Top 10 most dangerous cities in Idaho

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

Efforts to improve safety in Idaho 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 Idaho. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and revitalization efforts. Idaho'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 heritage, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Garden City Population: 11,873 664 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.82 chance of being a victim: 1 in 151 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,285

Garden City, ID holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Idaho with 664 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (536), robbery (23), rape (106) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 184% higher than the Idaho 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.

Rupert Population: 5,820 507 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.39 chance of being a victim: 1 in 197 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,205

The second most dangerous city is Rupert. With a population of 5,820 and a violent crime rate that is 117% higher than the Idaho average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Rupert are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 507 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 197 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Emmett Population: 6,942 451 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.24 chance of being a victim: 1 in 222 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,021

Home to 6,942 residents, Emmett, ID ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Idaho. Unfortunately for residents of Emmett, crime is widespread, with more than 451 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.24 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 93% higher than the Idaho violent crime rate.

Payette Population: 7,655 444 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.22 chance of being a victim: 1 in 225 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,218

With a violent crime rate that is 90% higher than the Idaho average, it's not hard to see why Payette made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (0), assault (319), rape (125) 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 Payette more vulnerable to high crime.

Caldwell Population: 56,734 400 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.10 chance of being a victim: 1 in 250 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,152

The ongoing battle with crime in Caldwell, ID, 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 400 and a 1 in 250 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Caldwell has a violent crime rate that is 71% higher than the Idaho 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 Caldwell.

Twin Falls Population: 49,819 393 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.08 chance of being a victim: 1 in 254 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,933

Twin Falls, ID comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 393 per 100,000 people, which is 68% higher than the Idaho average. Twin Falls has a population of 49,819, which translates to 1.08 crimes per day and 1 in 254 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 Twin Falls which are much safer than others.

Blackfoot Population: 11,936 373 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.02 chance of being a victim: 1 in 268 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,343

A 1 in 268 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.02 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Blackfoot makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 373 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 59% higher than the Idaho average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (311), robbery (8), rape (54) and homicide (0).

Nampa Population: 96,825 365 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.00 chance of being a victim: 1 in 274 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,219

Nampa, ID is another one of the most dangerous cities in Idaho and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 96,825 and a violent crime rate of 365 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 266 counts of assault, 16 counts of robbery, 80 counts of rape and 3 counts of homicide. All told, the Nampa violent crime rate is 56% higher than the Idaho average.

Pocatello Population: 56,016 360 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.99 chance of being a victim: 1 in 278 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,754

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, Pocatello, ID comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Idaho with a violent crime rate of 360 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.99 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 278 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Chubbuck Population: 15,301 317 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.87 chance of being a victim: 1 in 316 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,422

Rounding out our list at #10 is Chubbuck, ID. With a population of 15,301 and a violent crime rate of 317 per 100,000 people (35% higher than the Idaho average), some parts of Chubbuck are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 237 counts of assault, 18 counts of robbery, 61 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 316 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Idaho

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Garden City	11,873	664	2,285
2	Rupert	5,820	507	1,205
3	Emmett	6,942	451	1,021
4	Payette	7,655	444	1,218
5	Caldwell	56,734	400	1,152
6	Twin Falls	49,819	393	1,933
7	Blackfoot	11,936	373	1,343
8	Nampa	96,825	365	1,219
9	Pocatello	56,016	360	1,754
10	Chubbuck	15,301	317	3,422
11	Idaho Falls	62,417	312	1,717
12	Coeur d'Alene	51,491	298	1,339
13	Boise	228,057	270	1,512
14	Mountain Home	14,308	270	839
15	Jerome	11,824	224	904
16	Middleton	8,005	205	827
17	Weiser	5,358	166	331
18	Meridian	107,787	165	660
19	Preston	5,477	162	614
20	Post Falls	34,971	136	1,044
21	Lewiston	32,853	125	1,405
22	Fruitland	5,390	99	762
23	Rathdrum	8,672	70	920
24	Sandpoint	8,692	58	1,440
25	Rexburg	29,064	54	339
26	Moscow	25,652	15	1,480

Methodology

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