Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Thornton, CO has a Safety Score of 18/100 — higher crime than 82% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,114.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,434 of 2,957 US cities and #29 of 45 in Colorado.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Thornton, CO?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Thornton, Colorado Safe?
Thornton, a northern Denver suburb, began as a post-WWII housing boom community. It spans parts of Adams and Weld counties, with a diverse, family-oriented population.
Thornton has a safety score of 18/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,114.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Thornton ranks #29 out of 45 cities in Colorado and #2434 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 18th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 82% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Thornton is rape, at 79.5 per 100K — 1.8x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.2x the national rate.
Year over year, Thornton's total crime rate decreased by 4.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Thornton Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 406 | 278.4 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 2 | 1.4 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 116 | 79.5 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 72 | 49.4 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 209 | 143.3 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 4,136 | 2,835.9 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 404 | 277.0 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 3,016 | 2,067.9 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 716 | 490.9 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Thornton vs Colorado Average
How does Thornton's crime rate compare to the Colorado state average?
| Metric | Thornton | Colorado Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 278.4 | 609.8 | -54.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,835.9 | 3,256.2 | -12.9% |
| Murder Rate | 1.4 | 5.5 | -75.3% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,114.2 | 3,866.0 | -19.4% |
Thornton Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Thornton, Colorado.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 145,847 | 3,114.2 | 278.4 | 2,835.9 |
| 2023 | 143,838 | 3,262.7 | 278.1 | 2,984.6 |
| 2022 | 143,055 | 3,786.0 | 290.1 | 3,495.9 |
| 2021 | 151,324 | 3,613.4 | 306.6 | 3,306.8 |
| 2020 | 144,156 | 3,487.9 | 310.8 | 3,177.1 |
| 2019 | 142,168 | 3,307.4 | 280.7 | 3,026.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thornton, Colorado safe?
Thornton has a safety score of 18/100, meaning it has less crime than about 18% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,114.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Thornton is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Thornton, Colorado?
According to FBI data for 2024, Thornton has a violent crime rate of 278.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,835.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Thornton compare to the national average?
Thornton's total crime rate of 3,114.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 145,847 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Thornton?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Thornton are larceny-theft (3,016 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (716 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 10.2x in the city.
Is Thornton safe to visit?
Like any city, Thornton has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 18/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.