Top 10 most dangerous cities in Montana

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

Efforts to improve safety in Montana 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 Montana. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and revitalization efforts. Montana'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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Polson Population: 5,033 988 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.71 chance of being a victim: 1 in 101 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,107

Polson, MT holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Montana with 988 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (919), robbery (17), rape (35) and homicide (17) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 133% higher than the Montana 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.

Billings Population: 109,705 746 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.04 chance of being a victim: 1 in 134 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,829

The second most dangerous city is Billings. With a population of 109,705 and a violent crime rate that is 76% higher than the Montana average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Billings are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 746 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 134 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Glendive Population: 5,030 670 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.84 chance of being a victim: 1 in 149 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,592

Home to 5,030 residents, Glendive, MT ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Montana. Unfortunately for residents of Glendive, crime is widespread, with more than 670 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.84 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 58% higher than the Montana violent crime rate.

Lewistown Population: 5,923 644 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 155 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,852

With a violent crime rate that is 52% higher than the Montana average, it's not hard to see why Lewistown made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (0), assault (435), rape (209) 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 Lewistown more vulnerable to high crime.

Missoula Population: 74,994 597 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.64 chance of being a victim: 1 in 168 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,226

The ongoing battle with crime in Missoula, MT, 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 597 and a 1 in 168 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Missoula has a violent crime rate that is 41% higher than the Montana 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 Missoula.

Livingston Population: 7,696 596 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.63 chance of being a victim: 1 in 168 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,921

Livingston, MT comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 596 per 100,000 people, which is 41% higher than the Montana average. Livingston has a population of 7,696, which translates to 1.63 crimes per day and 1 in 168 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 Livingston which are much safer than others.

Havre Population: 9,739 579 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.59 chance of being a victim: 1 in 173 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,870

A 1 in 173 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.59 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Havre makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 579 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 37% higher than the Montana average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (418), robbery (21), rape (139) and homicide (0).

Great Falls Population: 58,717 574 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.57 chance of being a victim: 1 in 174 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,001

Great Falls, MT is another one of the most dangerous cities in Montana and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 58,717 and a violent crime rate of 574 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 439 counts of assault, 46 counts of robbery, 89 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Great Falls violent crime rate is 36% higher than the Montana average.

Laurel Population: 6,797 543 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.49 chance of being a victim: 1 in 184 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,148

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, Laurel, MT comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Montana with a violent crime rate of 543 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.49 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 184 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Helena Population: 32,655 514 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.41 chance of being a victim: 1 in 195 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,096

Rounding out our list at #10 is Helena, MT. With a population of 32,655 and a violent crime rate of 514 per 100,000 people (21% higher than the Montana average), some parts of Helena are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 366 counts of assault, 28 counts of robbery, 116 counts of rape and 3 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 195 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Montana

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Polson	5,033	988	4,107
2	Billings	109,705	746	3,829
3	Glendive	5,030	670	1,592
4	Lewistown	5,923	644	1,852
5	Missoula	74,994	597	4,226
6	Livingston	7,696	596	1,921
7	Havre	9,739	579	3,870
8	Great Falls	58,717	574	4,001
9	Laurel	6,797	543	4,148
10	Helena	32,655	514	3,096
11	Sidney	6,351	464	1,161
12	Bozeman	48,330	434	2,189
13	Belgrade	9,184	341	1,494
14	Miles City	8,372	307	1,052
15	Kalispell	23,935	293	2,519
16	Columbia Falls	5,651	274	1,867
17	Whitefish	8,032	124	1,213

Methodology

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