Top 10 most dangerous cities in Oregon

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Oregon, known for its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Portland to the scenic beauty of Crater Lake, Oregon 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, Oregon faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Oregon are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Oregon's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Oregon 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 Oregon. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Oregon'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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Portland Population: 650,380 720 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.97 chance of being a victim: 1 in 139 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,246

Portland, OR holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Oregon with 720 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (481), robbery (177), rape (51) and homicide (11) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 118% higher than the Oregon 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.

Coos Bay Population: 16,326 627 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.72 chance of being a victim: 1 in 159 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,088

The second most dangerous city is Coos Bay. With a population of 16,326 and a violent crime rate that is 89% higher than the Oregon average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Coos Bay are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 627 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 159 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Salem Population: 171,806 532 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.46 chance of being a victim: 1 in 188 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,335

Home to 171,806 residents, Salem, OR ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Oregon. Unfortunately for residents of Salem, crime is widespread, with more than 532 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.46 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 61% higher than the Oregon violent crime rate.

Lincoln City Population: 9,007 497 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.36 chance of being a victim: 1 in 201 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,445

With a violent crime rate that is 50% higher than the Oregon average, it's not hard to see why Lincoln City made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (50), assault (338), rape (99) and homicide (10). 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 Lincoln City more vulnerable to high crime.

Medford Population: 82,098 492 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.35 chance of being a victim: 1 in 203 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,324

The ongoing battle with crime in Medford, OR, 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 492 and a 1 in 203 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Medford has a violent crime rate that is 49% higher than the Oregon 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 Medford.

Klamath Falls Population: 21,509 484 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.33 chance of being a victim: 1 in 207 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,172

Klamath Falls, OR comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 484 per 100,000 people, which is 46% higher than the Oregon average. Klamath Falls has a population of 21,509, which translates to 1.33 crimes per day and 1 in 207 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 Klamath Falls which are much safer than others.

Madras Population: 6,934 434 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.19 chance of being a victim: 1 in 230 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,797

A 1 in 230 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.19 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Madras makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 434 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 31% higher than the Oregon average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (294), robbery (77), rape (64) and homicide (0).

Gresham Population: 110,456 410 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.12 chance of being a victim: 1 in 244 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,837

Gresham, OR is another one of the most dangerous cities in Oregon and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 110,456 and a violent crime rate of 410 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 262 counts of assault, 85 counts of robbery, 58 counts of rape and 5 counts of homicide. All told, the Gresham violent crime rate is 24% higher than the Oregon average.

Pendleton Population: 16,685 409 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.12 chance of being a victim: 1 in 245 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,090

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, Pendleton, OR comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Oregon with a violent crime rate of 409 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.12 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 245 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Grants Pass Population: 37,938 404 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.11 chance of being a victim: 1 in 248 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,308

Rounding out our list at #10 is Grants Pass, OR. With a population of 37,938 and a violent crime rate of 404 per 100,000 people (22% higher than the Oregon average), some parts of Grants Pass are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 263 counts of assault, 84 counts of robbery, 54 counts of rape and 3 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 248 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Oregon

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Portland	650,380	720	6,246
2	Coos Bay	16,326	627	5,088
3	Salem	171,806	532	3,335
4	Lincoln City	9,007	497	2,445
5	Medford	82,098	492	4,324
6	Klamath Falls	21,509	484	3,172
7	Madras	6,934	434	2,797
8	Gresham	110,456	410	2,837
9	Pendleton	16,685	409	3,090
10	Grants Pass	37,938	404	3,308
11	Warrenton	5,635	384	4,868
12	The Dalles	15,518	369	2,928
13	Tillamook	5,308	366	2,718
14	Beaverton	98,567	365	3,026
15	Forest Grove	24,847	337	1,704
16	Cornelius	12,767	323	1,925
17	Astoria	9,929	323	1,956
18	Hermiston	17,512	318	3,543
19	Eugene	170,457	318	3,574
20	Hillsboro	108,026	318	2,747
21	Tigard	54,149	317	3,781
22	Springfield	62,729	306	3,097
23	Sutherlin	8,060	299	1,933
24	Stayton	8,199	292	2,262
25	Independence	10,178	281	1,238
26	Woodburn	26,008	275	3,169
27	St. Helens	13,779	274	1,197
28	Cottage Grove	10,302	273	2,230
29	Talent	6,553	268	1,089
30	Dallas	16,612	263	2,345
31	La Grande	13,380	255	2,924
32	Ashland	21,138	253	2,019
33	Newport	10,767	246	2,919
34	Prineville	10,429	241	971
35	Oregon City	37,057	231	1,556
36	McMinnville	34,466	226	1,655
37	Seaside	6,811	223	4,008
38	Tualatin	27,601	220	2,844
39	Redmond	31,359	218	2,563
40	Roseburg	23,237	217	3,984
41	Milton-Freewater	7,044	217	1,994
42	Umatilla	7,215	216	1,192
43	Canby	17,860	213	1,114
44	Eagle Point	9,316	203	1,773
45	Albany	54,442	196	2,027
46	Gladstone	12,316	195	1,871
47	Milwaukie	21,086	193	1,720
48	Corvallis	58,612	184	2,695
49	Sweet Home	9,763	174	2,847
50	Central Point	18,648	172	1,146

Methodology

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