Top 10 most dangerous cities in North Dakota

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: 123,550 617 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 162 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,764

Fargo, ND holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in North Dakota with 617 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (409), robbery (91), rape (113) and homicide (4) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 121% 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.

Watford City Population: 7,146 508 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.39 chance of being a victim: 1 in 197 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,739

The second most dangerous city is Watford City. With a population of 7,146 and a violent crime rate that is 82% higher than the North Dakota average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Watford City are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 508 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.

Williston Population: 27,812 498 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.36 chance of being a victim: 1 in 201 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,650

Home to 27,812 residents, Williston, ND ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in North Dakota. Unfortunately for residents of Williston, crime is widespread, with more than 498 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.36 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 78% higher than the North Dakota violent crime rate.

Devils Lake Population: 7,302 485 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.33 chance of being a victim: 1 in 206 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,548

With a violent crime rate that is 74% higher than the North Dakota average, it's not hard to see why Devils Lake made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (28), assault (250), rape (208) 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 Devils Lake more vulnerable to high crime.

Bismarck Population: 73,435 310 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.85 chance of being a victim: 1 in 323 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,673

The ongoing battle with crime in Bismarck, 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 310 and a 1 in 323 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Bismarck has a violent crime rate that is 11% 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 Bismarck.

Minot Population: 47,834 298 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.82 chance of being a victim: 1 in 335 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,345

Minot, ND comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 298 per 100,000 people, which is 7% higher than the North Dakota average. Minot has a population of 47,834, which translates to 0.82 crimes per day and 1 in 335 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 Minot which are much safer than others.

Grand Forks Population: 56,588 293 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.80 chance of being a victim: 1 in 341 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,280

A 1 in 341 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.80 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Grand Forks makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 293 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 5% higher than the North Dakota average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (206), robbery (32), rape (51) and homicide (3).

Dickinson Population: 22,880 248 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.68 chance of being a victim: 1 in 403 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,982

Dickinson, ND is another one of the most dangerous cities in North Dakota and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 22,880 and a violent crime rate of 248 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 199 counts of assault, 8 counts of robbery, 41 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Dickinson violent crime rate is 11% lower than the North Dakota average.

Mandan Population: 22,482 235 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.64 chance of being a victim: 1 in 425 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,714

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, Mandan, ND comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in North Dakota with a violent crime rate of 235 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.64 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 425 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Jamestown Population: 15,216 228 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.63 chance of being a victim: 1 in 438 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,308

Rounding out our list at #10 is Jamestown, ND. With a population of 15,216 and a violent crime rate of 228 per 100,000 people (18% lower than the North Dakota average), some parts of Jamestown are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 159 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 70 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 438 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	617	4,764
2	Watford City	7,146	508	2,739
3	Williston	27,812	498	2,650
4	Devils Lake	7,302	485	4,548
5	Bismarck	73,435	310	3,673
6	Minot	47,834	298	1,345
7	Grand Forks	56,588	293	3,280
8	Dickinson	22,880	248	1,982
9	Mandan	22,482	235	3,714
10	Jamestown	15,216	228	2,308
11	Wahpeton	7,772	189	2,476
12	West Fargo	36,406	183	1,470
13	Valley City	6,393	153	1,909

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.