Top 10 most dangerous cities in Oregon

Oregon, known for its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Portland to the scenic beauty of Crater Lake, Oregon 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, Oregon faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Oregon are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Oregon's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Oregon 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 Oregon. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Oregon'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.

Ontario Population: 11,031 842 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.31 chance of being a victim: 1 in 119 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,848

Ontario, OR holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Oregon with 842 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (593), robbery (120), rape (129) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 146% higher than the Oregon 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.

Portland Population: 650,380 751 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.06 chance of being a victim: 1 in 133 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,076

The second most dangerous city is Portland. With a population of 650,380 and a violent crime rate that is 119% higher than the Oregon average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Portland are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 751 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 133 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Coos Bay Population: 16,326 617 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 162 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,465

Home to 16,326 residents, Coos Bay, OR ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Oregon. Unfortunately for residents of Coos Bay, crime is widespread, with more than 617 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.69 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 80% higher than the Oregon violent crime rate.

Klamath Falls Population: 21,509 511 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.40 chance of being a victim: 1 in 196 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,094

With a violent crime rate that is 49% higher than the Oregon average, it's not hard to see why Klamath Falls made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (95), assault (381), rape (35) 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 Klamath Falls more vulnerable to high crime.

Salem Population: 171,806 482 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.32 chance of being a victim: 1 in 207 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,103

The ongoing battle with crime in Salem, OR, 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 482 and a 1 in 207 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Salem has a violent crime rate that is 41% higher than the Oregon 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 Salem.

Astoria Population: 9,929 450 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.23 chance of being a victim: 1 in 222 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,752

Astoria, OR comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 450 per 100,000 people, which is 31% higher than the Oregon average. Astoria has a population of 9,929, which translates to 1.23 crimes per day and 1 in 222 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 Astoria which are much safer than others.

Gresham Population: 110,456 435 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.19 chance of being a victim: 1 in 230 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,380

A 1 in 230 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.19 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Gresham makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 435 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 27% higher than the Oregon average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (258), robbery (118), rape (49) and homicide (9).

Cornelius Population: 12,767 432 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.18 chance of being a victim: 1 in 231 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,538

Cornelius, OR is another one of the most dangerous cities in Oregon and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 12,767 and a violent crime rate of 432 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 340 counts of assault, 43 counts of robbery, 43 counts of rape and 7 counts of homicide. All told, the Cornelius violent crime rate is 26% higher than the Oregon average.

Milton-Freewater Population: 7,044 421 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.15 chance of being a victim: 1 in 237 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,585

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, Milton-Freewater, OR comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Oregon with a violent crime rate of 421 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.15 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 237 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Woodburn Population: 26,008 383 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.05 chance of being a victim: 1 in 261 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,978

Rounding out our list at #10 is Woodburn, OR. With a population of 26,008 and a violent crime rate of 383 per 100,000 people (12% higher than the Oregon average), some parts of Woodburn are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 226 counts of assault, 115 counts of robbery, 42 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 261 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Oregon

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Ontario	11,031	842	6,848
2	Portland	650,380	751	7,076
3	Coos Bay	16,326	617	6,465
4	Klamath Falls	21,509	511	3,094
5	Salem	171,806	482	4,103
6	Astoria	9,929	450	3,752
7	Gresham	110,456	435	3,380
8	Cornelius	12,767	432	2,538
9	Milton-Freewater	7,044	421	2,585
10	Woodburn	26,008	383	3,978
11	Eugene	170,457	377	3,792
12	Lincoln City	9,007	376	2,819
13	Newport	10,767	375	3,309
14	Medford	82,098	372	4,477
15	Grants Pass	37,938	369	4,325
16	Oregon City	37,057	366	2,581
17	The Dalles	15,518	360	4,149
18	Tigard	54,149	357	4,035
19	Roseburg	23,237	355	5,102
20	Forest Grove	24,847	342	2,202
21	Springfield	62,729	323	3,604
22	Beaverton	98,567	306	3,041
23	McMinnville	34,466	298	2,598
24	Hillsboro	108,026	296	2,863
25	Hermiston	17,512	293	3,406
26	Cottage Grove	10,302	292	1,233
27	Warrenton	5,635	291	6,104
28	La Grande	13,380	281	2,755
29	St. Helens	13,779	279	1,421
30	Dallas	16,612	278	2,242
31	Sutherlin	8,060	277	2,563
32	Brookings	6,475	276	2,020
33	Baker City	9,786	263	2,612
34	Tualatin	27,601	261	4,203
35	Prineville	10,429	250	1,459
36	Pendleton	16,685	250	4,082
37	Stayton	8,199	245	2,499
38	Tillamook	5,308	226	3,726
39	Sweet Home	9,763	219	3,948
40	Molalla	9,224	216	1,385
41	Corvallis	58,612	207	3,866
42	Gladstone	12,316	201	3,047
43	Sherwood	19,745	199	2,423
44	Keizer	39,408	195	2,765
45	Albany	54,442	188	2,951
46	Lebanon	17,144	180	1,434
47	Monmouth	10,411	180	1,654
48	Redmond	31,359	165	2,303
49	Ashland	21,138	165	2,601
50	Independence	10,178	164	1,611

Methodology

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