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.

Pueblo Population: 111,776 1,474 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.04 chance of being a victim: 1 in 68 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,010

Pueblo, CO holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Colorado with 1,474 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,072), robbery (251), rape (127) and homicide (25) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 211% 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.

Denver Population: 715,878 1,022 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.80 chance of being a victim: 1 in 98 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,772

The second most dangerous city is Denver. With a population of 715,878 and a violent crime rate that is 116% higher than the Colorado average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Denver are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,022 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 98 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Aurora Population: 379,434 951 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.61 chance of being a victim: 1 in 105 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,695

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 951 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.61 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 101% higher than the Colorado violent crime rate.

Commerce City Population: 55,891 768 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.10 chance of being a victim: 1 in 130 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,636

With a violent crime rate that is 62% higher than the Colorado average, it's not hard to see why Commerce City made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (108), assault (559), rape (96) and homicide (6). 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 Commerce City more vulnerable to high crime.

Trinidad Population: 8,076 735 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.01 chance of being a victim: 1 in 136 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,193

The ongoing battle with crime in Trinidad, 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 735 and a 1 in 136 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Trinidad has a violent crime rate that is 55% 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 Trinidad.

Lakewood Population: 155,733 716 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.96 chance of being a victim: 1 in 140 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,332

Lakewood, CO comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 716 per 100,000 people, which is 51% higher than the Colorado average. Lakewood has a population of 155,733, which translates to 1.96 crimes per day and 1 in 140 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 Lakewood which are much safer than others.

Sheridan Population: 6,072 711 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.95 chance of being a victim: 1 in 141 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,993

A 1 in 141 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.95 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Sheridan makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 711 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 50% higher than the Colorado average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (576), robbery (102), rape (34) and homicide (0).

Colorado Springs Population: 471,686 692 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.90 chance of being a victim: 1 in 144 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,387

Colorado Springs, CO is another one of the most dangerous cities in Colorado and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 471,686 and a violent crime rate of 692 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 506 counts of assault, 76 counts of robbery, 104 counts of rape and 5 counts of homicide. All told, the Colorado Springs violent crime rate is 46% higher than the Colorado average.

Cortez Population: 8,729 669 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.83 chance of being a victim: 1 in 149 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,280

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, Cortez, CO comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Colorado with a violent crime rate of 669 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.83 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 149 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Englewood Population: 34,840 642 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 156 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,255

Rounding out our list at #10 is Englewood, CO. With a population of 34,840 and a violent crime rate of 642 per 100,000 people (35% higher than the Colorado average), some parts of Englewood are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 443 counts of assault, 74 counts of robbery, 110 counts of rape and 15 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 156 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	Pueblo	111,776	1,474	7,010
2	Denver	715,878	1,022	6,772
3	Aurora	379,434	951	4,695
4	Commerce City	55,891	768	3,636
5	Trinidad	8,076	735	3,193
6	Lakewood	155,733	716	5,332
7	Sheridan	6,072	711	7,993
8	Colorado Springs	471,686	692	4,387
9	Cortez	8,729	669	4,280
10	Englewood	34,840	642	6,255
11	Greeley	107,445	627	3,500
12	Northglenn	39,201	540	3,843
13	Fort Lupton	8,600	528	2,955
14	Vail	5,614	528	5,212
15	Evans	22,128	518	2,418
16	Grand Junction	62,218	505	3,697
17	Fountain	30,240	499	2,561
18	Longmont	95,864	458	3,174
19	Wheat Ridge	31,889	436	4,976
20	Gunnison	6,653	434	3,040
21	Cañon City	16,369	431	4,343
22	Brighton	38,355	422	3,035
23	Glenwood Springs	10,048	414	4,155
24	Greenwood Village	15,100	407	7,376
25	Fort Morgan	11,311	403	2,876
26	La Junta	6,907	396	5,683
27	Sterling	14,421	394	3,891
28	Manitou Springs	5,342	389	1,901
29	Loveland	81,774	388	2,752
30	Boulder	108,777	357	3,415
31	Lone Tree	13,381	340	10,668
32	Steamboat Springs	13,048	330	1,521
33	Westminster	114,832	326	3,927
34	Rifle	9,771	311	1,555
35	Fort Collins	166,069	296	2,736
36	Edgewater	5,410	289	9,303
37	Thornton	144,186	277	3,261
38	Avon	6,711	275	2,699
39	Breckenridge	5,054	227	3,340
40	Estes Park	6,504	223	1,267
41	Delta	8,893	217	3,929
42	Arvada	120,229	215	2,816
43	Centennial	111,331	213	2,162
44	Johnstown	14,357	212	3,874
45	Montrose	19,396	211	2,480
46	Parker	55,460	203	2,037
47	Littleton	46,208	198	2,999
48	Lafayette	27,952	195	3,142
49	Dacono	6,167	168	1,296
50	Eagle	6,896	162	918

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.