Top 10 most dangerous cities in Minnesota

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Minnesota, known for its lakes and cultural diversity, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Minneapolis to the scenic beauty of the North Shore, Minnesota provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its music, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, Minnesota faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Minnesota are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between Minnesota's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Minnesota 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 Minnesota. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Minnesota'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 richness, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

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Minneapolis Population: 424,536 1,160 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.18 chance of being a victim: 1 in 86 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,303

Minneapolis, MN holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Minnesota with 1,160 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (681), robbery (372), rape (89) and homicide (18) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 352% higher than the Minnesota 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.

Bemidji Population: 15,277 814 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.23 chance of being a victim: 1 in 123 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,400

The second most dangerous city is Bemidji. With a population of 15,277 and a violent crime rate that is 217% higher than the Minnesota average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Bemidji are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 814 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 123 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

International Falls Population: 5,876 704 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.93 chance of being a victim: 1 in 142 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,570

Home to 5,876 residents, International Falls, MN ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Minnesota. Unfortunately for residents of International Falls, crime is widespread, with more than 704 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.93 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 174% higher than the Minnesota violent crime rate.

Brooklyn Center Population: 30,755 679 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.86 chance of being a victim: 1 in 147 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,368

With a violent crime rate that is 165% higher than the Minnesota average, it's not hard to see why Brooklyn Center made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (196), assault (370), rape (113) and homicide (0). 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 Brooklyn Center more vulnerable to high crime.

St. Paul Population: 305,877 618 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 162 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,452

The ongoing battle with crime in St. Paul, MN, 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 618 and a 1 in 162 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), St. Paul has a violent crime rate that is 141% higher than the Minnesota 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 St. Paul.

Maplewood Population: 40,684 454 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.24 chance of being a victim: 1 in 220 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,169

Maplewood, MN comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 454 per 100,000 people, which is 77% higher than the Minnesota average. Maplewood has a population of 40,684, which translates to 1.24 crimes per day and 1 in 220 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 Maplewood which are much safer than others.

Willmar Population: 19,728 438 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.20 chance of being a victim: 1 in 228 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,731

A 1 in 228 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.20 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Willmar makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 438 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 71% higher than the Minnesota average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (303), robbery (5), rape (131) and homicide (0).

Brainerd Population: 13,423 431 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.18 chance of being a victim: 1 in 232 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,210

Brainerd, MN is another one of the most dangerous cities in Minnesota and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 13,423 and a violent crime rate of 431 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 322 counts of assault, 41 counts of robbery, 68 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Brainerd violent crime rate is 68% higher than the Minnesota average.

Crookston Population: 7,711 416 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.14 chance of being a victim: 1 in 240 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,332

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, Crookston, MN comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Minnesota with a violent crime rate of 416 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.14 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 240 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Virginia Population: 8,421 412 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.13 chance of being a victim: 1 in 243 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,557

Rounding out our list at #10 is Virginia, MN. With a population of 8,421 and a violent crime rate of 412 per 100,000 people (61% higher than the Minnesota average), some parts of Virginia are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 315 counts of assault, 36 counts of robbery, 61 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 243 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Minnesota

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Minneapolis	424,536	1,160	6,303
2	Bemidji	15,277	814	5,400
3	International Falls	5,876	704	1,570
4	Brooklyn Center	30,755	679	3,368
5	St. Paul	305,877	618	3,452
6	Maplewood	40,684	454	3,169
7	Willmar	19,728	438	1,731
8	Brainerd	13,423	431	2,210
9	Crookston	7,711	416	1,332
10	Virginia	8,421	412	2,557
11	St. Cloud	68,390	408	3,323
12	Roseville	36,139	400	8,897
13	Robbinsdale	14,393	385	2,157
14	Moorhead	43,409	365	2,041
15	South St. Paul	20,132	349	1,671
16	Columbia Heights	20,247	321	2,506
17	Bloomington	85,226	312	3,776
18	Faribault	23,853	308	1,437
19	St. Paul Park	5,404	301	1,148
20	Fairmont	10,042	295	1,691
21	Brooklyn Park	80,173	291	2,769
22	Alexandria	13,705	291	1,810
23	Spring Lake Park	6,582	285	2,098
24	Hopkins	18,400	282	1,577
25	Worthington	13,093	281	1,205
26	Crystal	22,937	279	2,505
27	Marshall	13,604	273	991
28	Richfield	36,253	267	2,728
29	Mankato	42,685	256	2,865
30	Fridley	27,789	247	3,327
31	Litchfield	6,640	246	1,321
32	Anoka	17,512	244	1,432
33	St. Francis	7,793	223	1,031
34	Duluth	85,852	219	3,174
35	Hutchinson	13,935	217	1,412
36	Apple Valley	53,728	214	1,883
37	Coon Rapids	62,706	212	1,851
38	Burnsville	61,536	210	2,098
39	Albert Lea	17,804	209	1,698
40	Fergus Falls	13,754	204	2,569
41	Red Wing	16,366	202	2,354
42	Waseca	8,892	195	1,161
43	Mendota Heights	11,339	191	1,069
44	Austin	25,180	191	1,793
45	Mounds View	13,193	189	1,265
46	Winona	26,772	188	2,484
47	North St. Paul	12,421	188	1,841
48	Oakdale	27,925	181	1,942
49	St. Louis Park	48,874	179	3,507
50	Cloquet	11,994	175	700

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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.