Top 10 most dangerous cities in Idaho

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Idaho, known for its rugged landscapes and outdoor recreational opportunities, offers a tranquil and picturesque living experience. From the scenic beauty of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area to the bustling city life of Boise, Idaho provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich history and cultural heritage are evident in its museums, festivals, and historic sites. Despite its many positives, Idaho faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Idaho are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Idaho's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Idaho involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Idaho. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and revitalization efforts. Idaho's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

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Garden City Population: 11,873 656 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.80 chance of being a victim: 1 in 152 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,092

Garden City, ID holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Idaho with 656 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (563), robbery (8), rape (85) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 185% higher than the Idaho average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Rupert Population: 5,820 641 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 156 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,391

The second most dangerous city is Rupert. With a population of 5,820 and a violent crime rate that is 178% higher than the Idaho average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Rupert are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 641 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 156 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Caldwell Population: 56,734 453 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.24 chance of being a victim: 1 in 221 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,430

Home to 56,734 residents, Caldwell, ID ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Idaho. Unfortunately for residents of Caldwell, crime is widespread, with more than 453 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.24 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 96% higher than the Idaho violent crime rate.

Twin Falls Population: 49,819 417 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.14 chance of being a victim: 1 in 240 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,543

With a violent crime rate that is 81% higher than the Idaho average, it's not hard to see why Twin Falls made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (9), assault (311), rape (91) and homicide (5). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Twin Falls more vulnerable to high crime.

Idaho Falls Population: 62,417 357 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.98 chance of being a victim: 1 in 280 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,566

The ongoing battle with crime in Idaho Falls, ID, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 357 and a 1 in 280 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Idaho Falls has a violent crime rate that is 55% higher than the Idaho average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Idaho Falls.

Nampa Population: 96,825 353 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.97 chance of being a victim: 1 in 283 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,095

Nampa, ID comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 353 per 100,000 people, which is 53% higher than the Idaho average. Nampa has a population of 96,825, which translates to 0.97 crimes per day and 1 in 283 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Nampa which are much safer than others.

Emmett Population: 6,942 342 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.94 chance of being a victim: 1 in 292 Total Crimes / 100k: 753

A 1 in 292 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.94 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Emmett makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 342 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 48% higher than the Idaho average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (319), robbery (0), rape (23) and homicide (0).

Pocatello Population: 56,016 341 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.93 chance of being a victim: 1 in 293 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,928

Pocatello, ID is another one of the most dangerous cities in Idaho and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 56,016 and a violent crime rate of 341 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 287 counts of assault, 15 counts of robbery, 39 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Pocatello violent crime rate is 48% higher than the Idaho average.

Payette Population: 7,655 296 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.81 chance of being a victim: 1 in 338 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,286

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Payette, ID comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Idaho with a violent crime rate of 296 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.81 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 338 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Boise Population: 228,057 294 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.80 chance of being a victim: 1 in 340 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,404

Rounding out our list at #10 is Boise, ID. With a population of 228,057 and a violent crime rate of 294 per 100,000 people (27% higher than the Idaho average), some parts of Boise are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 206 counts of assault, 16 counts of robbery, 71 counts of rape and 1 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 340 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Idaho

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Garden City	11,873	656	2,092
2	Rupert	5,820	641	1,391
3	Caldwell	56,734	453	1,430
4	Twin Falls	49,819	417	1,543
5	Idaho Falls	62,417	357	1,566
6	Nampa	96,825	353	1,095
7	Emmett	6,942	342	753
8	Pocatello	56,016	341	1,928
9	Payette	7,655	296	1,286
10	Boise	228,057	294	1,404
11	Blackfoot	11,936	288	1,197
12	Chubbuck	15,301	265	2,952
13	Coeur d'Alene	51,491	241	1,197
14	Mountain Home	14,308	201	727
15	Lewiston	32,853	191	1,504
16	Hailey	8,575	179	657
17	Post Falls	34,971	152	794
18	Meridian	107,787	147	718
19	Middleton	8,005	130	727
20	Weiser	5,358	129	178
21	Jerome	11,824	112	806
22	Fruitland	5,390	98	643
23	Sandpoint	8,692	86	1,086
24	Rexburg	29,064	70	593
25	Rathdrum	8,672	64	914
26	Preston	5,477	64	446
27	Moscow	25,652	19	1,034

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Idaho is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Idaho cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.