The Safest Cities in Colorado, 2017

Colorado is also called “The Switzerland of the United States” because of its high elevation and stunning mountain views. Colorado is a very popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. With 222 wildlife areas, you’ll find hiking, mountain climbing, camping, and so much more. People also flock to Colorado for its renowned skiing and snowboarding. In fact, its mountain peaks are so strikingly beautiful that they served as the inspiration for “America The Beautiful.” Colorado is known as the “Centennial State” because it joined the union 100 years after the Declaration of Independence. It’s an epicenter for ethnic diversity, home to the U.S. Air Force Academy, has the most microbreweries per capita than any other state, and claims the invention of the cheeseburger.
Safety has always been an important factor when searching for a new place to call home, but a wavering political system combined with an increase in violent crime has made safety the number one priority for many Americans. Because navigating through crime statistics can be a difficult and time-consuming process, we’ve done it for you.
1. JOHNSTOWN
Johnstown lies just north of Denver. At 13.5 square miles with 14,300 people, it’s about four times smaller than the state average. Also lower than the state average is the amount of crime. Johnstown is the safest city in the state with only three reported violent crimes. There were 68 property crimes, six times less than the state average. They are known as, “The Community that Cares” and its newly renovated downtown brings people together with county fairs and carnivals. With two great school systems, this town is clearly a wonderful place to live.

2. FREDERICK
Twenty miles away from Johnstown you’ll find another impressive city. It’s similar in size at 13 square miles and has a population around 11,563. There were only nine reported violent crimes and 73 reported property crimes. Frederick offers a wide variety of annual events, including a Community BBQ Tour, Deck the Downtown, DIY Day, Festival of Lights, Miners Day, Chainsaws & Chuckwagons, and the Blues, Brews, and BBQ Festival. Not only does Frederick foster a strong sense of community, they support local artists with over 40 art installations throughout the city.

3. LOUISVILLE
Just outside of Boulder is a small city called Louisville. Lousiville started as a small mining town in 1877 and has now grown into a thriving city with much to offer. Despite its size at eight square miles it’s quite bustling. It has over 20,000 people, 26 city parks, 1,800 acres of open space, 26 miles of trails, and a state-of-the-art library with one of the highest circulation rates in the state. The Steinbaugh Pavilion brings people together year round, serving as a concert venue in the summer and an ice rink in the winter. With a median family income of $92,121, the quality of life is great in Louisville with only 16 reported violent crimes.

4. FIRESTONE
Butted up right next to Frederick and close to Johnstown, it’s no surprise that Firestone is also one of the safest cities in Colorado. With 11,880 people, they only had four reported violent crimes and 82 property crimes. It has grown tremendously since 2000, when there were only 1,908 people - a 622% increase in 16 years. All summer long they host Food & Flick Friday where the community comes together to eat and watch a movie in the park. St. Vrain State Park offers hiking, fishing, and is known for being a home for the Blue Heron. A beautiful mountainous skyline to the West serves as the ‘cherry on top’ of this incredible city.

5. ERIE
Erie, located next to Firestone and Frederick, is a fun town to live in. They have all kinds of events that bring the community together, including the Miners Blast celebration, the Pilgrimage Run, the Erie Brewfest, and concerts in the park. There’s a thriving farmer’s market, free fitness classes at the community center, and an indoor pool with a lazy river and water slide - which all promotes a healthy lifestyle. It’s a prestigious and friendly city to live in with big, beautiful homes, well-kept neighborhoods, and phenomenal schools. This city of 21,096 residents had only 19 violent crimes and 143 property crimes.

The Top 50 Safest Cities in Colorado, 2017 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
1. Johnstown | 11. Parker | 21. Evans | 31. Cortez | 41. Brighton |
2. Frederick | 12. Estes Park | 22. Woodland Park | 32. Craig | 42. Commerce City |
3. Louisville | 13. Centennial | 23. Littleton | 33. Greeley | 43. Delta |
4. Firestone | 14. Cherry Hills Village | 24. Arvada | 34. Northglenn | 44. Montrose |
5. Erie | 15. Castle Rock | 25. Salida | 35. Fountain | 45. Colorado Springs |
6. Eagle | 16. Lochbuie | 26. Steamboat Springs | 36. Manitou Springs | 46. Aspen |
7. Milliken | 17. Broomfield | 27. Fort Collins | 37. Westminster | 47. Greenwood Village |
8. Windsor | 18. Fruita | 28. Loveland | 38. Aurora | 48. Sterling |
9. Fort Lupton | 19. Golden | 29. Boulder | 39. Gunnison | 49. Denver |
10. Gypsum | 20. Monument | 30. Avon | 40. Durango | 50. Grand Junction |
METHODOLOGY
To identify the safest cities in Colorado, we reviewed the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics along with our own population data and internal research. We eliminated any cities that failed to submit a complete crime report to the FBI and removed cities with populations under 5,000.
The remaining cities were ranked based on the number of reported violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape, and robbery) and property crimes (burglary, arson, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft) per 100,000 people. These variables were then weighted, with violent crimes accounting for 70% of the total (due to their severity) and property crimes accounting for 30%. Finally, we moved the decimal point over a few spots to show rates per 1,000 people.