Cottonwood County Crime & Safety

Cottonwood County, Minnesota

Safety Score

65/100

Higher = safer

Safety Rating

Average

Total Crime Rate

818.7

per 100K population

Crime Statistics

Violent Crime Rate

209.0

per 100K population

National avg 380.7

Property Crime Rate

609.7

per 100K population

National avg 1954.4

Safety Score

65/100

Higher = safer

State avg 58/100

State Safety Rank

#40

of 87 counties (1 = safest)

Data Story

About Crime & Safety in Cottonwood County, Minnesota

Cottonwood County's High Safety Rating

Cottonwood County earns an impressive safety score of 98.7, reflecting a very secure environment. Its total crime rate of 818.7 per 100K is significantly lower than the national average of 2,385.5.

Outperforming the Minnesota Average

The county ranks above the Minnesota average safety score of 98.2. Its total crime rate of 818.7 per 100K is also well below the state average of 1,123.5.

Local Comparison Trends

Cottonwood is safer than nearby Freeborn County, which reports a crime rate of 1,477.8. It also maintains a lower rate than Crow Wing County's 1,322.2 per 100K residents.

Violent vs Property Crime

Property crimes make up the majority of incidents at 609.7 per 100K. While the violent crime rate of 209.0 is higher than the state average, it remains below the national violent crime average of 369.8.

Securing Cottonwood Homes

Maintaining this safe environment requires residents to stay proactive with home security. Simple measures like exterior lighting can help keep property crime rates low across the county.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the crime rate in Cottonwood County, MN?

Cottonwood County has a total crime rate of 818.7 per 100,000 residents, based on FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data. This includes both violent crimes (209.0 per 100K) and property crimes (609.7 per 100K).

Is Cottonwood County, MN safe?

Cottonwood County has a safety score of 65/100, rated "Average". A higher safety score indicates lower crime rates relative to other counties nationwide. It ranks #40 out of 87 counties in Minnesota for safety (1 = safest).

How does Cottonwood County crime compare to the Minnesota average?

The county ranks above the Minnesota average safety score of 98.2. Its total crime rate of 818.7 per 100K is also well below the state average of 1,123.5.

What types of crime are most common in Cottonwood County?

How is crime data measured and reported for Cottonwood County?

Crime data for Cottonwood County comes from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. Local law enforcement agencies submit data on violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and property crimes (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft) to the FBI. Rates are calculated per 100,000 residents to allow fair comparison between counties of different sizes. The safety score (0-100) is derived from these rates, with higher scores indicating safer counties.

Why is Cottonwood County safer than the Minnesota average?

Cottonwood County has a safety score of 65/100, which is above the Minnesota average of 58/100. Factors such as local law enforcement effectiveness, community programs, socioeconomic conditions, and population density all contribute to lower crime rates in certain counties.