Denver Crime Rate Guide 🚔 | What Is the Crime Rate in Denver Colorado?

Thinking about moving to the Mile High City? One of the most important questions you might ask is: How safe is Denver? Whether you’re relocating for work, school, or lifestyle, understanding the Denver crime rate can help you make an informed decision about where to live and what to expect.

Like many major cities, the crime rate in Denver Colorado has fluctuated over the years. While some neighborhoods still face challenges with high violent and property crime rates, the Denver crime rate has been trending down, especially when it comes to crime against people.

Here's what you should know about the Denver crime rate, how it compares to other cities, and the most dangerous neighborhoods in Denver with the most violent crime.

Is Denver Safe?

Safety in Denver depends greatly on the neighborhood, time of day, and type of crime. While some areas of the city are considered safe and family-friendly, others report higher levels of criminal activity. Denver’s overall crime rate is significantly higher than average compared to other cities across the nation.

In 2023, the Denver crime rate was 197% higher than the national average, with a violent crime rate 181% higher than average. However, overall crime in Denver dropped 24% from 2023 to 2024, and the violent crime rate declined 18.8%.

Violent crime in Denver is concentrated in a handful of areas. Your risk of being a victim of crime is much lower in most neighborhoods than the overall Denver crime rate would suggest!

What Is the Denver Crime Rate?

The Denver crime rate last year was 5,451 per 100,000 residents, with 860 violent crimes and 4,591 property crimes per 100,000, according to FBI crime data. Denver has more crime than similarly sized cities or the national average.

Despite its elevated crime rates, crime in Denver is trending down.

Denver Violent Crime Rate

The Denver crime rate for violent offenses was 181% above the national rate in 2023, but violent crimes have been declining. The violent crime rate consists of four offenses: homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, and non-consensual sex offenses.

In 2024, Denver reported 6,269 violent offenses, resulting in 890 incidents per 100,000 residents.

• Murder: 65 homicides (8.9 per 100,000)
• Rape and forcible sexual offenses: 707 offenses (97 per 100,000)
• Aggravated assault: 4,296 assaults (589 per 100,000)
• Robbery: 1,201 robberies (165 per 100,000)

There were 2,469 violent firearms offenses and 1,465 violent offenses involving other dangerous weapons like knives.

While the Denver crime rate is high, even violent offenses do not always involve injury. Almost 61% of robberies and 38% of aggravated assaults resulted in no victim injury.

Homicide

The Denver murder rate is 8.9 per 100,000, with 65 homicide incidents and 69 victims in 2024. Guns were involved in 68% of murders in 2024.

Homicide was down 11% from 2023, when there were 85 homicides in the city.

During the first 3 months of 2025, Denver homicides fell by 58%. That's a much higher drop than the overall rate for large cities in the country, which had a 21% drop in homicide. There were 10 homicides, down 58% from 24 during the first quarter of 2024.

Violent crime declined nationwide by 14% during the first quarter.

Domestic Disputes

There were 4,073 reported domestic violence offenses in Denver in 2024. About 57% of these incidents involved simple assault, and 34% involved aggravated assault. Almost one-third (1,280) of aggravated assaults involved domestic violence.

According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the overall clearance rate for violent crime in Denver Colorado was 50.9% in 2024. The clearance rate ranged from 32% for robbery to 77.5% for homicide.

In 2023, 58 people were killed in domestic violence incidents in Colorado, accounting for 11% of homicides in the state. 30 of the victims were killed by current or former intimate partners, and seven were collateral victims, more than half of whom were the children of the couples. The victims were 14 to 70 years old.

The Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board found that domestic violence fatalities were more common in rural counties. One-fifth of couples had expired or active protection orders, but only one had an active order at the time of the homicide. Pregnancy, especially among adolescents, was identified as a major risk factor for domestic violence homicides.

Denver Property Crime Rate

In 2024, there were 33,468 property crimes in Denver, or 4,591 per 100,000 residents. Also known as crimes against property, these offenses involve an intent to obtain property or money, or destroy property, such as arson.

• Larceny/theft: 19,812 (2,718 per 100,000)
  • Theft from vehicles: 31%
  • Shoplifting: 16.6%
  • Theft of vehicle parts/accessories: 13.3%
  • Theft from building: 8%
• Burglary: 4,918 (675 per 100,000)
  • 44.7% residential, 34.2% commercial
  • 56.6% forced entry, 43.4% non-forced entry
• Motor vehicle theft: 8,616 (1,182 per 100,000)
  • $101 million in stolen car value
  • $13.2 million recovered value

Property crime accounts for most of the Denver crime rate. Most property offenses involve theft, particularly auto theft and catalytic converter theft.

There were 3,245 reported package thefts in 2024, and 800 bicycle thefts.

Car Thefts in Denver

Auto thefts are a major problem in Denver. The Denver International Airport/DIA area is the most frequently targeted area.

