The D+ grade indicates that the rate of violent crime is higher than that of the average US city. Thornton ranks in the 28th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 28% of cities but less safe than 72%.

The rate of violent crime in Thornton is 2.681 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. People who live in Thornton generally consider the north part of the city to be the safest for this type of crime.