Golden, CO Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions: Golden, CO Crime & Safety

Is Golden, CO safe?

Golden earns an overall crime grade of B+ and a city-wide safety rating of A (Very Safe) — an exceptional result for a Front Range city of roughly 20,391 residents. Across all 49 neighborhoods analyzed, 100% received a grade of A or A+; not a single neighborhood fell below an A-. The highest-rated areas — including The Trails, Ryan Ranch, Sunrise Ridge, Eagle Ridge, and Estates at Van Bibber — all carry A+ grades and median household incomes ranging from approximately $142,900 to $172,700, well above the city median of $80,338. Even the comparatively busier corridors, such as Downtown Golden / Golden Proper and South Golden Commercial, hold solid A grades. In short, Golden is one of the safest small cities in Colorado by every measurable neighborhood metric.

What is the crime rate in Golden, CO?

Golden's crime profile is remarkably uniform: all 49 analyzed neighborhoods grade at A- or better, and 100% of neighborhoods qualify as safe (A or B range) — with every single one landing in the A range specifically. The area with the most relative crime activity is North Clear Creek, which grades at A-, followed by South Clear Creek / CSM and Golden Ridge, both grading at A. These are still excellent ratings by national standards. Denser commercial zones like South Golden Commercial and Downtown Golden / Golden Proper also hold A grades, reflecting that even Golden's busiest areas remain very safe. The city's 5.3% unemployment rate and 13.1% poverty rate provide important socioeconomic context, yet neither figure has translated into elevated crime across any neighborhood.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Golden, CO?

All 49 Golden neighborhoods are safe, but the top-rated areas by crime grade are:

• The Trails — Grade A+, median income ~$144,800
• Ryan Ranch — Grade A+, median income ~$172,600 (highest in the city)
• Sunrise Ridge — Grade A+, median income ~$172,700, population 642
• Eagle Ridge — Grade A+, median income ~$158,600, population 906
• Estates at Van Bibber — Grade A+, median income ~$172,100
• Meadowbrook Village — Grade A+, median income ~$142,900
• TableRock — Grade A+, median income ~$144,800
• Parkview Villas — Grade A+, median income ~$144,800
• Table Mountain Heights — Grade A+, median income ~$144,800
• Mount Olivet — Grade A+, population 2,939, median income ~$110,100

Mount Olivet is notable because it combines an A+ safety grade with a much larger population (2,939 residents) than most other top-rated neighborhoods, suggesting its strong safety record holds even at scale. Families and individuals seeking the lowest possible crime exposure will find all of these neighborhoods compelling options.

Which Golden neighborhoods have the most crime?

Framing this carefully: Golden has no high-crime neighborhoods. The areas with the most relative crime activity still grade at A- or A, which are excellent ratings nationally. North Clear Creek is the only neighborhood grading at A-, making it the single area with the most crime relative to the rest of Golden — yet it remains firmly in the safest tier. South Clear Creek / CSM, Golden Ridge, South Golden Commercial, and Downtown Golden / Golden Proper all grade at A. The commercial and downtown corridors naturally see more foot traffic and activity, which can correlate with slightly higher incident counts, but their A grades confirm the risk remains low. 0% of Golden's neighborhoods grade C, D, or F — a distinction few cities of any size can claim.

Is Golden, CO a good place to live?

By nearly every data point, Golden ranks as an outstanding place to live. Consider the key figures: a median household income of $80,338, a median home value of $534,082, and a median rent of $1,495 — figures that reflect a competitive but stable housing market. The 5.3% unemployment rate is in line with national averages, and while the 13.1% poverty rate is worth noting, it has not produced elevated crime in any neighborhood. On the safety front, 100% of neighborhoods grade A or better, the city-wide safety rating is A (Very Safe), and the overall crime grade is B+. Neighborhoods like Ryan Ranch (median income ~$172,600, A+ grade) and Sunrise Ridge (median income ~$172,700, A+ grade) represent the upper end of desirability, while larger communities like Mount Olivet (population 2,939, A+ grade, median income ~$110,100) offer safety at a broader community scale. Add Golden's proximity to the Rockies, its historic downtown, and Colorado School of Mines, and the case for living here is strong across lifestyle, economic, and safety dimensions.

How does Golden's safety compare to other Colorado cities?

Golden's safety profile is exceptional even within Colorado. With all 49 analyzed neighborhoods grading A or A+ and a 0% share of neighborhoods grading B or below, Golden achieves a level of across-the-board safety consistency that most Colorado cities — including much larger ones — cannot match. The city's overall crime grade of B+ and city-wide safety rating of A (Very Safe) place it among the safest communities in the state. Its relatively low population density of 817 residents per square mile contributes to this outcome, as does its strong median income base. Residents of neighborhoods like Eagle Ridge (A+, ~$158,600 median income) and Estates at Van Bibber (A+, ~$172,100 median income) enjoy safety levels that rival the most protected enclaves anywhere in Colorado.