Top 10 most dangerous cities in North Dakota

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North Dakota, known for its vast prairies and rich cultural heritage, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Fargo to the scenic beauty of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota 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, North Dakota faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in North Dakota are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between North Dakota's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in North Dakota 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 North Dakota. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. North Dakota'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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Fargo Population: 123,550 498 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.36 chance of being a victim: 1 in 201 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,195

Fargo, ND holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in North Dakota with 498 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (314), robbery (77), rape (102) and homicide (4) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 96% higher than the North Dakota 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.

Williston Population: 27,812 437 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.20 chance of being a victim: 1 in 229 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,753

The second most dangerous city is Williston. With a population of 27,812 and a violent crime rate that is 72% higher than the North Dakota average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Williston are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 437 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 229 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Grand Forks Population: 56,588 359 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.98 chance of being a victim: 1 in 279 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,641

Home to 56,588 residents, Grand Forks, ND ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in North Dakota. Unfortunately for residents of Grand Forks, crime is widespread, with more than 359 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 0.98 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 41% higher than the North Dakota violent crime rate.

Minot Population: 47,834 319 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.87 chance of being a victim: 1 in 314 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,722

With a violent crime rate that is 25% higher than the North Dakota average, it's not hard to see why Minot made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (45), assault (219), rape (53) and homicide (2). 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 Minot more vulnerable to high crime.

Watford City Population: 7,146 303 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.83 chance of being a victim: 1 in 331 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,916

The ongoing battle with crime in Watford City, ND, 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 303 and a 1 in 331 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Watford City has a violent crime rate that is 19% higher than the North Dakota 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 Watford City.

Dickinson Population: 22,880 297 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.81 chance of being a victim: 1 in 337 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,003

Dickinson, ND comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 297 per 100,000 people, which is 17% higher than the North Dakota average. Dickinson has a population of 22,880, which translates to 0.81 crimes per day and 1 in 337 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 Dickinson which are much safer than others.

Mandan Population: 22,482 287 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.79 chance of being a victim: 1 in 348 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,869

A 1 in 348 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.79 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Mandan makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 287 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 13% higher than the North Dakota average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (206), robbery (8), rape (73) and homicide (0).

Bismarck Population: 73,435 278 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 360 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,678

Bismarck, ND is another one of the most dangerous cities in North Dakota and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 73,435 and a violent crime rate of 278 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 171 counts of assault, 61 counts of robbery, 45 counts of rape and 1 counts of homicide. All told, the Bismarck violent crime rate is 9% higher than the North Dakota average.

Wahpeton Population: 7,772 238 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.65 chance of being a victim: 1 in 421 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,427

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, Wahpeton, ND comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in North Dakota with a violent crime rate of 238 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.65 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 421 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

West Fargo Population: 36,406 164 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.45 chance of being a victim: 1 in 611 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,178

Rounding out our list at #10 is West Fargo, ND. With a population of 36,406 and a violent crime rate of 164 per 100,000 people (36% lower than the North Dakota average), some parts of West Fargo are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 95 counts of assault, 12 counts of robbery, 54 counts of rape and 2 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 611 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in North Dakota

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Fargo	123,550	498	4,195
2	Williston	27,812	437	2,753
3	Grand Forks	56,588	359	2,641
4	Minot	47,834	319	1,722
5	Watford City	7,146	303	1,916
6	Dickinson	22,880	297	2,003
7	Mandan	22,482	287	2,869
8	Bismarck	73,435	278	2,678
9	Wahpeton	7,772	238	2,427
10	West Fargo	36,406	164	1,178
11	Valley City	6,393	153	1,101
12	Jamestown	15,216	102	1,342

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in North Dakota 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 North Dakota 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.