Top 10 most dangerous cities in Colorado

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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.

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Glendale Population: 5,325 2,274 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 6.23 chance of being a victim: 1 in 44 Total Crimes / 100k: 21,674

Glendale, CO holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Colorado with 2,274 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,706), robbery (364), rape (182) and homicide (23) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 377% 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: 114,377 1,424 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.90 chance of being a victim: 1 in 70 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,366

The second most dangerous city is Pueblo. With a population of 114,377 and a violent crime rate that is 199% 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 1,424 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 70 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Denver Population: 739,923 993 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.72 chance of being a victim: 1 in 101 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,755

Home to 739,923 residents, Denver, CO ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Colorado. Unfortunately for residents of Denver, crime is widespread, with more than 993 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.72 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 108% higher than the Colorado violent crime rate.

Alamosa Population: 9,594 979 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.68 chance of being a victim: 1 in 102 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,724

With a violent crime rate that is 106% higher than the Colorado average, it's not hard to see why Alamosa made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (40), assault (707), rape (182) and homicide (50). 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 Alamosa more vulnerable to high crime.

Aurora Population: 393,102 948 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.60 chance of being a victim: 1 in 106 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,052

The ongoing battle with crime in Aurora, 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 948 and a 1 in 106 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Aurora has a violent crime rate that is 99% 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 Aurora.

Sheridan Population: 6,195 924 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.53 chance of being a victim: 1 in 108 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,906

Sheridan, CO comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 924 per 100,000 people, which is 94% higher than the Colorado average. Sheridan has a population of 6,195, which translates to 2.53 crimes per day and 1 in 108 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 Sheridan which are much safer than others.

Commerce City Population: 57,428 791 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.17 chance of being a victim: 1 in 126 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,663

A 1 in 126 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.17 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Commerce City makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 791 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 66% higher than the Colorado average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (567), robbery (113), rape (103) and homicide (9).

Lakewood Population: 159,208 787 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.16 chance of being a victim: 1 in 127 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,881

Lakewood, CO is another one of the most dangerous cities in Colorado and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 159,208 and a violent crime rate of 787 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 587 counts of assault, 138 counts of robbery, 60 counts of rape and 3 counts of homicide. All told, the Lakewood violent crime rate is 65% higher than the Colorado average.

Trinidad Population: 8,339 771 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.11 chance of being a victim: 1 in 130 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,743

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, Trinidad, CO comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Colorado with a violent crime rate of 771 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.11 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 130 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Colorado Springs Population: 481,855 716 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.96 chance of being a victim: 1 in 140 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,164

Rounding out our list at #10 is Colorado Springs, CO. With a population of 481,855 and a violent crime rate of 716 per 100,000 people (50% higher than the Colorado average), some parts of Colorado Springs are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 529 counts of assault, 78 counts of robbery, 101 counts of rape and 8 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 140 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	5,325	2,274	21,674
2	Pueblo	114,377	1,424	6,366
3	Denver	739,923	993	5,755
4	Alamosa	9,594	979	5,724
5	Aurora	393,102	948	4,052
6	Sheridan	6,195	924	7,906
7	Commerce City	57,428	791	3,663
8	Lakewood	159,208	787	5,881
9	Trinidad	8,339	771	3,743
10	Colorado Springs	481,855	716	4,164
11	Greeley	110,935	671	3,690
12	Englewood	35,724	655	5,908
13	Grand Junction	64,338	546	3,716
14	La Junta	7,166	504	7,505
15	Fountain	31,205	482	2,375
16	Wheat Ridge	32,757	481	4,947
17	Brighton	39,406	472	2,991
18	Longmont	99,360	469	3,088
19	Craig	9,268	464	2,055
20	Cortez	9,056	461	3,399
21	Lone Tree	13,829	436	11,414
22	Northglenn	40,627	432	3,010
23	Avon	6,960	424	3,002
24	Sterling	14,909	398	3,319
25	Greenwood Village	15,570	392	6,614
26	Gunnison	6,866	391	4,161
27	Evans	22,678	372	1,925
28	Breckenridge	5,243	326	3,325
29	Steamboat Springs	13,346	323	1,588
30	Boulder	112,777	322	3,055
31	Loveland	84,816	315	2,333
32	Edgewater	5,602	310	10,306
33	Glenwood Springs	10,321	310	4,771
34	Westminster	118,461	304	3,844
35	Rifle	10,154	302	1,310
36	Arvada	122,800	286	2,765
37	Fort Morgan	11,666	285	2,265
38	Thornton	147,633	274	3,109
39	Fort Collins	172,375	273	2,428
40	Lafayette	28,546	273	2,953
41	Vail	5,739	271	4,315
42	Fort Lupton	8,787	270	1,773
43	Montrose	19,970	235	2,451
44	Estes Park	6,739	224	1,017
45	Littleton	47,719	213	2,732
46	Parker	57,520	209	1,857
47	Lochbuie	7,003	203	990
48	Salida	5,688	184	788
49	Delta	9,205	184	3,424
50	Johnstown	14,655	177	3,234

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.