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Aurora, CO vs Sterling, CO Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Aurora crime rate · Sterling crime rate

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Is Aurora, CO or Sterling, CO Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Sterling, CO is safer than Aurora, CO (Safety Score 15/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 3,319 per 100,000 versus 4,053 for Aurora, CO — 18% lower. Aurora has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Sterling has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Aurora is 31.1x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Aurora, CO?

Aurora — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Sterling — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Aurora, CO

Aurora, CO
Safety Score 8/100
Coverage 397,852
Total Crime Rate 4,052.5
Category Wins 2/7

Sterling, CO

Sterling, CO
Safety Score 15/100
Coverage 12,806
Total Crime Rate 3,318.8
Category Wins 5/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Aurora Sterling Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,052.5 3,318.8 +733.8
Violent Crime Rate 948.6 398.3 +550.3
Murder Rate 10.3 0.0 +10.3
Rape Rate 73.4 31.2 +42.2
Robbery Rate 136.2 7.8 +128.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 727.9 359.2 +368.7
Property Crime Rate 3,103.9 2,920.5 +183.4
Burglary Rate 371.2 413.9 -42.6
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,836.1 2,311.4 -475.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 896.6 195.2 +701.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Aurora, CO to Sterling, CO?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Aurora or Sterling safer?

Sterling, CO is safer with a total crime rate of 3,319 per 100K vs 4,053 for Aurora, CO — a 18% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Aurora has a violent crime rate of 948.6 per 100K while Sterling has 398.3. Sterling has lower violent crime.

About Aurora, CO

Aurora, Colorado, a large city spanning three counties, was originally founded in the 1880s as a dry community named Fletcher. It is now the third most populous city in Colorado, with a diverse suburban landscape east of Denver. With a safety score of 8/100 and a population coverage of 397,852, Aurora has a total crime rate of 4,052.5 per 100,000 residents.

About Sterling, CO

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. With a safety score of 15/100 and a population coverage of 12,806, Sterling has a total crime rate of 3,318.8 per 100,000 residents.

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