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.

Coos Bay Population: 16,326 964 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.64 chance of being a victim: 1 in 104 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,355

Coos Bay, OR holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Oregon with 964 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (717), robbery (108), rape (133) and homicide (6) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 195% 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: 650,380 715 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.96 chance of being a victim: 1 in 140 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,576

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 715 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 140 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Ontario Population: 11,031 672 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.84 chance of being a victim: 1 in 149 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,965

Home to 11,031 residents, Ontario, OR ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Oregon. Unfortunately for residents of Ontario, crime is widespread, with more than 672 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.84 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 106% higher than the Oregon violent crime rate.

Klamath Falls Population: 21,509 581 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.59 chance of being a victim: 1 in 172 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,215

With a violent crime rate that is 78% 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 (92), assault (441), rape (48) 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.

Prineville Population: 10,429 525 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.44 chance of being a victim: 1 in 191 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,658

The ongoing battle with crime in Prineville, 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 525 and a 1 in 191 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Prineville has a violent crime rate that is 61% 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 Prineville.

Lincoln City Population: 9,007 469 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.28 chance of being a victim: 1 in 213 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,750

Lincoln City, OR comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 469 per 100,000 people, which is 44% higher than the Oregon average. Lincoln City has a population of 9,007, which translates to 1.28 crimes per day and 1 in 213 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 Lincoln City which are much safer than others.

Astoria Population: 9,929 462 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 216 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,096

A 1 in 216 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.27 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Astoria makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 462 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 42% higher than the Oregon average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (305), robbery (29), rape (128) and homicide (0).

Salem Population: 171,806 448 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.23 chance of being a victim: 1 in 223 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,651

Salem, OR is another one of the most dangerous cities in Oregon and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 171,806 and a violent crime rate of 448 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 329 counts of assault, 99 counts of robbery, 15 counts of rape and 5 counts of homicide. All told, the Salem violent crime rate is 37% higher than the Oregon average.

Forest Grove Population: 24,847 425 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.16 chance of being a victim: 1 in 235 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,851

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, Forest Grove, OR comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Oregon with a violent crime rate of 425 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.16 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 235 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

La Grande Population: 13,380 418 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.15 chance of being a victim: 1 in 239 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,523

Rounding out our list at #10 is La Grande, OR. With a population of 13,380 and a violent crime rate of 418 per 100,000 people (28% higher than the Oregon average), some parts of La Grande are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 251 counts of assault, 23 counts of robbery, 144 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 239 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	Coos Bay	16,326	964	6,355
2	Portland	650,380	715	6,576
3	Ontario	11,031	672	4,965
4	Klamath Falls	21,509	581	3,215
5	Prineville	10,429	525	1,658
6	Lincoln City	9,007	469	3,750
7	Astoria	9,929	462	3,096
8	Salem	171,806	448	3,651
9	Forest Grove	24,847	425	1,851
10	La Grande	13,380	418	2,523
11	Grants Pass	37,938	400	4,001
12	Medford	82,098	400	4,245
13	Gresham	110,456	385	3,381
14	Seaside	6,811	371	5,801
15	The Dalles	15,518	359	3,592
16	Cottage Grove	10,302	353	1,978
17	Eugene	170,457	348	3,545
18	Warrenton	5,635	344	5,347
19	Roseburg	23,237	330	4,720
20	Woodburn	26,008	329	2,945
21	Springfield	62,729	317	3,061
22	Pendleton	16,685	316	4,493
23	Milton-Freewater	7,044	311	2,137
24	St. Helens	13,779	294	1,322
25	Hillsboro	108,026	292	2,795
26	Tigard	54,149	289	3,605
27	Sutherlin	8,060	288	2,360
28	Brookings	6,475	281	1,538
29	Sweet Home	9,763	274	3,595
30	Hermiston	17,512	273	4,047
31	Beaverton	98,567	272	2,368
32	Newport	10,767	248	3,047
33	Keizer	39,408	247	2,336
34	Dallas	16,612	242	2,337
35	Oregon City	37,057	232	1,824
36	North Bend	9,708	226	3,657
37	McMinnville	34,466	226	2,179
38	Cornelius	12,767	222	1,559
39	Umatilla	7,215	219	1,741
40	Tillamook	5,308	210	3,206
41	Redmond	31,359	206	2,256
42	Tualatin	27,601	205	3,218
43	Stayton	8,199	196	1,836
44	Gladstone	12,316	193	1,839
45	Albany	54,442	193	2,267
46	Corvallis	58,612	189	3,084
47	Bend	97,032	184	1,773
48	Molalla	9,224	178	809
49	Independence	10,178	173	1,251
50	Central Point	18,648	171	1,482

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.