The 20 safest cities in Colorado revealed in report
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Spencer McKee
Director of Content and Operations
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While some places in Colorado are notably more dangerous than others, there are plenty of safe places, too. Here's a breakdown of the 20 safest places in Colorado, according to the annual Safewise.com report, as well as a little bit about each destination.
Editor's Note: To find full stats, notes about crime in Colorado, and methodology used by Safewise, click here.
20. Hay Bales Scenic Mountain Landscape
20. Eagle, Colorado
This small mountain town near Vail is home to under 7,000 residents with a median income of $118,630. While the violent crime rate has reportedly risen thus far in 2020, 3.6 violent crimes per 100,000 residents remains below the state average of 4 per 100,000 residents.
Photo Credit: Adventure_Photo (iStock).
19. Lafayette Colorado
19. Lafayette, Colorado
Found in Boulder County, Colorado, Lafayette jumped 11 spots on Colorado's safest places list compared to last year. This jump occurred as crime in the area continues to drop.
Photo Credit: Jared Winkler (Wikimedia Commons).
18. Fort Collins downtown aerial view
18. Fort Collins, Colorado
Recently ranked as the best place to live in the country by another publication, it should come at no surprise that Fort Collins is also quite safe. While violent crime here has seen a slight increase in recent years, it remains quite low compared to the state average. Property crime is also reportedly down in recent months. Home to ample outdoor recreation and plenty of downtown culture, Fort Collins is beloved by its residents.
Photo Credit: marekuliasz (iStock).
17. Pelicans and merganser Chatfield State Park Colorado
17. Littleton, Colorado
Found just south of Denver, Littleton has an extremely low violent crime rate of .9 per 100,000 residents thus far in 2020, according to SafeWise.com. This town is home to plenty of outdoor activities, including Chatfield State Park and Chatfield Reservoir (pictured).
Photo Credit: milehightraveler (iStock).
16. Pikes Peak Wide Medium View
16. Woodland Park, Colorado
Jumping 33 spots compared to Safewise's 2019 list, Woodland Park, Colorado takes the 16th spot on this list. This town is found just west of Colorado Springs past Ute Pass, providing residents with jaw-dropping views of Pikes Peak.
Photo Credit: erick4x4 (iStock).
15. Riding Rocky Steps
15. Fruita, Colorado
An area that's becoming increasingly popular among mountain bikers, Fruita is another Colorado town that's had an uptick in safety in recent years. This spot jumped 12 places on the 2020 Safewise list compared to 2019 into 15th place. It's worth noting that median income here is $55,286 – lower than most other spots on this list.
Photo Credit: Dave Grossman | Confluence Images (iStock).
14. Broomfield, Colorado and the Flatiron Mountain Range
14. Broomfield, Colorado
A city of 70,000 found between Denver and Boulder, Broomfield, Colorado has a remarkably low violent crime rate of around 1.2 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. It's home to an extensive trail system that connects various parks and lakes around the area making this a popular spot for those that love being close to city life and the great outdoors.
Photo Credit: bauhaus1000 (iStock).
13. Centennial
13. Centennial, Colorado
Found southeast of Denver with Littleton to its west, Centennial, Colorado is another spot in the Front Range metro area that made the cut for the 2020 Safewise.com list of Colorado's 20 safest cities. In an "AdvisorSmith" report that broke down safest cities by size, Centennial was the safest among those with 100,000 or more residents.
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Beall (Wikimedia Commons).
12. Steamboat Springs Panorama
12. Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Home to world-famous Steamboat Ski Resort, Steamboat Springs is found in northwest Colorado. The area offers ample opportunities for outdoor recreation and a number of great restaurants on the downtown strip and beyond. It's also a popular spot for river-goers thanks to the presence of the Yampa River. According to Safewise, both violent crime and property crime have dropped in recent years.
Photo Credit: Don Miller
11. Top of Monarch Crest
11. Salida, Colorado
Found just beneath Monarch Pass and close to Monarch Mountain Ski Area, Salida, Colorado is a small town of a few thousand residents. Violent crime and property crime are low here, with property crime on a steep decline in recent months. This spot was another place that made a big jump on the Safewise list, moving up 28 spots compared to its 2019 ranking.
Photo Credit: wanderluster (iStock).
10. Town of Estes Park and Lake Estes in Colorado USA
10. Estes Park, Colorado
Most notably known for being an access point to Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park is one of the state's most popular tourist destinations, but also one of the safest places to be. According to Safewise.com, property crime is extremely low here at 7.3 crimes per 100,000 residents. Violent crime is also well below the state average.
