Portsmouth, NH Crime Rates: Stats & Map

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38%

Total crime NAT. AVG.

52%

Violent crime NAT. AVG.

36%

Property crime NAT. AVG.

Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.

Statistic	Reported_incidents	_{/100k people}	Portsmouth_{/100k people}	New Hampshire_{/100k people}	National_{/100k people}
Total crime	322	n/a (estimate)	1,430	1,137	2,324
Murder	0	n/a	0.0	1.8	6.3
Rape	10	n/a	44.4	39.6	40.0
Robbery	2	n/a	8.9	16.1	66.1
Assault	28	n/a	124.4	68.1	268.2
Violent crime	40	n/a (estimate)	178	126	370
Burglary	12	n/a	53.3	73.5	269.8
Theft	252	n/a	1,119.3	871.0	1,401.9
Vehicle theft	18	n/a	80.0	66.5	282.7
Property crime	282	n/a (estimate)	1,253	1,011	1,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Portsmouth, NH

When we analyze the latest crime report, the Portsmouth crime rate is 38.5% lower than the national average. These incidents are classified into two primary categories: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes include assault, robbery, rape and murder. Whereas property crimes encompass theft, vehicle theft and burglary. In the case of Portsmouth, there were 40 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 178 per 100,000 individuals, 52% lower than the national average. Additionally, Portsmouth recorded 282 property crimes, amounting to 1253 per 100,000 residents, 35.9% lower than the U.S. average.

Portsmouth showcased a dedication to violent crime safety in its latest reported crime year by achieving a murder rate of 0. This accomplishment could indicate that it is a safe place for residents, but also provides a shining example to other urban areas endeavoring to create safer communities.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Portsmouth?

What is the prevailing sentiment among Portsmouth residents regarding the state of crime? A comprehensive survey conducted by AreaVibes, involving 24 respondents, sheds light on this matter. The results were as follows: 92% of Portsmouth residents expressed a notable sense of security, asserting that crime was virtually non-existent in their community, and they felt at ease strolling the streets after dark. While, 8% of those surveyed held a contrasting viewpoint, perceiving a higher incidence of crime, leading them to feel apprehensive about walking alone at night.

Is Portsmouth a Safe Place to Live?

Before you decide to relocate, it’s always good to ask yourself “Is Portsmouth a safe place to live?” Although the answer might not be that simple, as some areas are safer than others, getting a good feel for the overall rate of crime can definitely be helpful. Overall, the Portsmouth crime rate is 38% lower than the national average. If we break that down daily, that translates into 0.88 crimes per day - 0.11 violent crimes and 0.77 property crimes.

Has Crime in Portsmouth Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime rates in Portsmouth has decreased by 15.3% in the last reported crime report. Comparing crime rates from one year to another offers some insight into whether or not Portsmouth is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. Crime rates are categorized by violent and property crime. Year-over-year violent crime has decreased by 25.9%, while property crime has decreased by 13.5%. This analysis equips individuals with crucial information for making informed decisions about living in Portsmouth.

Potential Causes for Crime in Portsmouth

Portsmouth reports an unemployment rate of 1.1%, contrasting with the national average of 4.7%. Constrained employment opportunities or a prevalence of low-paying positions can contribute to elevated rates of unemployment and underemployment. Areas where individuals contend with joblessness or insufficient wages may display heightened susceptibility to an increase in criminal activities attributed to economic insecurity. Conversely, regions characterized by robust employment rates often witness a decrease in overall Portsmouth crime rates.

Escalating cost of living expenses, encompassing exorbitant housing costs, grocery and healthcare expenditures, can induce financial strain on individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. Such economic stress may propel individuals towards criminal activities, including theft or burglary, as a means of addressing their financial hardships. Conversely, cities characterized by a lower cost of living may alleviate economic pressures, potentially resulting in a reduced crime rate. In Portsmouth, the cost of living is 34.98% higher than the national average, reflecting a more affordable economic environment that could contribute to a decrease in crime levels.

