Is Lake Charles or Thornton Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Lake Charles is safer than Thornton (Safety Score 18/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 3,083 per 100,000 versus 3,114 for Thornton — 1% lower. Lake Charles has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Thornton has a 92% lower rate.
Lake Charles — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Thornton — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Lake Charles, LA
Thornton, CO
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Lake Charles | Thornton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,082.8 | 3,114.2 | -31.5 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 613.0 | 278.4 | +334.6 |
| Murder Rate | 16.7 | 1.4 | +15.3 |
| Rape Rate | 52.6 | 79.5 | -27.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 64.1 | 49.4 | +14.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 479.6 | 143.3 | +336.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,469.8 | 2,835.9 | -366.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 613.0 | 277.0 | +336.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,651.7 | 2,067.9 | -416.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 205.2 | 490.9 | -285.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Charles or Thornton safer?
Lake Charles is safer with a total crime rate of 3,083 per 100K vs 3,114 for Thornton — a 1% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Lake Charles has a violent crime rate of 613.0 per 100K while Thornton has 278.4. Thornton has lower violent crime.
About Lake Charles, LA
Lake Charles, a port city in southwest Louisiana, is known for its Cajun and Creole culture. It sits on Lake Charles and the Calcasieu River, a hub for the petrochemical industry. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 77,982, Lake Charles has a total crime rate of 3,082.8 per 100,000 residents.
About Thornton, CO
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. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 145,847, Thornton has a total crime rate of 3,114.2 per 100,000 residents.