	844	4,390
7	Trinidad	8,076	826	4,467
8	Lakewood	155,733	814	6,137
9	Englewood	34,840	813	7,964
10	Alamosa	9,360	770	6,937
11	Commerce City	55,891	710	4,511
12	Fort Lupton	8,600	644	3,666
13	Colorado Springs	471,686	643	4,043
14	Northglenn	39,201	584	4,829
15	Greeley	107,445	582	3,744
16	Cortez	8,729	512	3,472
17	Grand Junction	62,218	508	3,649
18	Lone Tree	13,381	479	11,483
19	Cañon City	16,369	472	3,305
20	Greenwood Village	15,100	443	8,221
21	Longmont	95,864	443	3,265
22	Fort Morgan	11,311	441	3,627
23	Brighton	38,355	413	3,347
24	Wheat Ridge	31,889	393	5,471
25	La Junta	6,907	385	5,410
26	Avon	6,711	385	1,843
27	Rifle	9,771	377	2,337
28	Boulder	108,777	371	3,372
29	Edgewater	5,410	348	8,851
30	Glenwood Springs	10,048	347	4,032
31	Vail	5,614	344	4,338
32	Fountain	30,240	343	2,448
33	Loveland	81,774	333	2,996
34	Westminster	114,832	331	4,800
35	Fort Collins	166,069	321	2,927
36	Gunnison	6,653	318	2,227
37	Manitou Springs	5,342	293	2,426
38	Sterling	14,421	292	2,975
39	Thornton	144,186	285	3,768
40	Monument	7,691	283	2,265
41	Breckenridge	5,054	283	3,271
42	Evans	22,128	278	2,973
43	Arvada	120,229	259	3,292
44	Littleton	46,208	245	3,496
45	Johnstown	14,357	241	3,551
46	Salida	5,543	237	1,015
47	Steamboat Springs	13,048	235	1,766
48	Fruita	14,068	235	1,269
49	Carbondale	6,658	230	766
50	Parker	55,460	225	1,938

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Colorado is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Colorado cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.