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

62/100

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
Steele County98/100
Sioux County94/100
Slope County92/100
Logan County90/100
LaMoure County90/100
Dickey County89/100
Oliver County89/100
Billings County89/100
Benson County88/100
Grant County88/100
Foster County86/100
Divide County84/100
Wells County83/100
Rolette County82/100
Hettinger County81/100
Sargent County81/100
Burke County81/100
Cavalier County81/100
Griggs County80/100
Traill County78/100
Ransom County76/100
Pembina County76/100
Nelson County75/100
Mercer County75/100
Kidder County74/100
Adams County73/100
Renville County72/100
Bowman County72/100
Golden Valley County68/100
Eddy County65/100
McHenry County63/100
McLean County59/100
McIntosh County59/100
Mountrail County59/100
Pierce County58/100
Walsh County56/100
Dunn County56/100
Towner County52/100
Bottineau County52/100
Ward County49/100
Barnes County43/100
Sheridan County41/100
Emmons County40/100
Richland County29/100
Stark County29/100
McKenzie County26/100
Stutsman County25/100
Williams County18/100
Grand Forks County8/100
Burleigh County8/100
Ramsey County8/100
Morton County7/100
Cass County4/100

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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