The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Colorado For 2023

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Colorado For 2023

Glendale held onto its title of most dangerous place in Colorado for another year. An enclave of Denver, Glendale took the top spots for both violent and property crime rates yet again.

Glendale residents had a 1 in 54 chance of being the victim of a violent crime over 2021. That includes the 52nd highest murder rate in the state. So while you may think the rugby players at Infinity Park are rough, it’s nothing compared to Glendale’s streets.

Oh, and Glendale’s property crime rate is more than twice as high as the second worst city in Colorado, with folks facing a whopping 1 in 6 shot of having their stuff stolen or damaged. That includes 256 stolen cars, a crazy number for a city with a population of just 5,192.

Good news, bad news situation for Sheridan, a city that already ranked as one of Denver’s worst suburbs due to its high crime rates.

The good news is that the violent crime rate in Sheridan was nearly cut in half in 2021. That’s a significant achievement, and we’re sure residents are happy they can walk in the park without worrying about being attacked.

The bad news is that high rates of property crime persist. Residents had a 1 in 10 chance of being the victim of a property crime over 2021.

That’s also enough to give Sheridan the second highest total crime rate in Colorado — nearly quadruple the national average.

Pueblo is located in the south-central part of the state. It sits along I-25, the main north-south transportation artery in Colorado, about two hours south of Denver.

With 113,371 residents, Pueblo counts as a major population center in its region. As such, you’d expect some crime. But the city takes this to another level. In fact, it stands as the number 3 most dangerous city in Colorado.

Violence represents a major problem in the area. The community suffered 1,421 violent crimes in a year. This total included 27 murders and 193 sexual assaults.

Located in Arapahoe County, Englewood has unfortunately earned the reputation of being one of the state’s most dangerous places to live. With a population of 35,630, this city has experienced a concerning level of crime. In particular, Englewood has seen many violent crimes, including 245 incidents such as murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

The property crime rate in Englewood is also alarmingly high, with 2,443 reported cases. This includes incidents of burglary and theft. However, it’s important to note that with dedicated efforts from law enforcement and community members alike, there is hope for improvement.

The Mile High City has some work to do when it comes to crime. Particularly violent crime, which ranked as the fifth highest in Colorado, with residents facing a 1 in 107 shot of being violently attacked over 2021.

That’s a bit higher than in Los Angeles, for reference. Still, Denver’s best neighborhoods have signifcantly less crime than the worst.

In other words, you’re still good to go for a jog at City Park. Still, Denver had 12,728 car thefts in 2023. Which is confusing, considering you can’t walk five steps without passing an electric scooter in Denver.

Located in south-central Colorado, Alamosa comes in as the state’s sixth least safe place. However, as a popular tourist destination with loads to do year-round and an annual music festival, Summerfest on the Rio, Alamosa’s crime numbers might be slightly inflated.

Still, there’s no arguing that the city had the fourth highest burglary rate in Colorado, which definitely means that residents were victimized, not tourists.

On top of that, Alamosa averaged more than one rape case per month in 2021, which is a big part of why it ranks as the sixth most violent place in Colorado overall.

A suburb of Denver, located just west of the city, Lakewood opens up to the unmatched natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Jump on the I-70 headed west and you’ll pass through a series of state and national parks on your way to some of the most celebrated ski resorts in the world.

And you’d have great motivation to jump in the car. Escaping Lakewood for the slopes out west lets you flee the number 7 most dangerous location in Colorado.

Though overshadowed by nearby Denver, Lakewood represents a major urban area of its own. It boasts 158,977 residents. Unfortunately, that crowd of people comes with 1,088 violent crimes and 8,554 property crimes.

Wheat Ridge sounds like an idyllic rural setting. You sit on your front porch with a glass of lemonade, staring out over the rolling agricultural fields, safe from crime and any encroachment of modern life.

Nope. That’s not how things are at all. Despite its name, Wheat Ridge sits northwest of Denver and just north of Lakewood, another name on this list.

Your worries here won’t revolve around crops and what manure to use. Rather, you’ll have to worry about who might steal your car or burn down your house. Just to use those crimes as examples, Wheat Ridge stands at number 7.0 in Colorado in terms of highest rate of car theft and at number 7 for the scariest pace of arsons.

We actually ranked Lone Tree as one ofDenver’s best suburbs, and we stand by that call.

You see, Lone Tree is home to the Park Meadows Mall. And while the money and jobs that it brings the community are certainly good, malls tend to significantly inflate a city’s property crime rate.

So while Lone Tree’s property crime rate ranks as the third highest in Colorado, it really isn’t so bad when you realize that 90%+ of that crime comes from shoplifting teenagers, not violent criminals.

Another popular tourist destination, Canon City is home to breathtaking drives, an insane suspension bridge, and some of the best rock climbing and whitewater rafting in a state known for both.

Drawing in thrill-seekers has some downsides, though, and Canon City has been creeping up this list for the past few years. The city had the sixth highest rape and sixth highest murder rate in Colorado in 2021, its worst numbers yet in recent years.

While violent crime is far more severe, it’s worth noting the Canon City also managed to have the 16th highest burglary rate in Colorado.

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