The Rocky Mountains aren’t the only super rocky things in Colorado. The most dangerous places to live in Colorado are a little rocky themselves.
Do you live in one of the most dangerous cities in Colorado? If you’re unsure, you should consider our research into the top ten most dangerous places in Colorado for 2026. We analyzed violent and property crimes per capita for each place in Colorado using the latest FBI crime data to find the most dangerous places.
The most dangerous cities in Colorado contribute to the state’s ranking as the 2nd most dangerous state in the country. Furthermore, Colorado is one of the only states to have three of the most dangerous cities in the country.
924 violent crimes /100k · 6,982 property crimes /100k · #5 most violent in Colorado
Located in
Arapahoe County, ColoradoGood 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 2024. 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 14 chance of being the victim of a property crime over 2024.
That’s also enough to give Sheridan the second highest total crime rate in Colorado — nearly quadruple the national average.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
1,424 violent crimes /100k · 4,942 property crimes /100k · #1 most violent in Colorado
Located in
Pueblo County, ColoradoPueblo 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 110,805 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 2 most dangerous city in Colorado.
Violence represents a major problem in the area. The community suffered 1,578 violent crimes in a year. This total included 19 murders and 160 sexual assaults.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
993 violent crimes /100k · 4,762 property crimes /100k · #2 most violent in Colorado
Located in
Denver County, ColoradoThe Mile High City has some work to do when it comes to crime. Particularly violent crime, which ranked as the second highest in Colorado, with residents facing a 1 in 100 shot of being violently attacked over 2024.
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 8,895 car thefts in 2026. Which is confusing, considering you can’t walk five steps without passing an electric scooter in Denver.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers | Compare
979 violent crimes /100k · 4,745 property crimes /100k · #3 most violent in Colorado
Located in
Alamosa County, ColoradoLocated in south-central Colorado, Alamosa comes in as the state’s fourth 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 18th 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 2024, which is a big part of why it ranks as the third most violent place in Colorado overall.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
787 violent crimes /100k · 5,093 property crimes /100k · #7 most violent in Colorado
Located in
Jefferson County, ColoradoA 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 5 most dangerous location in Colorado.
Though overshadowed by nearby Denver, Lakewood represents a major urban area of its own. It boasts 155,868 residents. Unfortunately, that crowd of people comes with 1,227 violent crimes and 7,939 property crimes.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
504 violent crimes /100k · 7,001 property crimes /100k · #13 most violent in Colorado
Located in
Otero County, ColoradoIf you thought having a giant fort around would be enough to keep crime at bay, consider La Junta. The small municipality makes this list mostly due to its property crime rate, which ranks as the second highest in Colorado.
That’s mostly because La Junta had the highest burglary rate statewide for 2024. Not to mention an average of two stolen cars a month — pretty high for such a small place.
And it’s not all broken windows and stolen vehicles, either. La Junta also had the 11th highest rate of rape cases in Colorado.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
655 violent crimes /100k · 5,253 property crimes /100k · #11 most violent in Colorado
Located in
Arapahoe County, ColoradoLocated 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 34,496, this city has experienced a concerning level of crime. In particular, Englewood has seen many violent crimes, including 226 incidents such as murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
The property crime rate in Englewood is also alarmingly high, with 1,812 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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
436 violent crimes /100k · 10,978 property crimes /100k · #20 most violent in Colorado
Located in
Douglas County, ColoradoWe 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 highest in Colorado, it really isn’t so bad when you realize that 90%+ of that crime comes from shoplifting teenagers, not violent criminals.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
948 violent crimes /100k · 3,104 property crimes /100k · #4 most violent in Colorado
Located in
Douglas County, ColoradoAurora, the ninth most dangerous place to live in Colorado, has a concerning crime rate. With a population of 397,852, the city has experienced 3,771 violent crimes, including 41 murders, making it one of the highest in the state. The rate of property crime is also alarmingly high, with 12,349 incidents.
Aurora’s location within Colorado is worth highlighting. Situated in Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties, it is part of the Denver”Aurora”Lakewood Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and the Front Range Urban Corridor. This strategic position offers residents access to various amenities and opportunities within the region if it can get its crime rate under control.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers | Compare
716 violent crimes /100k · 3,449 property crimes /100k · #9 most violent in Colorado
Located in
El Paso County, ColoradoOutdoorsmen and women come from far and wide to visit Colorado Springs, home to Garden of the Gods and Red Rock Canyon.
But Colorado’s second-biggest city also has above-average crime rates. About eight cars are stolen each day, and the city averages two arson cases a week.
