crimebycounty

North Dakota Crime & Safety

Crime rates and safety scores for all 53 counties.

Avg Violent Crime Rate

121.0

per 100K

Avg Property Crime Rate

856.0

per 100K

Avg Safety Score

98/100

State Overview

Crime & Safety in North Dakota

National Context

North Dakota Ranks Among America’s Safest States

North Dakota maintains a total crime rate of 976.6 per 100K residents, which is less than half the national average of 2,385.5. This low frequency places the state firmly on the safer end of the national spectrum for overall public safety.

Violent vs. Property Crime

Property Offenses Outpace Violent Incidents

Property crime accounts for the vast majority of local incidents at 855.5 per 100K, while violent crime remains notably low at 121.0. Residents primarily encounter non-violent issues, as the state's violent crime rate sits at roughly one-third of the national benchmark.

Safest Counties

Rural Peace in Steele, Sioux, and Slope

Steele County reports a remarkable 0.0 total crime rate, joined by Sioux (25.7) and Slope (119.5) as the state's safest regions. These rural communities benefit from high social cohesion and record minimal criminal activity across both violent and property categories.

Crime Hotspots

Higher Activity in Urban and Commercial Hubs

Cass County records the highest total crime rate at 3,763.8 per 100K, followed by Morton (3,097.2) and Ramsey (3,039.7). These figures reflect the increased activity found in population centers where property crimes naturally occur more frequently than in the surrounding plains.

The Takeaway

A Secure Choice for Families and Businesses

North Dakota offers an exceptionally secure environment where crime rates across most counties fall well below national norms. Prospective movers can feel confident in the state’s safety, though urban centers like Fargo require the same standard precautions as any growing metropolitan area.

All North Dakota Counties

CountySafety Score
Sioux County100/100
Steele County100/100
Slope County100/100
Dickey County100/100
LaMoure County100/100
Logan County100/100
Oliver County100/100
Benson County100/100
Billings County100/100
Grant County100/100
Foster County100/100
Divide County99/100
Wells County99/100
Burke County99/100
Cavalier County99/100
Hettinger County99/100
Rolette County99/100
Sargent County99/100
Griggs County99/100
Traill County99/100
Mercer County99/100
Nelson County99/100
Pembina County99/100
Ransom County99/100
Adams County99/100
Kidder County99/100
Renville County99/100
Bowman County99/100
Golden Valley County99/100
Eddy County99/100
McHenry County99/100
McIntosh County99/100
McLean County99/100
Mountrail County99/100
Pierce County99/100
Dunn County98/100
Walsh County98/100
Bottineau County98/100
Towner County98/100
Ward County98/100
Barnes County98/100
Sheridan County98/100
Emmons County98/100
Richland County97/100
Stark County97/100
McKenzie County97/100
Stutsman County97/100
Williams County97/100
Grand Forks County95/100
Burleigh County95/100
Ramsey County95/100
Morton County95/100
Cass County94/100

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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