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.

Fargo Population: 123,550 515 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.41 chance of being a victim: 1 in 194 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,394

Fargo, ND holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in North Dakota with 515 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (367), robbery (75), rape (71) and homicide (1) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 93% 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: 27,812 470 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.29 chance of being a victim: 1 in 213 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,050

The second most dangerous city is Williston. With a population of 27,812 and a violent crime rate that is 76% 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 470 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 213 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Minot Population: 47,834 379 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.04 chance of being a victim: 1 in 264 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,831

Home to 47,834 residents, Minot, ND ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in North Dakota. Unfortunately for residents of Minot, crime is widespread, with more than 379 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.04 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 42% higher than the North Dakota violent crime rate.

Mandan Population: 22,482 353 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.97 chance of being a victim: 1 in 283 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,944

With a violent crime rate that is 32% higher than the North Dakota average, it's not hard to see why Mandan made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (8), assault (248), rape (97) 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 Mandan more vulnerable to high crime.

Watford City Population: 7,146 350 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.96 chance of being a victim: 1 in 286 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,097

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 350 and a 1 in 286 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Watford City has a violent crime rate that is 31% 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.

Bismarck Population: 73,435 316 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.86 chance of being a victim: 1 in 317 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,433

Bismarck, ND comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 316 per 100,000 people, which is 18% higher than the North Dakota average. Bismarck has a population of 73,435, which translates to 0.86 crimes per day and 1 in 317 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 Bismarck which are much safer than others.

Dickinson Population: 22,880 273 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.75 chance of being a victim: 1 in 367 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,128

A 1 in 367 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.75 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Dickinson makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 273 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 2% higher than the North Dakota average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (220), robbery (8), rape (45) and homicide (0).

Grand Forks Population: 56,588 263 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.72 chance of being a victim: 1 in 380 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,813

Grand Forks, ND is another one of the most dangerous cities in North Dakota and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 56,588 and a violent crime rate of 263 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 180 counts of assault, 21 counts of robbery, 63 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Grand Forks violent crime rate is 2% lower than the North Dakota average.

Wahpeton Population: 7,772 262 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.72 chance of being a victim: 1 in 382 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,183

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 262 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.72 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 382 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

West Fargo Population: 36,406 197 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.54 chance of being a victim: 1 in 507 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,507

Rounding out our list at #10 is West Fargo, ND. With a population of 36,406 and a violent crime rate of 197 per 100,000 people (26% lower than the North Dakota average), some parts of West Fargo are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 121 counts of assault, 27 counts of robbery, 47 counts of rape and 2 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 507 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	515	4,394
2	Williston	27,812	470	3,050
3	Minot	47,834	379	1,831
4	Mandan	22,482	353	3,944
5	Watford City	7,146	350	3,097
6	Bismarck	73,435	316	3,433
7	Dickinson	22,880	273	2,128
8	Grand Forks	56,588	263	2,813
9	Wahpeton	7,772	262	2,183
10	West Fargo	36,406	197	1,507
11	Jamestown	15,216	191	2,067
12	Valley City	6,393	61	1,296

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.