And while violent crime in Colorado Springs isn’t as bad as Denver, it still ranks as the ninth highest in the state.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers | Compare
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Colorado’s statewide median.
On the map
Where crime hits hardest in Colorado
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the most dangerous cities in Colorado for 2026?
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 2024 data, specifically the 2024 Crime In The United States Report for Colorado.
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 71 cities in Colorado.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 71 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 — Sheridan. Any ties went to the smaller city.
This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our eleventh time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Colorado and is updated for 2026. Property crime in Colorado runs about 48 percent above the national rate — worth a minute to compare home security systems before you sign a lease.
The full plate
Crime By City In Colorado
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Dangerous Index | Population | Total Crimes Per 100K | Violent Crimes Per 100K | Property Crimes Per 100K | Murders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheridan | 4.00 | 5,844 | 7,906 | 924 | 6,982 | 1 |
| 2 | Pueblo | 4.00 | 110,805 | 6,366 | 1,424 | 4,942 | 19 |
| 3 | Denver | 5.00 | 722,031 | 5,755 | 993 | 4,762 | 71 |
| 4 | Alamosa | 6.00 | 9,906 | 5,724 | 979 | 4,745 | 5 |
| 5 | Lakewood | 6.50 | 155,868 | 5,881 | 787 | 5,093 | 4 |
| 6 | La Junta | 7.50 | 6,942 | 7,505 | 504 | 7,001 | 1 |
| 7 | Englewood | 8.00 | 34,496 | 5,908 | 655 | 5,253 | 0 |
| 8 | Lone Tree | 10.50 | 13,992 | 11,414 | 436 | 10,978 | 0 |
| 9 | Aurora | 10.50 | 397,852 | 4,052 | 948 | 3,104 | 41 |
| 10 | Colorado Springs | 11.50 | 491,474 | 4,164 | 716 | 3,449 | 38 |
| 11 | Wheat Ridge | 12.50 | 31,615 | 4,947 | 481 | 4,466 | 0 |
| 12 | Greenwood Village | 14.00 | 15,060 | 6,614 | 392 | 6,222 | 1 |
| 13 | Grand Junction | 14.00 | 70,686 | 3,716 | 546 | 3,170 | 3 |
| 14 | Trinidad | 14.50 | 8,176 | 3,743 | 771 | 2,972 | 0 |
| 15 | Greeley | 14.50 | 113,757 | 3,690 | 671 | 3,020 | 6 |
| 16 | Commerce City | 15.00 | 70,170 | 3,663 | 791 | 2,872 | 6 |
| 17 | Gunnison | 18.50 | 6,897 | 4,161 | 391 | 3,770 | 0 |
| 18 | Cortez | 20.50 | 9,120 | 3,399 | 461 | 2,939 | 0 |
| 19 | Glenwood Springs | 20.50 | 10,334 | 4,771 | 310 | 4,461 | 1 |
| 20 | Westminster | 22.00 | 114,310 | 3,844 | 304 | 3,540 | 6 |
| 21 | Longmont | 22.50 | 98,446 | 3,088 | 469 | 2,619 | 4 |
| 22 | Sterling | 23.00 | 12,806 | 3,319 | 398 | 2,921 | 0 |
| 23 | Brighton | 23.50 | 43,231 | 2,991 | 472 | 2,519 | 1 |
| 24 | Avon | 25.50 | 5,896 | 3,002 | 424 | 2,578 | 0 |
| 25 | Northglenn | 25.50 | 38,210 | 3,010 | 432 | 2,578 | 2 |
| 26 | Fountain | 27.00 | 28,037 | 2,375 | 482 | 1,894 | 0 |
| 27 | Boulder | 27.00 | 105,195 | 3,055 | 322 | 2,733 | 0 |
| 28 | Delta | 30.00 | 9,785 | 3,424 | 184 | 3,240 | 0 |
| 29 | Thornton | 30.00 | 145,847 | 3,109 | 274 | 2,836 | 2 |
| 30 | Craig | 32.00 | 9,052 | 2,055 | 464 | 1,591 | 0 |
| 31 | Johnstown | 32.00 | 20,284 | 3,234 | 177 | 3,057 | 0 |
| 32 | Lafayette | 32.00 | 30,442 | 2,953 | 273 | 2,681 | 0 |
| 33 | Arvada | 33.00 | 120,456 | 2,764 | 286 | 2,479 | 0 |
| 34 | Loveland | 33.50 | 80,374 | 2,333 | 315 | 2,018 | 3 |
| 35 | Aspen | 36.00 | 6,489 | 3,144 | 139 | 3,005 | 0 |
| 36 | Fort Morgan | 36.50 | 11,567 | 2,265 | 285 | 1,980 | 0 |
| 37 | Evans | 36.50 | 22,341 | 1,925 | 372 | 1,553 | 0 |
