Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Sterling, CO has a Safety Score of 15/100 — higher crime than 85% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,318.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,526 of 2,971 US cities and #31 of 45 in Colorado.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Sterling, Colorado Safe?
Sterling, Colorado, a plains town and the county seat of Logan County, was founded in 1881 as a stop on the Union Pacific Railroad. It is home to Northeastern Junior College, serving a rural population in northeastern Colorado.
Sterling has a safety score of 15/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,318.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Sterling ranks #31 out of 45 cities in Colorado and #2526 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 15th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 85% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Sterling is burglary, at 413.9 per 100K — 1.4x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Sterling's total crime rate decreased by 14.7%, with violent crime rising 1.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Sterling Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 51 | 398.3 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 4 | 31.2 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 7.8 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 46 | 359.2 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 374 | 2,920.5 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 53 | 413.9 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 296 | 2,311.4 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 25 | 195.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Sterling vs Colorado Average
How does Sterling's crime rate compare to the Colorado state average?
| Metric | Sterling | Colorado Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 398.3 | 609.8 | -34.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,920.5 | 3,256.2 | -10.3% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 5.5 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,318.8 | 3,866.0 | -14.2% |
Sterling Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Sterling, Colorado.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12,806 | 3,318.8 | 398.3 | 2,920.5 |
| 2023 | 12,952 | 3,891.3 | 393.8 | 3,497.5 |
| 2022 | 13,713 | 2,975.3 | 291.7 | 2,683.6 |
| 2021 | 14,006 | 3,762.7 | 421.3 | 3,341.4 |
| 2020 | 14,459 | 4,135.8 | 463.4 | 3,672.5 |
| 2019 | 13,573 | 4,192.2 | 788.3 | 3,403.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sterling, Colorado safe?
Sterling has a safety score of 15/100, meaning it has less crime than about 15% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,318.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Sterling is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Sterling, Colorado?
According to FBI data for 2024, Sterling has a violent crime rate of 398.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,920.5 per 100,000 residents.
How does Sterling compare to the national average?
Sterling's total crime rate of 3,318.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 12,806 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Sterling?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Sterling include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Sterling safe to visit?
Like any city, Sterling has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 15/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.