Gresham, OR Crime Rates

An Overview of Crime Rates in Gresham, OR

Crime can be categorized into two primary types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, whereas property crimes involve acts like burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. The overall crime rate in Gresham is 45.4% higher than the national average. Specifically, there were 485 violent crimes reported in Gresham, equivalent to 435 per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the national average by 17.5%. Additionally, Gresham recorded 3287 property crimes, amounting to 2946 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average by 50.7%.

Recently, vehicle thefts have seen an upward trend across the United States, and Gresham ranks among the cities with the highest vehicle theft rates in the country. Last year, there were 1149 vehicle thefts, amounting to 1030 stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents. This places Gresham within the worst 10% of all cities, indicating that 90% of cities fare better in terms of vehicle theft rates. The likelihood of your vehicle being stolen stands at 1 in 98.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Gresham?

AreaVibes conducted surveys inquiring about the safety perception of Gresham residents. Out of the respondents (44 in total), 25% expressed a strong sense of security, believing that crime rates in Gresham were low, and they felt comfortable walking alone at night. Conversely, 75% held a contrasting viewpoint, expressing concerns about safety in the area and feeling uncomfortable walking alone during the nighttime hours.

Is Gresham a Safe Place to Live?

Is Gresham a safe place to live? While the answer may not be straightforward due to variations in safety levels across the city, gaining an understanding of the overall crime rate can prove to be advantageous. In general, Gresham has a crime rate that is higher than the national average by 45%. Breaking this down on a daily basis, it translates to 10.33 daily incidents, encompassing 1.33 violent crimes and 9.01 property crimes. Evaluating these statistics can aid in forming a more informed perspective on the safety of Gresham as a potential place to call home.

Has Crime in Gresham Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime rates in Gresham has increased by 0.4% in the last reported crime report. Comparing crime rates from one year to another offers some insight into whether or not Gresham is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. Crime rates are categorized by violent and property crime. Year-over-year violent crime has decreased by 3%, while property crime has increased by 0.9%. This analysis equips individuals with crucial information for making informed decisions about living in Gresham.

Potential Causes for Crime in Gresham

The economic well-being of a city's residents plays a significant role in crime rates. High poverty rates and income inequality can lead to increased crime stats as individuals may resort to illegal activities to meet their basic needs. While lower rates could lead to a lower Gresham crime rate. The poverty level in Gresham is 16.1%, while the national average is 15.1%.

If employment opportunities are limited or if many jobs offer low wages, it can lead to higher rates of unemployment and underemployment, which could lead to an increase in Gresham crime rates. Areas where individuals struggle with unemployment or low wages, may be more susceptible to an increase in criminal activities as a result of financial insecurity. While lower rates of unemployment or a surplus of job opportunities could lead to a decrease in crime as their basic needs are being met. Gresham has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, compared to a national average of 4.7%.

In Gresham, the median home price stands at $318,300, diverging from the national average of $184,700. Elevated housing costs often induce financial strain among residents. When individuals grapple with the challenges of affording housing, they may find themselves compelled to resort to criminal activities as a means of addressing their financial hardships, including acts like theft or fraud. This predicament is particularly pronounced in areas where housing affordability poses a persistent issue, giving rise to heightened concerns regarding crime. In such instances, some individuals and families may find themselves constrained to reside in cramped or subpar housing conditions, exacerbating stress levels and potentially fostering domestic disputes and associated criminal incidents.

Gresham crime map