| 38 | Littleton | 36.50 | 44,076 | 2,732 | 213 | 2,518 | 1 |
| 39 | Fort Collins | 36.50 | 170,509 | 2,428 | 273 | 2,155 | 3 |
| 40 | Montrose | 37.00 | 21,661 | 2,451 | 235 | 2,216 | 0 |
| 41 | Steamboat Springs | 38.50 | 13,606 | 1,588 | 323 | 1,264 | 0 |
| 42 | Rifle | 42.00 | 10,607 | 1,310 | 302 | 1,009 | 0 |
| 43 | Fort Lupton | 43.00 | 9,984 | 1,773 | 270 | 1,502 | 0 |
| 44 | Parker | 43.50 | 64,088 | 1,857 | 209 | 1,648 | 2 |
| 45 | Golden | 45.00 | 20,193 | 2,511 | 124 | 2,387 | 0 |
| 46 | Broomfield | 45.00 | 78,294 | 2,004 | 148 | 1,856 | 1 |
| 47 | Centennial | 45.50 | 106,454 | 1,882 | 173 | 1,709 | 0 |
| 48 | Monument | 46.00 | 12,701 | 1,984 | 142 | 1,842 | 0 |
| 49 | Silverthorne | 48.50 | 5,113 | 2,288 | 78 | 2,210 | 0 |
| 50 | Louisville | 48.50 | 20,136 | 1,917 | 129 | 1,788 | 1 |
| 51 | Estes Park | 50.00 | 5,799 | 1,017 | 224 | 793 | 0 |
| 52 | Lochbuie | 52.00 | 8,382 | 990 | 203 | 787 | 0 |
| 53 | Firestone | 52.00 | 19,282 | 1,105 | 140 | 965 | 0 |
| 54 | Mead | 52.50 | 7,124 | 1,025 | 154 | 870 | 0 |
| 55 | Woodland Park | 53.00 | 7,857 | 1,311 | 127 | 1,184 | 1 |
| 56 | Salida | 54.50 | 5,968 | 788 | 184 | 603 | 0 |
| 57 | Cherry Hills Village | 57.00 | 6,222 | 1,430 | 48 | 1,382 | 0 |
| 58 | Dacono | 57.50 | 6,679 | 973 | 120 | 853 | 0 |
| 59 | Carbondale | 58.00 | 6,795 | 751 | 132 | 618 | 0 |
| 60 | Timnath | 59.50 | 11,404 | 938 | 53 | 886 | 0 |
| 61 | Castle Rock | 60.50 | 84,098 | 974 | 36 | 938 | 0 |
| 62 | Eaton | 61.50 | 5,828 | 858 | 51 | 806 | 0 |
| 63 | Erie | 61.50 | 37,055 | 926 | 30 | 896 | 0 |
| 64 | Frederick | 62.00 | 18,791 | 702 | 85 | 617 | 0 |
| 65 | Severance | 63.50 | 11,997 | 625 | 117 | 508 | 0 |
| 66 | Gypsum | 65.00 | 9,101 | 385 | 99 | 286 | 1 |
| 67 | Fruita | 65.50 | 13,949 | 781 | 14 | 767 | 0 |
| 68 | Eagle | 66.00 | 7,354 | 544 | 68 | 476 | 0 |
| 69 | Windsor | 67.00 | 43,050 | 567 | 46 | 520 | 0 |
| 70 | Milliken | 68.25 | 9,303 | 537 | 0 | 537 | 0 |
| 71 | Lamar | 68.75 | 7,468 | 522 | 0 | 522 | 0 |
Source: FBI UCR 2024. 71 cities with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: Locking It All Up In Colorado
So what is the most dangerous city in Colorado? After analyzing 71 cities in Colorado, Sheridan takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Colorado based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2024.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Sheridan ranks as the most dangerous city in Colorado for 2026.
The most dangerous cities in Colorado are Sheridan, Pueblo, Denver, Alamosa, Lakewood, La Junta, Englewood, Lone Tree, Aurora, and Colorado Springs.
We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Sheridan and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up. Not sold on Colorado? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Most Dangerous Places To Live In Colorado FAQs
Is Colorado a dangerous state?
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 most dangerous in the United States — 14.4% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Centennial State ranks third most dangerous in the United States — 45.0% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.
Is Denver, CO a dangerous city?
Yes, Denver is a dangerous city. Denver ranks as the #6 most dangerous out of 328 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 32nd highest in America — 93.27% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks fifth highest in the United States — 135.57% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 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.
