Best and Worst Cities for Property and Violent Crime

There is a lot of curiosity about small, homely towns in America. Do they still exist? Montana is one of the top states to consider for folks looking to find that little house on a sprawling prairie or a cabin in the remote woods.

When accounting for crime rates, a closer look at the data across Montana's cities reveals major differences in violent and property crime rates. Here is a breakdown of these cities and the possible influences contributing to these outcomes.

Montana Cities With Lowest and Highest Property Crime

Colstrip, the city with the lowest violent crime rates, also boasts the lowest property crime rates, with only 249 incidents per 100,000 residents.

Baker, which was second for lowest violent crime, is also second for lowest property crime with a rate of 385. However, Plains, although third for low violent crime, didn't make the list for the top three lowest property crime rates. Instead, Stevensville boasts a low rate of 395. These lower rates correlate with lower population density and more community oversight.

Havre has the highest property crime rate in Montana, with data revealing 4,959 incidents per 100,000 residents. This rate far exceeds that of other cities. One reason for these numbers could be the area's stagnant economic conditions. Its position as a major regional trading center so close to the northern border likely impacts these rates as well. Great Falls is second in high property crime, with a rate of 4,675. The larger city's spread with busy commercial and retail hubs may attract more property crime.

Flathead Lake is one of the most popular tourist destinations thanks to its scenic mountainscape and lakeshore surroundings. Interestingly, Polson, which sits on the southern shores of Flathead Lake, is third on the list of highest property crimes reported at 3,882. That means Polson ranks third in both categories for highest violent crime and property crime in Montana.

Montana Cities With Lowest and Highest Violent Crime

The safest cities in Montana have some of the lowest violent crime rates in the nation. Colstrip stands out the most with a rate of only 50 incidents per 100,000 residents. Baker sits at just 55, with Plains reported at 80. Contributing factors include lower population density, making it less challenging to build stronger community bonds.

Which city in Montana has the highest crime rate? Wolf Point has the highest rates of violent incidents, with a staggering 1,332 per 100,000 residents.

While Billings⁵ is Montana’s largest city, it ranks second for violent crime with a rate of 888 per 100,000. Rapid growth and continuing expansion open the door for common challenges associated with being one of the major urban centers in Montana.

Polson comes in third for violent crime in Montana with a rate of 868 per 100,000. With Flathead Lake so close, it might come as a surprise that such natural beauty can have such high rates of violence. The crime rates may reflect the difficulties related to hot spot tourism, fertile farming lands and busy waterways.

The Breakdown: Statewide Crime Analysis

Montana ranks 21st for property crime, which is moderate. Overall, the state sits just below the national average. Montana ranks 11th in the country for violent crime, which is concerning considering it’s also one of the less populated states.

Montana’s overall violent crime rate is 442 per 100,000 residents, which is 21% above the national average. Meanwhile, property crime is 1,834 per 100,000 residents, 4% below the national average.

Ultimately, that means statistically the population is more likely to experience a violent crime as opposed to a property crime.

Between 2022 and 2023, violent crime increased by 5.8%. In comparison, its property crime rate decreased 4.4% year over year. The decrease in property crime rates is a good development. The increase in violent crime, however, suggests a worsening trend.

This data reflects that local and state strategies for combating property theft are somewhat effective. Violent crime, on the other hand, needs a deeper investigation. Factors that may likely impact these trends include economic conditions, drug-related incidents and social program expansion or reduction.

Property crime rates per 100,000 residents compared to national rates 

• Burglary rates are 32.1% below the national average.
• Larceny-theft rates are 9.3% above the national average.
• Vehicle theft rates are 40% below the national average.

These rates indicate that Montanans are more likely to experience larceny-theft as opposed to burglary or vehicle theft.

Montana violent crime rates compared to national rates 

• Murder rates are 50.9% below the national average.
• Rape rates are 43.2% above the national average.
• Robbery rates are 63.8% below the national average.
• Aggravated assault rates are 36.6% above the national average.

While murder and robbery rates are much lower than the national average, the rates of rape and aggravated assault are above average.

To Sum It Up

NPR⁶ reports that the national trend for overall crime is decreasing. That includes violent crime, which might be surprisingly difficult to digest when looking at Montana’s figures. When it comes to the safest cities in Montana, Colstrip takes the lead for the lowest violent and property crime rates. The most dangerous cities include Wolf Point and Billings.

With national averages showing a decline in crime rates, it’s still worth researching states you plan to visit. Montana remains one of the most magnificently picturesque states. Its tourism⁷ continues to grow, which shouldn’t be a surprise when it’s home to 11 National Forests.⁸ It’s easy to get lost in the splendor of Big Sky Country.

Where Our Crime Data Comes From

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.

Important note: Crime statistics offer valuable insights, but they aren’t the only way to evaluate a community’s safety. Local context, law enforcement practices and reporting standards can all influence how crime is recorded. Additionally, FBI publication tables and the data displayed on the Crime Data Explorer may differ slightly due to variations in methodology.