The 10 Most Dangerous And Worst Neighborhoods In Denver, CO


The most dangerous and worst Denver neighborhoods are Central West Denver and Northern Denver for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

Worst Neighborhoods In Denver
Source: Wikipedia User FlickreviewR | CC BY 2.0

Denver’s neighborhoods conjure up too many stereotypes to count. You’ve got hipster areas, preppy places, neighborhoods where college kids thrive, and of course, ghettos.

It seems as if there’s a neighborhood for everyone in Denver.

And while the city consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in Colorado thanks in part to tons of entertainment and jobs, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine in Denver. Some neighborhoods aren’t as safe as others.

So the question arises, which Denver neighborhoods are the most dangerous and which are the safest?

Today, we’ll use Saturday Night Science to determine which Denver hoods need a little tender loving care – the sore thumbs of the Denver area if you will. Realistically, you can’t expect all the neighborhoods to be amazing, although Washington Park ranks way above the rest.

We examined 22 of Denver’s neighborhoods to find out the most dangerous places to live. These places don’t quite measure up to Denver’s reputation.


Table Of Contents: Top 10 | Methodology | Summary | Table


The Most Dangerous Neighborhoods In Denver For 2024

  1. Central West Denver
  2. Northern Denver
  3. Northwestern Denver
  4. Park Hill
  5. Gateway-Green Valley Ranch
  6. Alamo Placita
  7. Southwestern Denver
  8. Southeastern Denver
  9. Capitol Hill
  10. City Park

So what’s the worst neighborhood to live in Denver for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Central West Denver looks to be the worst neighborhood in Denver.

Read on to see how we determined the places around Denver that need a pick-me-up. And remember, don’t blame the messenger.

For more Colorado reading, check out:

The 10 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods In Denver For 2024

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 50,475
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,709
Property Crime Per 100k: 6,703
Median Home Value: $245,607 (4th worst)
Median Income: $49,508 (worst)
More on Central West Denver:  Data

Most of these “worst” lists get stocked by poverty-stricken neighborhoods. Just a litany of urban blight and economic heartache. You’ll often find double-digit unemployment and median incomes in the sub-$30,000 range.

Not here. The number 1 worst section of Denver for 2024 actually boasts a relatively healthy economy. Sure, the unemployment rate stands at an elevated 5.1%. But the area supports a robust median income of $49,508.

However, these paychecks have to cover a relatively high cost of living. That represents the neighborhood’s major problem. The median home value hovers at a level of $245,607.

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 25,549
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,423
Property Crime Per 100k: 5,429
Median Home Value: $226,148 (2nd worst)
Median Income: $53,074 (2nd worst)
More on Northern Denver:  Data

It’s hard to get lost going to Northern Denver. Start at downtown and head north. But don’t let the boring name fool you. Northern Denver represents a relatively inviting neighborhood.

The good news starts with the economy. It hums along at a good pace, supporting an unemployment rate of 3.7% and a median income above $50,000. So far, so good.

Now for the bad news. Once again, high prices mar the neighborhood’s reputation. That cost of living makes it difficult for many locals to make ends meet. An elevated median home value plays into this trend, with a figure hovering at $226,148.

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 30,609
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 815
Property Crime Per 100k: 5,757
Median Home Value: $293,687 (6th worst)
Median Income: $62,992 (5th worst)
More on Northwestern Denver:  Data

If you’re paying attention, you’ll recognize a pattern developing on this list. Nice neighborhoods. Plentiful amenities. Low crime. Strong economies. Yet mentioned here among the least appealing parts of Denver, thanks largely to a high cost of living.

Well, you won’t find an exception here. Northwestern Denver follows the same logical course. Along with access to lots of restaurants, shops, and other amenities, the area features a thriving financial base. The median income sits at $62,992 and the unemployment rate hovers at 3.9%. But, oh, those housing prices. In this case, the median level stands at $293,687.

Park Hill Denver, CO

Source: Wikipedia User | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 28,587
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 767
Property Crime Per 100k: 3,724
Median Home Value: $366,040 (8th worst)
Median Income: $82,311 (10th worst)
More on Park Hill:  Data

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 35,927
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 512
Property Crime Per 100k: 1,802
Median Home Value: $222,990 (worst)
Median Income: $68,544 (8th worst)
More on Gateway-Green Valley Ranch:  Data

Gateway and Green Valley Ranch are often counted as separate neighborhoods. They sit next to each other near the eastern outskirts of the city. About 20 minutes from downtown, these areas presents a longer commute than many of the other neighborhoods on this list.