In cities grappling with housing affordability challenges, crime can emerge as a prominent issue. Certain individuals and families may find themselves needing to reside in cramped or subpar housing conditions, elevating stress levels and potentially fueling domestic conflicts and associated criminal incidents. Portsmouth has a median home price of $456,200, deviating from the national average of $184,700. Large disparities in housing costs can significantly impact the well-being of residents and the prevalence of crime within the community.

Portsmouth crime map

The Portsmouth crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Portsmouth as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Portsmouth crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Portsmouth crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.

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Crime Quick Facts

Portsmouth crime rates are 38% lower than the national average
Violent crimes in Portsmouth are 52% lower than the national average
In Portsmouth you have a 1 in 70 chance of becoming a victim of crime
Portsmouth is safer than 56% of the cities in the United States
Year over year crime in Portsmouth has decreased by 18%

Portsmouth, NH Crime Quiz

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Daily Crime In Portsmouth (per 100,000 people)

The graph above illustrates the number of daily crimes in Portsmouth, NH per 100,000 people. In Portsmouth, the total number of daily crimes is 1.26 times more than the New Hampshire average and 1.62 times less than the national average. The number of daily violent crimes in Portsmouth is 1.41 times more than the New Hampshire average and 2.08 times less than the national average. With regards to property crimes, Portsmouth has a daily crime rate that is 1.24 times more than the New Hampshire average and 1.56 times less than the national average.

How Safe is Portsmouth (higher is better)

Compared to the other cities in New Hampshire and all other cities across the US, is Portsmouth safe? From the gauges displayed above, you will notice that Portsmouth is safer than 24% of other cities in the state of New Hampshire. In addition, Portsmouth is safer than 56% of cities in the entire United States. To achieve these results, all New Hampshire and United States cities were analyzed to determine how many locations had a lower crime rate than Portsmouth. By studying this data, it was possible to determine that Portsmouth is above average in safety when compared with other United States cities.

Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Portsmouth

The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Portsmouth is 1 in 563

The chance of being a victim of property crime in Portsmouth is 1 in 80

The chance of being a victim of crime in Portsmouth is 1 in 70

Interested in knowing the odds that you will be a crime victim in Portsmouth? In Portsmouth, you have a 1 in 563 chance of falling victim to a violent crime, such as rape, robbery, assault, or even murder. In terms of property crime, your chances of being a victim are 1 in 80. These crimes include theft, vehicle theft, and burglary. Your overall chance of being a victim of crime in Portsmouth, NH is 1 in 70.

Year Over Year Crime In Portsmouth (per 100,000 people)

Determining whether Portsmouth is becoming less or more safe for its residents (per 100,000) is most easily done by comparing year-over-year crime rates. Portsmouth violent crime rates have decreased by 28%. At the same time, property crime has decreased by 16% year over year. Total crimes for Portsmouth has decreased by 18% in the same time frame.

Portsmouth police department

Item	Portsmouth	New Hampshire	National
Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)	80	1,969	558,732
Police officers & civilians /1000 residents	3.8	2.4	3.3

There are a total of 80 Portsmouth police officers. This results in 3.8 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 59.8% greater than the New Hampshire average and 17.8% greater than the National average.

Sex offenders in New Hampshire

State	Total offenders	New Hampshire_/100K	National_/100K
New Hampshire	2,616	204	266

There are a total of 2,616 sex offenders in New Hampshire. This yields a total of 204 sex offenders in New Hampshire per 100,000 residents which is 23% less than the national average.

Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
Kittery Point, ME	1,034	14	170	185
Cape Neddick, ME	2,563	16	190	207
York Harbor, ME	3,484	16	190	207
Newfields, NH	254	0	227	227
Hampton Beach, NH	2,485	33	262	294
South Eliot, ME	3,047	28	332	360
Durham, NH	12,016	58	315	373
Portsmouth, NH	21,418	178	1,253	1,430

Cities with similar population

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
North Bellmore, NY	21,422	265	1,063	1,328
Mukilteo, WA	21,414	119	2,428	2,547
Duarte, CA	21,399	321	1,779	2,101
Bear, DE	21,397	457	2,340	2,797
Ensley, FL	21,397	348	2,101	2,449
Portsmouth, NH	21,418	178	1,253	1,430

Source: The Portsmouth, NH crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.