D+
58%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
16%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
72%
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 peopleBismarck/100k peopleNorth Dakota/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime2,740n/a (estimate)3,6732,2742,324
Murder6n/a8.03.56.3
Rape32n/a42.956.740.0
Robbery43n/a57.627.666.1
Assault150n/a201.1191.8268.2
Violent crime231n/a (estimate)310280370
Burglary383n/a513.4357.9269.8
Theft1,870n/a2,506.61,381.31,401.9
Vehicle theft256n/a343.1255.6282.7
Property crime2,509n/a (estimate)3,3631,9951,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Bismarck, ND

The Bismarck crime rates are 58% higher than the national average. There are two main categories of crime - violent crime and property crime. Violent crime consists of murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. There were a total of 231 violent crimes in Bismarck (310 per 100,000 people), which is 16.3% lower than the national average and there were a total of 2509 property crimes (3363 per 100,000 residents) which is 72.1% higher than average.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Bismarck?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in Bismarck. Based on the results of the surveys (36 responses), 64% of people felt that there was very little crime in Bismarck and felt safe walking alone at night. While 36% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Bismarck a Safe Place to Live?

To get a feel for the safety of living in Bismarck, it's essential to analyze both the overall crime rate and the daily incident count. Bismarck presents a total crime rate that is 58% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. Consequently, Bismarck experiences an average of 7.51 daily crimes, comprising 0.63 violent incidents and 6.87 property-related offenses. This evaluation offers a comprehensive understanding of the safety landscape, aiding individuals in making informed decisions when considering relocation.

Has Crime in Bismarck Increased Since Last Year?

Examining year-over-year crime data provides insights into short-term trends with regards to the crime activity in Bismarck. 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 Bismarck has decreased by 3.3%. Specifically, violent crime has increased by 6.9%, while property crime has decreased by 4.2%. This data empowers individuals with a clearer understanding of the evolving safety landscape in Bismarck.

Potential Causes for Crime in Bismarck

In areas where employment options are limited or where a significant proportion of jobs offer meager wages, the likelihood of heightened unemployment and homelessness increases. Regions facing challenges related to unemployment or inadequate income may become more vulnerable to a surge in crime stemming from economic instability. While low unemployment rates tend to lead to reduced crime in most areas. Bismarck currently has an unemployment rate of 1.9%, contrasting with the national average of 4.7%. This could be one of many factors that could contribute to a higher or lower crime rate.

In Bismarck, 88.9% of residents have successfully graduated from high school, whereas the national average stands at 83%. The educational makeup of any city can exert a significant influence on crime rates. Typically, higher levels of educational attainment are associated with reduced crime rates, as they furnish individuals with improved employment prospects and viable alternatives to engaging in criminal activities. Conversely, communities characterized by lower educational achievement often grapple with higher crime rates, as limited opportunities may drive individuals towards criminal behavior.

Elevated rental costs can generate economic strain for both individuals and families, particularly those with restricted financial means. When a substantial proportion of one's income is allocated to housing costs, it often leaves limited resources for fulfilling other crucial necessities such as groceries, healthcare and education. This financial pressure can fuel desperation, potentially prompting individuals to resort to criminal actions, including theft or fraud, as a means of coping with their financial hardships. In Bismarck, the average monthly rent stands at $874, while the national average is $949 per month.

Bismarck crime map



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

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Bismarck crime rates are 58% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Bismarck are 16% lower than the national average
      • In Bismarck you have a 1 in 28 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Bismarck is safer than 23% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Bismarck has decreased by 2%

      Bismarck, ND Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Bismarck

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        Daily Crime In Bismarck (per 100,000 people)

        The number of daily crimes per 100,000 residents in Bismarck, North Dakota is displayed in the graph above. As you can see, the daily crimes for Bismarck are 1.61 times more than the North Dakota average and 1.58 times more than the national level. Daily violent crimes in Bismarck are 1.11 times more than than North Dakota and 1.19 times less than the national mean. While daily property crimes in Bismarck are 1.69 times more than than North Dakota and 1.72 times more than the national average.

        How Safe is Bismarck (higher is better)

        Are people any safer living in Bismarck in comparison to other North Dakota communities and all other areas throughout the United States? When we look at all cities across America, is Bismarck safe? The evidence provided by these graphs show Bismarck being safer than 9% of cities in North Dakota and 23% of cities across the United States. This is evident by tracking North Dakota cities as well as all US cities over a one year period to contrast crime statistics as they relate to Bismarck. In conclusion, Bismarck ranks below average compared to the rest of the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Bismarck

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Bismarck is 1 in 323
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Bismarck is 1 in 30
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Bismarck is 1 in 28
        Are you worried about becoming a crime victim? In Bismarck, your chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 323. Types of violent crimes may include assault, robbery, rape, or murder. You also have a 1 in 30 chance of being the victim of a property crime such as vehicle theft, personal property theft, and burglary. Your overall risk of becoming a crime victim in Bismarck is 1 in 28.

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

        A good indicator of whether Bismarck is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live can be determined by analyzing the year over year crime rate (per 100,000 people). The number of violent crimes in Bismarck has increased by 8%, while the property crime rate in Bismarck has decreased by 3% year over year. The number of total crimes in Bismarck has decreased by 2% year over year.

        Bismarck police department

        Item Bismarck North Dakota National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)131842558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.02.63.3
        There are a total of 131 Bismarck police officers. This results in 2.0 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 22.4% less than the North Dakota average and 37.1% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in North Dakota

        State Total offenders North Dakota /100K National /100K
        North Dakota1,982293266
        There are a total of 1,982 sex offenders in North Dakota. This yields a total of 293 sex offenders in North Dakota per 100,000 residents which is 10% greater than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Lincoln, ND4,140137524661
        Harmon, ND228113806919
        Menoken, ND612521,7982,051
        Mandan, ND22,4822353,4783,714
        Bismarck, ND73,4353103,3633,673

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Cheektowaga, NY73,4572763,2793,555
        Schaumburg, IL73,392912,1302,221
        Apple Valley, CA73,3395661,4872,053
        Flagstaff, AZ73,3193621,7272,089
        Ellicott City, MD73,2722038361,039
        Bismarck, ND73,4353103,3633,673
        Source: The Bismarck, ND 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.