crimebycounty

Montana Crime & Safety

Crime rates and safety scores for all 56 counties.

Avg Violent Crime Rate

261.0

per 100K

Avg Property Crime Rate

851.0

per 100K

Avg Safety Score

59/100

State Overview

Crime & Safety in Montana

National Context

Montana’s Crime Rate Sits Far Below National Average

Montana reports an average total crime rate of 1,112.5 per 100,000 residents, which is less than half the national average of 2,385.5. This positioning places the Treasure State on the safer end of the national spectrum, showing roughly 53% less crime than the typical U.S. community.

Violent vs. Property Crime

Property Crime Outpaces Violent Incidents

Property crime represents the majority of incidents at 851.3 per 100,000, while violent crime remains much lower at 261.3. For residents, this means that while theft is more prevalent than physical harm, both figures stay well under the national benchmarks of 2,015.7 and 369.8 respectively.

Safest Counties

Three Rural Counties Report Zero Incidents

Carter, Daniels, and Petroleum counties stand out as the safest in the state, each reporting a total crime rate of 0.0 per 100,000. These rural communities achieve perfect safety scores, illustrating the low-risk environment found in many of Montana's vast agricultural regions.

Crime Hotspots

Crime Concentrates in Montana's Urban Hubs

Silver Bow County sees the highest activity at 4,800.9 per 100,000, with Yellowstone and Cascade following at 4,406.6 and 3,882.8. These hubs face urban challenges common to larger population centers, yet they remain critical drivers of the state's economy and infrastructure.

The Takeaway

A Highly Secure Outlook for Big Sky Country

Montana offers a high degree of safety with an average crime rate that remains significantly lower than the national figure. While urban centers like Butte or Billings require more awareness, the state's overall data suggests an exceptionally secure landscape for residents and prospective movers.

All Montana Counties

CountySafety Score
Carter County98/100
Daniels County98/100
Petroleum County98/100
Treasure County98/100
Wibaux County98/100
Chouteau County94/100
Powder River County94/100
Garfield County93/100
McCone County92/100
Judith Basin County92/100
Rosebud County91/100
Meagher County90/100
Carbon County88/100
Blaine County88/100
Madison County87/100
Fergus County86/100
Prairie County86/100
Liberty County85/100
Golden Valley County80/100
Wheatland County80/100
Lincoln County77/100
Beaverhead County75/100
Teton County75/100
Fallon County74/100
Musselshell County72/100
Ravalli County69/100
Broadwater County69/100
Jefferson County66/100
Sanders County61/100
Dawson County57/100
Glacier County57/100
Valley County56/100
Custer County56/100
Pondera County52/100
Roosevelt County51/100
Stillwater County51/100
Richland County49/100
Powell County48/100
Sweet Grass County48/100
Granite County43/100
Phillips County43/100
Mineral County43/100
Toole County34/100
Park County29/100
Big Horn County29/100
Gallatin County26/100
Deer Lodge County23/100
Sheridan County22/100
Flathead County19/100
Lewis and Clark County14/100
Lake County12/100
Missoula County7/100
Hill County4/100
Cascade County4/100
Yellowstone County3/100
Silver Bow County2/100

Crime rates per 100K population. — = data pending.

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Data Sources

Crime data sourced from the FBI Crime Data Explorer (UCR) and County Health Rankings. Safety scores are derived composite metrics.

Data is informational only. Not legal or security advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.

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