Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Denver, CO has a Safety Score of 2/100 — higher crime than 98% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 5,754.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,885 of 2,957 US cities and #40 of 45 in Colorado.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Denver, CO?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Denver, Colorado Safe?
Denver, the "Mile High City," sits at the base of the Rocky Mountains, a hub of Western expansion since its 1858 founding during the Gold Rush. This rapidly growing city is home to a diverse population of over 700,000 residents.
Denver has a safety score of 2/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 5,754.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Denver ranks #40 out of 45 cities in Colorado and #2885 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 2nd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 98% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Denver is motor vehicle theft, at 1,231.9 per 100K — 3.4x the national average.
Year over year, Denver's total crime rate decreased by 15%, with violent crime declining 2.8%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Denver Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 7,171 | 993.2 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 71 | 9.8 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 676 | 93.6 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 1,272 | 176.2 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 5,151 | 713.4 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 34,380 | 4,761.6 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 5,112 | 708.0 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 20,373 | 2,821.6 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 8,895 | 1,231.9 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denver vs Colorado Average
How does Denver's crime rate compare to the Colorado state average?
| Metric | Denver | Colorado Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 993.2 | 609.8 | +62.9% |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,761.6 | 3,256.2 | +46.2% |
| Murder Rate | 9.8 | 5.5 | +77.4% |
| Total Crime Rate | 5,754.7 | 3,866.0 | +48.9% |
Denver Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Denver, Colorado.
Between 2019 and 2024, Denver's total crime rate is up 28% (4,492 → 5,755 per 100,000). Violent crime is up 33% and property crime up 27% over the same period; the worst year in this window was 2022 at 7,511 per 100,000.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 722,031 | 5,754.7 | 993.2 | 4,761.6 |
| 2023 | 712,222 | 6,772.6 | 1,022.0 | 5,750.6 |
| 2022 | 705,264 | 7,510.7 | 1,074.1 | 6,436.6 |
| 2021 | 740,209 | 6,726.1 | 935.7 | 5,790.4 |
| 2020 | 737,709 | 5,527.0 | 866.6 | 4,660.4 |
| 2019 | 728,941 | 4,492.4 | 748.9 | 3,743.5 |
Denver Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Denver and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Colorado crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Denver, Colorado safe?
Denver has a safety score of 2/100, meaning it has less crime than about 2% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 5,754.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Denver is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Denver, Colorado?
According to FBI data for 2024, Denver has a violent crime rate of 993.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 4,761.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Denver compare to the national average?
Denver's total crime rate of 5,754.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 722,031 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Denver?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Denver are larceny-theft (20,373 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (8,895 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.8x in the city.
How many murders were reported in Denver in 2024?
71 murders were reported to the FBI for Denver in 2024 — a homicide rate of 9.8 per 100,000 residents.
Is crime in Denver going up or down?
Denver's total crime rate is rising: 28% higher in 2024 than in 2019 (5,755 vs 4,492 per 100,000, FBI data).
Is Denver safe to visit?
Like any city, Denver has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 2/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.