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.

Billings Population: 109,705 888 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.43 chance of being a victim: 1 in 113 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,487

Billings, MT holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Montana with 888 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (674), robbery (124), rape (83) and homicide (7) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 101% 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.

Polson Population: 5,033 868 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.38 chance of being a victim: 1 in 115 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,750

The second most dangerous city is Polson. With a population of 5,033 and a violent crime rate that is 96% higher than the Montana average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Polson are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 868 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 115 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Havre Population: 9,739 841 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.30 chance of being a victim: 1 in 119 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,800

Home to 9,739 residents, Havre, MT ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Montana. Unfortunately for residents of Havre, crime is widespread, with more than 841 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.30 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 90% higher than the Montana violent crime rate.

Helena Population: 32,655 676 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.85 chance of being a victim: 1 in 148 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,658

With a violent crime rate that is 53% 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 (32), assault (486), rape (158) 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 Helena more vulnerable to high crime.

Great Falls Population: 58,717 567 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.55 chance of being a victim: 1 in 176 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,242

The ongoing battle with crime in Great Falls, 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 567 and a 1 in 176 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Great Falls has a violent crime rate that is 28% 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 Great Falls.

Missoula Population: 74,994 548 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.50 chance of being a victim: 1 in 182 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,252

Missoula, MT comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 548 per 100,000 people, which is 24% higher than the Montana average. Missoula has a population of 74,994, which translates to 1.50 crimes per day and 1 in 182 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 Missoula which are much safer than others.

Sidney Population: 6,351 544 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.49 chance of being a victim: 1 in 184 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,120

A 1 in 184 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.49 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Sidney makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 544 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 23% higher than the Montana average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (511), robbery (0), rape (33) and homicide (0).

Lewistown Population: 5,923 538 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.47 chance of being a victim: 1 in 186 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,077

Lewistown, MT is another one of the most dangerous cities in Montana and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 5,923 and a violent crime rate of 538 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 392 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 147 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Lewistown violent crime rate is 22% higher than the Montana average.

Livingston Population: 7,696 524 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.44 chance of being a victim: 1 in 191 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,711

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, Livingston, MT comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Montana with a violent crime rate of 524 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.44 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 191 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Laurel Population: 6,797 486 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.33 chance of being a victim: 1 in 206 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,572

Rounding out our list at #10 is Laurel, MT. With a population of 6,797 and a violent crime rate of 486 per 100,000 people (10% higher than the Montana average), some parts of Laurel are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 473 counts of assault, 14 counts of robbery, 0 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 206 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	Billings	109,705	888	4,487
2	Polson	5,033	868	4,750
3	Havre	9,739	841	5,800
4	Helena	32,655	676	3,658
5	Great Falls	58,717	567	5,242
6	Missoula	74,994	548	4,252
7	Sidney	6,351	544	1,120
8	Lewistown	5,923	538	1,077
9	Livingston	7,696	524	2,711
10	Laurel	6,797	486	3,572
11	Kalispell	23,935	416	2,863
12	Columbia Falls	5,651	397	2,209
13	Bozeman	48,330	392	2,299
14	Glendive	5,030	376	815
15	Belgrade	9,184	276	1,721
16	Whitefish	8,032	179	1,484
17	Miles City	8,372	105	1,066

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

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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.