Top 10 most dangerous cities in Montana

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.

Polson Population: 5,033 1,056 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.89 chance of being a victim: 1 in 95 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,587

Polson, MT holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Montana with 1,056 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (874), robbery (109), rape (73) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 153% 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.

Havre Population: 9,739 992 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.72 chance of being a victim: 1 in 101 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,951

The second most dangerous city is Havre. With a population of 9,739 and a violent crime rate that is 137% higher than the Montana average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Havre are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 992 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 101 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Billings Population: 109,705 929 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.55 chance of being a victim: 1 in 108 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,246

Home to 109,705 residents, Billings, MT ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Montana. Unfortunately for residents of Billings, crime is widespread, with more than 929 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.55 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 122% higher than the Montana violent crime rate.

Helena Population: 32,655 755 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 132 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,965

With a violent crime rate that is 81% higher than the Montana average, it's not hard to see why Helena made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (27), assault (566), rape (159) and homicide (3). 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 Helena more vulnerable to high crime.

Missoula Population: 74,994 634 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.74 chance of being a victim: 1 in 158 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,178

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 634 and a 1 in 158 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Missoula has a violent crime rate that is 52% 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.

Belgrade Population: 9,184 511 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.40 chance of being a victim: 1 in 196 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,219

Belgrade, MT comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 511 per 100,000 people, which is 22% higher than the Montana average. Belgrade has a population of 9,184, which translates to 1.40 crimes per day and 1 in 196 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 Belgrade which are much safer than others.

Kalispell Population: 23,935 498 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.36 chance of being a victim: 1 in 201 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,107

A 1 in 201 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.36 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Kalispell makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 498 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 19% higher than the Montana average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (397), robbery (18), rape (79) and homicide (4).

Great Falls Population: 58,717 497 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.36 chance of being a victim: 1 in 201 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,981

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 497 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 383 counts of assault, 31 counts of robbery, 79 counts of rape and 3 counts of homicide. All told, the Great Falls violent crime rate is 19% higher than the Montana average.

Sidney Population: 6,351 478 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.31 chance of being a victim: 1 in 209 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,500

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, Sidney, MT comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Montana with a violent crime rate of 478 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.31 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 209 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Laurel Population: 6,797 448 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.23 chance of being a victim: 1 in 223 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,740

Rounding out our list at #10 is Laurel, MT. With a population of 6,797 and a violent crime rate of 448 per 100,000 people (7% higher than the Montana average), some parts of Laurel are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 392 counts of assault, 28 counts of robbery, 28 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 223 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	1,056	5,587
2	Havre	9,739	992	4,951
3	Billings	109,705	929	5,246
4	Helena	32,655	755	3,965
5	Missoula	74,994	634	4,178
6	Belgrade	9,184	511	2,219
7	Kalispell	23,935	498	3,107
8	Great Falls	58,717	497	4,981
9	Sidney	6,351	478	1,500
10	Laurel	6,797	448	3,740
11	Lewistown	5,923	407	456
12	Miles City	8,372	367	1,019
13	Livingston	7,696	362	2,561
14	Glendive	5,030	350	1,049
15	Bozeman	48,330	296	2,075
16	Whitefish	8,032	272	2,144
17	Columbia Falls	5,651	262	2,354

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

Well Below nat. avg.
Below nat. avg.
Similar to nat. avg.
Above nat. avg.
Well above nat. avg.

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.