April 30, 2026

Understanding Colorado’s Crime Trends: Local Progress, National Standing

Introduction

Colorado’s crime trends present a mixed picture: rates have fallen from recent peaks, but the state still ranks among the highest in the nation for both violent and property crime. According to 2024 data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Colorado placed 8th in violent crime and 3rd in property crime. These rankings suggest that recent improvements have not been large enough to materially improve Colorado’s standing relative to the rest of the country.

While the most recent Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) data show that property crime rates have declined since their Covid-19 peak, the state still ranks among the worst in the country. Based on a 2023 CSI report, the cost of all crime per resident in Colorado (in 2020 dollars) was $4,627, and the total cost to the state was over $27 billion, underscoring that these elevated crime rates translate into direct costs for Coloradans.[i]

This report examines state-level trends using 2025 CBI data and ranks Colorado against the nation using 2024 FBI data. This comparison provides a comprehensive view of recent in-state progress and how Colorado compares nationally.

Ultimately, the key question is not simply whether crime has fallen from its pandemic-era peak, but whether Colorado is improving fast enough to stop ranking among the nation’s highest-crime states.

Key Findings

Based on FBI Data, Colorado Crime Rates Remain Among the Highest in the Nation

• Colorado placed 3rd in aggregated crime in 2024, which includes the property and violent crime ranks.
• Colorado ranked 8th in its violent crime rate in 2024.
• Colorado ranked 3rd in its property crime rate in 2024.

Crime Rates in Colorado’s Top 10 Most Populous Counties Based on CBI Data

• Adams County’s property and violent crime rates continue to be the highest among Colorado’s top 10 most populous counties.
• Arapahoe County’s violent crime rate has decreased by 13% from 2008 to 2025.
• Douglas County saw the greatest jump from 2008 to 2025 with its violent crime rate increasing by 477%.
• Pueblo County experienced the largest declines in both property and violent crime rates among Colorado’s 10 most populous counties, with property crime falling 72% and violent crime declining 70% between 2022 and 2025.
• All counties experienced declines in property crime from 2024 to 2025, with Pueblo County recording the largest decrease (-60%) and Weld County the smallest (-9%).

Certain Crime Rates Have Increased, While Others Decreased

• Property crime levels in Colorado have declined to their lowest point since 2008, the first year of available CBI data, indicating a notable long-term improvement.
• Shoplifting crimes increased by 40% from 2021 to 2025.
• Human trafficking in Colorado (commercial sex acts and involuntary servitude) increased by 304% from 2015 to 2025.