Is Denver Safe? 2024 Crime Data & Safety Guide

A data-driven look at Denver, Colorado safety using FBI crime statistics. Last updated with 2024 data.

Key Insights

  • Denver's violent crime rate is 993.0 per 100K — 177% above the national average
  • Safety Grade: F — Safer than 3% of US cities
  • 7,170 violent crimes and 34,380 property crimes reported in 2024
  • Violent crime decreased 2.8% from 2023
  • Most common violent crime: Larceny-Theft (20,373 incidents)
F
Safety Grade
Safer than 3% of cities
993.0
Violent Crime Rate
+177% vs national avg
4761.6
Property Crime Rate
+171% vs national avg

Denver Crime Statistics (2024)

Crime TypeCountRate per 100K
Total Violent Crime7,170993.0
Murder719.8
Rape67693.6
Robbery1,272176.2
Aggravated Assault5,151713.4
Total Property Crime34,3804761.6
Burglary5,112708.0
Larceny-Theft20,3732821.6
Motor Vehicle Theft8,8951231.9

Violent Crime Breakdown

Aggravated Assault71.8%
Robbery17.7%
Rape9.4%
Murder1.0%

Year-over-Year Trend

Violent Crime

2.8%
1021.7993.0 per 100K

Property Crime

17.2%
5750.64761.6 per 100K

Neighborhood Safety Context

Like all major cities, Denver's crime is not evenly distributed. Crime tends to concentrate in specific neighborhoods — often those with higher poverty rates and fewer resources. Tourist areas, business districts, and affluent residential neighborhoods typically have significantly lower crime rates than the city average suggests.

The citywide crime rate of 993.0 per 100K is an average across a population of 722,031. Some neighborhoods may be 5-10x safer than the average, while others may be significantly more dangerous. Always research specific neighborhoods when evaluating safety.

Verdict: Is Denver Safe?

Denver has a higher-than-average crime rate. Visitors should research specific neighborhoods before visiting. Many areas are perfectly safe, but concentrated pockets of violence do exist. The city has been working on crime reduction initiatives.