The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Colorado For 2023


We used data and science to identify the most dangerous cities in the Centennial State for 2023.

Most dangerous cities in Colorado research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data to determine the most dangerous cities in Colorado based on violent and property crimes per capita. Here are the results of our analysis:

  • The most dangerous city in Colorado is Glendale based on the most recent FBI crime data.

  • The violent crime rate in Colorado is 1,829 per 100k people.

  • The property crime rate in Colorado is 16,101 per 100k people.

  • The safest city in Colorado is Severance.

  • Colorado is the 9th most dangerous state in the United States.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | References


The Rocky Mountains aren’t the only things that are super rocky in Colorado, the state has its fair share of some pretty rocky situations in the form of dangerous places to live.

Do you live in one of the most dangerous cities in Colorado? If you’re not sure, then you should definitely look below at RoadSnacks list of the top ten most dangerous places in Colorado for 2023 before it’s too late.

We all watch the news and see the Facebook feeds that come across detailing the latest crimes that are happening in our home towns. While a major crime just blocks away from your house can make you feel really uneasy, in the big picture, most likely, where you live is relatively safe. Unless you live in The Centennial State’s most dangerous places. Yes, that’s right. Colorado is the 19th most dangerous state in the country; and sadly, Colorado is one of the only states to have three of the most dangerous cities in the country.

Thinking of Colorado conjures up images of intense snowy mountains and peaceful forests. Danger isn’t something people think of when they consider Colorado, except maybe in a skiing accident. And while Colorado may be one of the safer states, it still has some cities where you’ve gotta watch your back. Coincidentally, Colorado is also the 25th most populous state in the country and many of Colorado’s fastest growing cities are also the states most dangerous. This is usually how it works. Law enforcement can’t keep up with the demands of large influxes of people, and people start to take advantage of each other and the system. And cities like Denver can’t catch a break.

Instead of relying on speculation, we dug into the FBI crime data in order to identify the most dangerous places in Colorado.

The Most Dangerous Cities In Colorado For 2023

  1. Glendale
  2. Sheridan
  3. Pueblo
  4. Englewood
  5. Denver
  6. Alamosa
  7. Lakewood
  8. Wheat Ridge
  9. Lone Tree
  10. Canon City

What are the circumstances that make these Colorado places this way? Maybe not enough jobs, low wages, drugs, gangs, and in Denver’s case, their mediocre NFL team?

So, with that in mind, what is the most dangerous place to live in Colorado? The most dangerous place in Colorado is Glendale according to the most recent FBI data.

If you already live in Colorado and want to make a move, or if you’re thinking about moving to Colorado for the first time, we recommend that you take a look at our list below.

Learn more about the safest places in Colorado.

If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.

For more Colorado reading, check out:

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.

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 5,192
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,829 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 16,101 (Most dangerous)
More on Glendale:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Glendale, CO

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.

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 6,070
Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,169 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 9,967 (Second most dangerous)
More on Sheridan:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Sheridan, CO

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.

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 113,371
Rank Last Year: 4 (Up 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,253 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,691 (Eighth most dangerous)
More on Pueblo:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Pueblo, CO

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.

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 35,630
Rank Last Year: 20 (Up 16)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 687 (Eighth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,856 (Fourth most dangerous)
More on Englewood:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Englewood, CO

Source: Public domain

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.

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 740,209
Rank Last Year: 6 (Up 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 931 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,779 (Seventh most dangerous)
More on Denver:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Denver, CO

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.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 9,414
Rank Last Year: 3 (Down 3)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 817 (Sixth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,258 (Tenth most dangerous)
More on Alamosa:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Alamosa, CO

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.

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 158,977
Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 684 (Ninth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,380 (Ninth most dangerous)
More on Lakewood:  | Cost Of Living

Lakewood, CO

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.

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 32,027
Rank Last Year: 8 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 540 (16th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,119 (Sixth most dangerous)
More on Wheat Ridge:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Wheat Ridge, CO

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.

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 14,007
Rank Last Year: 10 (Up 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 464 (20th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 8,895 (Third most dangerous)
More on Lone Tree:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Lone Tree, CO

10. Canon City

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.

Population: 16,552
Rank Last Year: 7 (Down 3)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 688 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,253 (16th most dangerous)
More on Canon City:

Canon City, CO

Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Colorado for 2023?

Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in Colorado. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in Colorado, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.

For our analysis, we focused on the 2021 data, specifically the 2021 Crime In The United States Report for Colorado. We will update the results when data becomes available in September 2023.