That said, there are selling points. To the north, for instance, you’ve got the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.

Once again, the benefits come with a high price tag. Purchasing most houses in the area will set you back more than $200,000. However, that becomes easier in an area with a median income of nearly $70,000 and an unemployment rate of just 4.1%.

Alamo Placita Denver, CO

Source: Wikipedia User | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 11,380
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 580
Property Crime Per 100k: 6,203
Median Home Value: $325,227 (7th worst)
Median Income: $54,018 (3rd worst)
More on Alamo Placita:  Data

The Texas version of the Alamo was the site of a famous bloody battle, where all the Americans inside were desperately slaughtered. Yes, Alamo Placita ranks as the number 6 worst neighborhood in Denver for 2024. But living here is at least slightly better than surviving a siege.

Let’s focus for a second on the “Placita” part of the name. It evokes the word “placid,” a term meaning peaceful or calm. You get some of that here. Alamo Placita Park advertises itself as a picnic area featuring “vibrant flower gardens.”

None of this inviting “placita” comes cheap, however. To buy a house here, the median price tag runs $325,227. That comes in an area where the median income equals $54,018.

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 123,093
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 748
Property Crime Per 100k: 3,499
Median Home Value: $227,605 (3rd worst)
Median Income: $54,762 (4th worst)
More on Southwestern Denver:  Data

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 123,683
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 546
Property Crime Per 100k: 3,160
Median Home Value: $277,859 (5th worst)
Median Income: $64,624 (7th worst)
More on Southeastern Denver:  Data

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 15,881
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,983
Property Crime Per 100k: 10,464
Median Home Value: $384,269 (9th worst)
Median Income: $64,389 (6th worst)
More on Capitol Hill:  Data

Did you know that Denver is the capital of Colorado? Well, you do now. And, with that little tidbit of information, you can probably guess how Capitol Hill gets its name.

This a little embarrassing: the home of the state capitol ends up in the number 9 worst spot in Denver. And, no, it’s not because other residents have to deal with all those politicians. The main problem comes from high prices.

Getting a home this close to the halls of power makes the cost of living difficult. The median home value sits at $384,269, compared to a median income of $64,389.

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 3,355
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,002
Property Crime Per 100k: 10,545
Median Home Value: $575,033 (19th worst)
Median Income: $83,430 (11th worst)
More on City Park:  Data

New York City has its Central Park. Denver has its City Park. This area, located west of the Central Business District, contains loads of attractions. Of course, you have the park itself, complete with the Ferril Lake and Duck Lake. On top of this, you’ll find the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

The residential part of the area extends a couple of blocks south of the park. Unfortunately, the prime location comes at a hefty cost. The median home value stands at $575,033. Not quite what you you’d find for park-adjacent real estate in NYC…but still a difficult mortgage to swing when the local median income equals $83,430.

Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous Denver neighborhoods in 2024

To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what places have the least amount of those things. We plugged the following criteria into Saturday Night Science to get the worst neighborhoods in Denver:

  • High crime (Estimated)
  • High unemployment (Less jobs)
  • Low median income (Less pay)
  • Low population density (No things to do)
  • Low home values (No one’s willing to pay to live here)

Then, we ranked each neighborhood in Denver, Colorado for each of these criteria from worst to best.

Next, we averaged the individual rankings for each criterion into a “Worst Score.”

The neighborhood with the lowest “Worst Score” ranks as the most dangerous neighborhood of Denver.

The article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2024. This report is our time ranking the worst neighborhoods to live in Denver.

Skip to the end to see the list of all 22 neighborhoods ranked from worst to best.

Summary: The Worst Neighborhoods Around Denver

Well, there you have it — the worst of the neighborhoods in Denver with Central West Denver landing at the bottom of the pack.

The worst neighborhoods in Denver are Central West Denver, Northern Denver, Northwestern Denver, Park Hill, Gateway-Green Valley Ranch, Alamo Placita, Southwestern Denver, Southeastern Denver, Capitol Hill, and City Park.

As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Denver aren’t all bad. Washington Park takes the cake as the best place to live in Denver.

The best neighborhoods in Denver are Washington Park, Five Points, Auraria, Lodo, and Golden Triangle.