Photo Credit: benedek (iStock).
9. Parker Jeffrey Beall (Wikimedia Commons)
9. Parker, Colorado
Found in Douglas County, southeast of Denver and Centennial, Parker is one Colorado spot that's been booming in recent years. It's home to more than 27 miles of paved concrete trails, as well as a variety of other multi-use trail options. It's also close to Rueter-Hess Reservoir, which should allow recreational access in the near future – fingers crossed. Safewise notes that this town has a low violent crime rate that has dropped in recent months, allowing it to jump 12 spots on their list compared to last year. It's also worth noting that Parker was recently ranked as the 2nd best place to live in the country by Money Magazine.
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Beall (Wikimedia Commons)
Castle Rock homes Colorado highway snowy Pikes Peak Rocky Mountains
8. Castle Rock, Colorado
Known for being home to a massive butte that resembles a castle on a hillside, Castle Rock is found along I-25 between Denver and Colorado Springs. The town is home to a huge amount of recreational area, which is said to encompass more than 25 percent of the town's total space. Castlewood Canyon State Park is perhaps the most notable destination found here, though a number of other great options are also present. An extremely low violent crime rate of .6 per 100,000 residents likely helped this town snag the 8th spot on Safewise's list of safest spots in Colorado.
Photo Credit: milehightravler (iStock).
7. Firestone
7. Firestone, Colorado
A small town of around 10,000 residents, Firestone is found in Weld County, Colorado. The town is home to more than 30 parks and the 12-plus mile Firestone/Legacy Trail. The median age here is just 32, with only 4.6 percent of residents 65 or older. More than 30 percent of residents are under the age of 18.
Photo Credit: @2020 Google Maps.
6. Erie
6. Erie, Colorado
A town split between Boulder and Weld counties, Erie is found just west of Interstate 25. It's notable for providing great access to a number of areas on the Front Range, including Denver International Airport and Boulder. It's also home to a noteworthy art community. While violent crime has seen an uptick in recent months, according to Safewise, it remains at a low one violent crime per 100,000 residents.
Photo Credit: Bahooka (Wikimedia Commons)
5. Johnstown, Colorado
5. Johnstown, Colorado
Located between Loveland and Greeley and split between Larimer and Weld counties, Johnstown is quite small but growing rapidly. In 2010, fewer than 10,000 residents lived here. Now that number is estimated at more than 16,000. Despite this rapid growth, it remains relatively safe. According to Safewise.com, a single violent crime happens here per year per 200,000 residents.
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Beall (Wikimedia Commons).
Mt Sopris mountain in Carbondale, Colorado town view with snow mountain peak and sky in summer during sunset
4. Carbondale, Colorado
Another destination that outdoor recreation lovers can't get enough of, Carbondale is located between Glenwood Springs and Aspen in the Roaring Fork Valley. The view here is dominated by Mount Sopris, a 12,953-foot peak. A massive drop in property crime in recent months boosted this town 31 spots to number four on the Safewise list of safest spots in Colorado.
Photo Credit: krblokhin (iStock).
3. Fort Lupton
3. Fort Lupton, Colorado
Another small town located in Weld County to make this list, Fort Lupton is home to fewer than 10,000 residents. It's named for the man – Lancaster Lupton – that built a trading post at the site in 1838. With decreasing violent and property crime rates, it's no surprise this town jumped 15 spots from its 2019 ranking to secure the number three spot on Safewise's 2020 list.
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Beall (Wikimedia Commons).
2. Milliken Colorado
2. Milliken, Colorado
Yet another Weld County town to make the list, Milliken has an extremely low violent crime rate of .4 crimes per 100,000 residents. The town started as a trading post in the mid-1800s, but was almost entirely destroyed by a fire in the early 1900s. It has since recovered and is now home to around 8,000 residents.
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Beall (Wikimedia Commons).
1. Windsor, Colorado
1. Windsor, Colorado
You guessed it – another spot in Weld County made this list, this time taking the top spot as the safest place in Colorado, according to Safewise.com. Another rapidly growing town, Windsor has seen its population increase from 18,644 to more than 30,000 in the last ten years. It's home to two museums and 25 parks that span more than 200 acres. One of the most popular destinations in town is Windsor Lake (pictured), which offers many recreational activities including boating, swimming, and fishing. It's also home to a dog beach.
Photo Credit: Ssullivan1564 (Wikimedia Commons).
Spencer McKee
Director of Content and Operations
Spencer McKee is OutThere Colorado's Director of Content and Operations. In his spare time, Spencer loves to hike, rock climb, and trail run.
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