Auto thefts by neighborhood in 2024:

• Denver International Airport/DIA: 353
• Central Park: 237
• Gateway / Green Valley Ranch: 195
• Montbello: 171
• Five Points: 164
• Hampden: 139
• Capitol Hill: 125
• West Colfax: 103
• East Colfax: 101

Below are the five addresses with the most car thefts in 2024.

#1. 8148 Pena Blvd - 138

This is the address for the Denver International Airport/DIA West Parking Garage.

#2. 8511 Pena Blvd - 70

This is the address for the Denver International Airport/DIA East Parking Garage, Economy Lots, and Short Term Lots

#3. 24300 E 75th Avenue - 47

This is the address for the Denver International Airport/DIA Pikes Peak Lot.

#4. 8200 E Smith Rd – 30

This is the address for the Central Park Station, a Regional Transportation District (RTD) commuter rail and bus station.

#5. 6195 N Panasonic Way - 29

This is the address for the Denver International Airport/DIA 61st & Pena Parking Lot.

There were 118 catalytic converter thefts in 2024.

The top locations for catalytic converter theft were:

#1. 24300 E 75th Avenue - Denver International Airport/DIA Pikes Peak Lot: 9

#2. 8500 Pena Blvd: - Denver International Airport/DIA: 7

#3. 2424 E 40th Ave - Used auto and parts dealer: 4

#4. 7887 W Tufts Ave - Auto repair with an EV charging station: 4

#5. 4567 E 9th Ave - HCA HealthONE Rose Hospital: 3

Toyota Prius is the most targeted model.

The Denver International Airport has a warning about auto and catalytic converter theft on its parking lot page. DEN shares tips to reduce the risk of auto theft, including locking your vehicle, using visible deterrents like tire locks, and keeping your keys with you.

What Are the Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Denver?

There are 78 neighborhoods in Denver, Colorado, but most violent crime occurs in just a handful of communities. Below are the Denver neighborhoods with the highest violent crime rates, all well above the Denver violent crime rate of 860 per 100,000.

Only a handful of neighborhoods had more than one homicide in 2024. Some communities had murder rates well above the Denver rate of 8.9 per 100,000.

Denver Crime Rate Ranking & Comparison to Other Cities

How does the Denver crime rate stack up against other major Colorado cities? With a total crime rate of 6,772 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023, Denver’s rate is high compared to many of its neighboring communities. While cities like Lakewood and Aurora also report elevated levels of crime, Denver consistently leads in both violent crime and property crime across the largest cities in the state.

Here’s how the Denver crime rate compares to other major cities near Denver.

Denver Crime Map - Explore Crime in Denver by Neighborhood

Curious about crime activity near your home or neighborhood? You can view detailed crime data across the city using tools provided by local law enforcement agencies.

• Use the interactive Denver Crime Map Dashboard to explore crime reports by neighborhood and type.
• You can also search crimes by type and address directly from the Denver Police Department’s interactive crime information page.

These tools are helpful for visualizing the Denver crime rate on a neighborhood level and understanding trends that may impact you or your community.

Denver Police Department

• Police Chief: Ron Thomas
• Sworn officers: ~1,600
• Headquarters address: 1331 Cherokee Street, Denver, CO 80204
• Non-emergency number: (720) 913-2000

The Denver Police Department (DPD) works to reduce crime, improve safety, and foster positive relationships across the city. There are six patrol divisions in the city, each staffed with detectives, uniformed officers, and specialized police officers.

The department includes specialized units focused on investigations, community outreach, gang intervention, and violent crime suppression. It also runs numerous community programs, including Youth Outreach, the Neighborhood Watch initiative, and mental health support partnerships.

You can submit police reports online and even register your bicycle to improve the chance it will be recovered and returned if stolen. The bike recovery rate is around 3%, mostly because police can't identify an owner.

Denver Crime Rate FAQs

What Is the Crime Rate in Denver Colorado?

The city’s crime rate was 5,451 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is significantly higher than the national average. Denver reports elevated levels of both property and violent crime.

Does Denver Have a High Crime Rate?

Tthe Denver crime rate is among the highest in Colorado and well above the national average. While crime has declined somewhat in recent years, it remains a serious concern in many neighborhoods.

What is the Denver Homicide Rate?

There were 65 homicides in Denver in 2024. The Denver murder rate was 8.9 per 100,000, down from 11.9 in 2023.

Is Downtown Denver Safe?

While parts of downtown are safe, some areas, such as the Civic Center and Central Business District, experience crime rates much higher than the citywide average. If you're visiting or living downtown, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and understand how the Denver crime rate varies block by block.

What Are the Safest Neighborhoods in Denver?

Some of the safest neighborhoods in the city include Washington Park, Cherry Creek, and Hilltop. Learn more with our guide to the safest neighborhoods in Denver.

Moving in the Denver Area? Get Started With a Free Quote From Move 4 Less

As you can see, while the Denver crime rate may be high, most neighborhoods are very safe. If you have settled on making the Mile High City your new home, Move 4 Less is here to help. Give our Denver movers a call at (702) 381-1200 for a free, personalized moving estimate!