So what criteria did we use? Have a look:

  • Violent Crimes Per Capita
  • Property Crimes Per Capita

In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Colorado cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 75 cities in Colorado.

We then ranked each city from 1 to 75 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.

Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.

Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Colorado — Glendale. Any ties went to the smaller city.

Most Dangerous Places To Live In Colorado FAQs

Yes, Colorado is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #9 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in colorado ranks 20th highest in the United States — 9.09% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Centennial State ranks third highest in the United States — 44.72% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.

Yes, Denver is a dangerous city. Denver ranks as the #27 most dangerous out of 320 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Denver might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Golden Triangle is the safest in Denver, while City Park is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.

Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Denver ranks 58th highest in America — 56.3% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 24th highest in the United States — 75.04% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.

Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In Colorado

Most Dangerous Cities In Colorado Graph

Click To Enlarge

Summary: Locking It All Up In Colorado

So what is the most dangerous city in Colorado? After analyzing 75 cities in Colorado, Glendale takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Colorado based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2021.

The latest FBI crime data shows that Glendale ranks as the most dangerous city in Colorado for 2023.

We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Glendale and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up.

What are the circumstances that make these Colorado places this way? Maybe not enough jobs, low wages, drugs, gangs, and in Denver’s case, their mediocre NFL team?

So, with that in mind, what is the most dangerous place to live in Colorado? The most dangerous place in Colorado is Glendale according to the most recent FBI data.

If you already live in Colorado and want to make a move, or if you’re thinking about moving to Colorado for the first time, we recommend that you take a look at our list below.

Learn more about the safest places in Colorado.

If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.

Here are the safest cities in Colorado:

  1. Firestone (Pop. 15,932)
  2. Gypsum (Pop. 7,391)
  3. Eaton (Pop. 6,191)
  4. Erie (Pop. 31,873)
  5. Cherry Hills Village (Pop. 6,685)
  6. Windsor (Pop. 28,756)
  7. Frederick (Pop. 11,844)
  8. Brush (Pop. 5,413)
  9. Milliken (Pop. 9,074)
  10. Severance (Pop. 8,343)

For more Colorado reading, check out:

Crime By City In Colorado

Rank City Population Violent Crimes Per Capita Property Crimes Per Capita
1 Glendale 5,192 1,829 16,101
2 Sheridan 6,070 1,169 9,967
3 Pueblo 113,371 1,253 5,691
4 Englewood 35,630 687 6,856
5 Denver 740,209 931 5,779
6 Alamosa 9,414 817 5,258
7 Lakewood 158,977 684 5,380
8 Wheat Ridge 32,027 540 6,119
9 Lone Tree 14,007 464 8,895
10 Canon City 16,552 688 4,253
11 Grand Junction 63,928 591 4,536
12 Commerce City 60,845 649 4,273
13 Aurora 393,897 1,006 3,879
14 La Junta 6,831 541 4,699
15 Northglenn 39,162 633 3,988
16 Edgewater 5,415 387 6,740
17 Vail 5,507 453 4,049
18 Westminster 115,942 391 4,456
19 Trinidad 8,045 410 4,213
20 Colorado Springs 488,747 574 3,212
21 Glenwood Springs 10,297 427 3,369
22 Fort Morgan 11,234 560 2,919
23 Cortez 8,760 502 2,933
24 Sterling 14,006 406 3,327
25 Boulder 108,698 374 3,449
26 Greeley 110,660 533 2,759
27 Longmont 99,714 478 2,681
28 Montrose 19,984 275 3,983
29 Delta 9,047 210 4,443
30 Arvada 123,548 279 3,448
31 Thornton 151,324 303 3,284
32 Louisville 19,127 334 2,995
33 Rifle 9,819 407 2,668
34 Craig 8,905 415 2,189
35 Golden 20,498 229 3,517
36 Manitou Springs 5,509 381 2,287
37 Lafayette 29,027 292 2,814
38 Durango 19,995 230 3,020
39 Gunnison 6,950 417 1,568
40 Brighton 41,535 267 2,843
41 Fountain 31,557 367 2,024
42 Fort Collins 170,744 301 2,055
43 Littleton 46,466 159 3,105
44 Monument 8,397 261 2,143
45 Fort Lupton 8,800 306 1,761
46 Broomfield 73,077 116 3,229
47 Loveland 85,349 277 1,934
48 Johnstown 14,413 152 2,934
49 Steamboat Springs 13,282 308 1,385
50 Salida 5,735 209 2,109

References

  • FBI UCR 2022

  • Census – American Cumminity Survey

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our tenth time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Colorado and is updated for 2023.
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.