We ranked the neighborhoods from worst to best in the chart below.

For more Colorado reading, check out:

Most Dangerous Neighborhoods To Live In Denver For 2024?

Rank Neighborhood Population Home Value Median Income
1 Central West Denver 50,475 $245,607 $49,508
2 Northern Denver 25,549 $226,148 $53,074
3 Northwestern Denver 30,609 $293,687 $62,992
4 Park Hill 28,587 $366,040 $82,311
5 Gateway-Green Valley Ranch 35,927 $222,990 $68,544
6 Alamo Placita 11,380 $325,227 $54,018
7 Southwestern Denver 123,093 $227,605 $54,762
8 Southeastern Denver 123,683 $277,859 $64,624
9 Capitol Hill 15,881 $384,269 $64,389
10 City Park 3,355 $575,033 $83,430
11 Stapleton 25,262 $538,212 $126,734
12 Central East Denver 64,393 $416,967 $88,432
13 Highland 10,549 $538,020 $89,050
14 University 9,938 $445,780 $86,261
15 Baker 6,749 $433,440 $90,714
16 Cherry Creek 6,954 $782,740 $133,998
17 Jefferson Park 3,379 $539,467 $88,699
18 Golden Triangle 1,873 $418,600 $83,929
19 Lodo 8,519 $441,900 $71,476
20 Auraria 858 $1,002,100 $94,202
21 Five Points 19,079 $555,882 $88,369
22 Washington Park 7,509 $816,840 $165,855
About Nick Johnson

Nick Johnson earned his masters in Business Administration from the Drucker School At Claremont Graduate University. He has written for 39 publications across the country and ran the media relations department at Movoto, a real estate portal based in San Francisco. He has been featured in over 500 publications as an expert in real estate and as an authority on real estate trends.

Nick's the creator of the HomeSnacks YouTube channel that now has over 260,000 subscribers and is an excellent source to learn about different parts of the country.

4 thoughts on “The 10 Most Dangerous And Worst Neighborhoods In Denver, CO

  1. I live in Super South Denver, well more like Lonetree, which is on the far south end of the metro area. If you go any further south of me you’re going to land in Castle Rock. I have to say, this breakdown is pretty accurate. Unfortunately. I used to live in what is commonly known as Cinderella City, but it got so bad there, had to head further south. Damn near out of town to avoid the crime, druggies and ridiculous housing costs.
    Denver WAS a great place to live until we were overrun with out of state transplants who figured it out. We are well on our way to becoming the San Francisco of the Rockies.

  2. Your average home values are off. There’s plenty to do in most of those urban neighborhoods. Also condos are wildly present in a handful of those neighborhoods. “No one wants to live here” statement is incorrect. Most of those neighborhoods have the highest price per square foot. It’s that no one can afford to live here.

  3. The methods for this are incredibly biased, you’re primarily ranking based on income and home values which gives preference to large expensive single family homes in the suburbs. Capitol Hill at #2 worst neighborhood? Good joke. Yes there’s a homeless issue and higher crime than boring outer ring suburbs like Lone Tree but people love neighborhoods like Cap Hill, City Park, and Baker because they’re super walkable, short commutes, and have historic charm. They can’t simultaneously be the worst neighborhoods while having ridiculous housing costs – there’s a reason people pay it…

  4. The worst area is North East Denver, hands down. Montbello, Green Valley Ranch area.

    Montbello is the worse of the two. Very high, violent crime and gang activity. Mostly older single family homes built between 1965 and 1990. Bars on everyone’s windows and gang banger cars everywhere all the yards look like crap. Google street view it and you will see what I mean. The schools are horrible and there are shootings almost every day. Just Google Montbello Co News and its nothing but crime stories.

    Green Valley Ranch is farther East and on the surface is looks really nice, typical suburbs, but it has a huge problem with out of control kids and young adults. Shootings in broad daylight, lots and lots of houses for sale. People realize what they have moved into after awhile and sell and leave fast. Huge population of Section 8 and lots of rentals, again bad schools.

    If you want a high class, area, stay extreme south, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, Parker, Lone Tree, Ken Caryl Ranch & Valley, Littleton. Or extreme North, Boulder, Longmont, Loveland. I lived in Aurora (Iliff & Buckley) and Denver (Capital Hill) 25 years ago but I would not even live in those areas now. Stay South of Hampden. The further South the better.

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