The Safest and Most Dangerous Cities in Minnesota

Towns With High and Low Crime Rates in Minnesota

A few Minnesota cities stand out for very different reasons when it comes to violent crime. Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center, and St. Paul top the list for violent crime rates. Minneapolis reported 1,132 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2023, as per the FBI Crime Data Explorer website.¹ As Minnesota’s largest city, Minneapolis faces the challenges common to other urban centers, such as higher population density and income disparities often fueled by unjust laws and codes. Similarly, Brooklyn Center and St. Paul are inner suburbs of the Twin Cities that experience the ripple effects of urban crime, often tied to housing pressures and economic inequality.

For property crime, the towns with the highest rates may surprise you. Waite Park, Dilworth, and Bemidji lead the state with rates of over 7,000 incidents per 100,000 residents. These smaller cities serve as regional hubs for shopping, tourism, or student populations. Waite Park, located near St. Cloud, is known as a small town mecca for shoppers — an imbalance that can lead to increased theft and vehicle break-ins. And, of course, Bemidji has long been known as a tourist destination close to Itasca State Park and home to the Mississippi River headwaters.

On the other end of the spectrum, South Lake Minnetonka, La Crescent, and West Hennepin report some of the lowest violent crime rates in the entire state, with just 16 to 19 incidents per 100,000 residents.

These areas are smaller, tight-knit communities with higher-than-average household incomes and strong local involvement in community safety. South Lake Minnetonka, which comprises Excelsior, Greenwood, Shorewood, and Tonka Bay, is a scenic and highly sought-after area west of Minneapolis that thrives on summer tourism and lakeside living.² Despite being a major tourist draw, it has managed to maintain an incredibly low violent crime rate. This could be due to its affluence, seasonal population shifts, and strong police presence.

La Crescent, dubbed the “Apple Capital of Minnesota,” sits near the Mississippi River and Wisconsin border.³ Its small-town charm and agricultural roots contribute to a close community fabric that may help deter violent incidents.

Goodview (population 4,104),⁴ Montgomery (population 3,366),⁵ and Benson (population 3,449)⁶ have some of the lowest property crime rates in Minnesota, ranging from just 25 to 29 incidents per 100,000 residents. These small, rural communities tend to be more stable and less transient, with fewer tourists and a higher proportion of long-time residents. That strong sense of familiarity and community connection may play a key role in keeping property crime to a minimum.

Interestingly, none of the cities that rank highest in violent crime also appear among the highest in property crime, suggesting that the motivation behind each type of crime may differ. While violent crime tends to cluster in dense metro areas, property crime often spikes in smaller, more transient towns that cater to seasonal visitors or commuters.

Though some sources would claim otherwise, the FBI suggests that Minnesota ranks 36th in the nation for violent crime and 27th for property crime, meaning the state performs better than most when it comes to safety. This is especially true in violent crime, where it reports 28 percent fewer incidents than the national average. In 2023, there were just 261 violent crimes per 100,000 residents and 1,702 property crimes — and both types of crime rates had meaningful year-over-year improvements.

According to preliminary data from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, crime was down across the board in 2023.⁷ Homicides fell by 5 percent, car thefts dropped by 8 percent, and carjackings plummeted by 38 percent. Larceny and rape fell by 15 percent and 20 percent, respectively. Several major crime categories, including robbery, burglary, and sexual assault, are now tracking lower than they were prepandemic. However, certain crimes — like homicide, aggravated assault, and vehicle theft — remain elevated compared to 2019 levels.

While the rest of the state saw improvement in homicides, the city of Minneapolis reported that there were 76 homicides in 2024, up from 72 the year before, and significantly higher than the 48 recorded in 2019.⁸ As a large urban hub, Minneapolis faces ongoing challenges related to population density, housing insecurity, and broader socioeconomic disparities.

Aggravated Assault is the Most Common Violent Offense in Minnesota

According to Minnesota’s 2023 Uniform Crime Report, aggravated assault was the most frequently reported violent crime, with 9,986 incidents statewide.⁹ That translates to a rate of 173.9 per 100,000 residents. Of these cases, 5,309 were cleared by arrest or exceptional means, including 465 arrests involving juveniles only.

Interestingly, in a significant number of cases — 3,177 to be exact — the relationship between victim and offender was unknown, while in 1,511 cases, the victim identified the offender as an acquaintance. This shows that while violent crime is often portrayed as random, many incidents involve people who know each other, though a large percentage still lack a clearly documented connection.

As for property crime, larceny is the most common offense, which aligns with broader national trends. Minnesota also sees relatively low rates of burglary, robbery, and vehicle theft compared to the United States average. However, dense metro and suburban areas, particularly those with high package delivery volume, continue to report elevated instances of theft-related offenses, including porch piracy and opportunistic break-ins.

While crime numbers are declining overall, the data reflects ongoing concerns about safety and highlights how certain crimes, particularly aggravated assaults, still impact thousands of Minnesotans each year.

Minnesota Remains a Safe, Stable, and Secure Place to Live

Still, there are bright spots across the state. Many Minnesota communities continue to report low crime rates, with some experiencing little to no violent crime in recent years. These areas serve as a reminder that, despite challenges in certain regions, countless neighborhoods throughout the state remain safe, welcoming, and rooted in a strong sense of community.

Unless specified otherwise, the information in this article is based on crime data compiled by the FBI and made available through the Crime Data Explorer. Statewide violent and property crime statistics are drawn from the FBI’s 2023 Crime in the United States Report (Table 5), and for city-level crime rates, we referred to Table 8, which lists reported offenses by state and city.