D+
14%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
12%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
15%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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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.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleMoorhead/100k peopleMinnesota/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime1,191n/a (estimate)2,6552,2472,324
Murder1n/a2.23.26.3
Rape27n/a60.240.740.0
Robbery16n/a35.757.066.1
Assault141n/a314.3179.7268.2
Violent crime185n/a (estimate)412281370
Burglary190n/a423.5214.2269.8
Theft649n/a1,446.81,464.81,401.9
Vehicle theft167n/a372.3287.9282.7
Property crime1,006n/a (estimate)2,2431,9671,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Moorhead, MN

Looking at the most recent crime report, the crime rate in Moorhead is 14.2% higher than the national average. These crimes fall into two primary categories: violent and property. Violent crimes encompass murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes involve theft, vehicle theft and burglary. In Moorhead, there were 185 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 412 per 100,000 individuals, 11.5% higher than the national average. Additionally, there were 1006 property crimes, amounting to 2243 per 100,000 residents, 14.8% higher than the U.S. average.

The Moorhead crime rate is about average when compared to all the other cities across the U.S. per 100,000 residents. When we compared the total crimes (violent and property) in Moorhead, we found that the reported crime rates were almost equal to the average of all other areas that reported crime.

For violent crimes per 100,000 people, Moorhead has a rate of violent crime that is very close to the national average. There were a total of 412 violent crimes, while the national average reported 370. This is an indication that the level of crime is essentially on par with all other cities.

Moorhead exhibits a property crime rate closely aligned with the national average. There were 2243 reported property crimes, which closely matches the national average of 1954 per 100,000 people. Consequently, the area's safety profile mirrors that of an average city, neither notably safer nor more dangerous than the norm. This balance suggests that Moorhead maintains a consistent approach to property crime prevention in line with the broader national landscape.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Moorhead?

AreaVibes conducted surveys inquiring about the safety perception of Moorhead residents. Out of the respondents (10 in total), 80% expressed a strong sense of security, believing that crime rates in Moorhead were low, and they felt comfortable walking alone at night. Conversely, 20% held a contrasting viewpoint, expressing concerns about safety in the area and feeling uncomfortable walking alone during the nighttime hours.

Is Moorhead a Safe Place to Live?

Determining whether Moorhead is a place to live may not always yield a simple answer, given the city's varying safety levels across different areas. Nonetheless, comprehending the city's overall crime rate can be a valuable asset. In broad terms, Moorhead has an overall crime rate that is 14% higher than the national average. When we take a look at crime on a daily basis, this translates into 3.26 daily occurrences, comprising 0.51 violent crimes and 2.76 property crimes. Scrutinizing these statistics provides a foundation for a more informed assessment of the suitability of Moorhead as a potential place to establish residency.

Has Crime in Moorhead Increased Since Last Year?

Examining year-over-year crime data provides insights into short-term trends with regards to the crime activity in Moorhead. This analysis involves comparing crime rates from one year to the next, enabling the identification of patterns and fluctuations in crime. Such information proves invaluable to residents seeking to make well-informed decisions about their choice of residence. In the most recent year, compared to the previous one, total crime in Moorhead has decreased by 23.4%. Specifically, violent crime has decreased by 19.9%, while property crime has decreased by 24%. This data empowers individuals with a clearer understanding of the evolving safety landscape in Moorhead.

Potential Causes for Crime in Moorhead

Limited employment opportunities or a prevalence of low-wage jobs can result in higher rates of unemployment and underemployment. Regions where individuals grapple with joblessness or meager wages may exhibit greater vulnerability to an uptick in crime due to financial instability. While areas that have strong employment rates, often will see a reduction in overall crime. Moorhead, for instance, reports an unemployment rate of 2.7%, which differs from the national average of 4.7%.

The level of education within a community can impact crime rates. Higher educational attainment often correlates with lower crime rates, as it provides individuals with better job opportunities and alternatives to criminal behavior. While lower educational achievement rates tend to lead to higher crime rates. In Moorhead, 92.2% of people have completed high school, while 83% of people have completed high school nationally.

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 Moorhead, the cost of living is 7.3% lower than the national average, reflecting a more affordable economic environment that could contribute to a decrease in crime levels.

Moorhead crime map



The Moorhead crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Moorhead 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 Moorhead crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Moorhead 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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Compare Moorhead, MN Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Moorhead crime rates are 14% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Moorhead are 12% higher than the national average
      • In Moorhead you have a 1 in 38 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Moorhead is safer than 23% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Moorhead has decreased by 24%

      Moorhead, MN Crime Quiz

         

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        Daily Crime In Moorhead (per 100,000 people)

        The chart above shows the number of daily crimes in Moorhead, MN per 100,000 people. In Moorhead, the number of daily crimes is projected to be 1.18 times more than the Minnesota average and 1.14 times more than the national average. The average number of daily violent crimes in Moorhead is 1.47 times more than the Minnesota average and 1.12 times more than the daily national average. With regards to property crimes, Moorhead has a daily crime rate that is 1.14 times more than the Minnesota average and 1.15 times more than the overall daily national average.

        How Safe is Moorhead (higher is better)

        What are the odds that you'll be safer in Moorhead, Minnesota compared to other areas of Minnesota, as well as the rest of America? When it comes down to it, is Moorhead safe? In the graphs above, it shows that Moorhead is safer than 9% of Minnesota cities, and 23% compared to all other cities across America. These statistics are calculated by taking a closer look at each city's crime rate in Minnesota, as well as the rest of the US. It is then determined which cities see less crime than Moorhead. At this time, Moorhead sees a below average rate of crime in comparison to other United States cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Moorhead

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Moorhead is 1 in 243
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Moorhead is 1 in 45
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Moorhead is 1 in 38
        Wondering what the chances are that you fall victim to a crime in Moorhead? In Moorhead, MN you have a 1 in 243 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and assault. With regards to property crime, you have a 1 in 45 chance of becoming a victim. Property crimes include burglary, theft and motor vehicle theft. Overall, you have a 1 in 38 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Moorhead.

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

        The year over year crime rate per 100,000 people for Moorhead is an accurate tool for tracking the rise and fall of crime, and in determining if living in Moorhead has become safer or more dangerous. The year over year data displayed in the graph shows that violent crimes have decreased by 21% in Moorhead, while property crimes in Moorhead have decreased by 25%. Total crime has decreased by 24% year over year.

        Moorhead police department

        Item Moorhead Minnesota National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)677,759558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents1.71.83.3
        There are a total of 67 Moorhead police officers. This results in 1.7 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 4.2% less than the Minnesota average and 46.9% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in Minnesota

        State Total offenders Minnesota /100K National /100K
        Minnesota1,28326266
        There are a total of 1,283 sex offenders in Minnesota. This yields a total of 26 sex offenders in Minnesota per 100,000 residents which is 90% 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
        Horace, ND2,84763449512
        Briarwood, ND80113806919
        Oxbow, ND249113806919
        Reile's Acres, ND6701258901,015
        Glyndon, MN1,36201,1421,142
        Prairie Rose, ND401491,0591,208
        Frontier, ND1511631,1641,327
        Moorhead, MN43,4094122,2432,655

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Channelview, TX43,3786083,2393,847
        Prescott, AZ43,4634011,3281,729
        Salem, MA43,3501871,1841,372
        Concord, NH43,5031381,3541,492
        Peachtree Corners, GA43,516159731889
        Moorhead, MN43,4094122,2432,655
        Source: The Moorhead, MN 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.