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Boulder vs Denver Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Boulder crime rate · Denver crime rate

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Is Boulder or Denver Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Boulder is safer than Denver (Safety Score 19/100 vs 2/100), with a total crime rate of 3,055 per 100,000 versus 5,755 for Denver — 47% lower. Boulder has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Denver is 6.9x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Boulder, CO?

Boulder — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Denver — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Boulder, CO

Boulder, CO
Safety Score 19/100
Coverage 105,195
Total Crime Rate 3,055.3
Category Wins 7/7

Denver, CO

Denver, CO
Safety Score 2/100
Coverage 722,031
Total Crime Rate 5,754.7
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Boulder Denver Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,055.3 5,754.7 -2,699.5
Violent Crime Rate 322.3 993.2 -670.9
Murder Rate 0.0 9.8 -9.8
Rape Rate 35.2 93.6 -58.5
Robbery Rate 44.7 176.2 -131.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 242.4 713.4 -471.0
Property Crime Rate 2,733.0 4,761.6 -2,028.6
Burglary Rate 383.1 708.0 -324.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,141.7 2,821.6 -679.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 208.2 1,231.9 -1,023.8

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

Moving from Boulder, CO to Denver, 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 Boulder or Denver safer?

Boulder is safer with a total crime rate of 3,055 per 100K vs 5,755 for Denver — a 47% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Boulder has a violent crime rate of 322.3 per 100K while Denver has 993.2. Boulder has lower violent crime.

About Boulder, CO

Nestled at the base of the Flatirons, Boulder is home to a highly educated populace, with a significant portion holding advanced degrees. This university city, known for its outdoor recreation and progressive culture, sits at an elevation of 5,430 feet. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 105,195, Boulder has a total crime rate of 3,055.3 per 100,000 residents.

About Denver, CO

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. With a safety score of 2/100 and a population coverage of 722,031, Denver has a total crime rate of 5,754.7 per 100,000 residents.

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