The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Minnesota For 2022


We used data and science to identify the most dangerous cities in the North Star State for 2022.

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Water is the 3rd leading cause of injury death in the world and Minnesota is The Land of 10,000 Lakes; but, folks, there is something more dangerous in this Midwest State.

That's right. Minnesota has super dangerous cities; and lucky for you, RoadSnacks is here to tell you just where the most dangerous places in Minnesota for 2022 are located.

How'd we do it? We consulted the numbers. In total, we analyzed 120 cities. We looked at the FBI's latest crime report for violent crime and property crime statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. We discovered that Minnesota's violent and property crime numbers, while not the worst in the country, could be better.

If you asked most Minnesotans, they would say that their little corner of this flyover state is the best, but that's not the case for the people who live in Minnesota's most dangerous places. The residents in these places are not only witnessing high crime, they are dealing with unemployment, low wages, and lack of rehabilitation programs. This is shocking because Minnesota is the second wealthiest state in the country. (The trickle down effect must be stopping after Minnesota's best cities are taken care of...)

And while Minnesota might not be one of the top ten most dangerous states in the country, the state's most dangerous places do need some work. Maybe more police? Security cameras? Drug programs? We're not entirely sure. One thing that we are sure about, however, is that you should take a look below at the list of Minnesota's most dangerous places before you make any life changing decisions.

Yes, there are about 185 police officers per 100,000 residents in Minnesota, but they just can't be everywhere. So, smaller Minnesota cities like Bemidji and Brainerd are starting to suffer the consequences. But, the place that's getting hit the worst, is Minnesota's most dangerous place, Bemidji.

To see how your city faired, take a look at the list below; and if you don't find what you're looking for there, head to the bottom.

Learn more about the safest places in Minnesota.

If you're looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.

For more Minnesota reading, check out:

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Minnesota For 2022

The home of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, Bemidji gained some fame for being the location of Netflix's Fargo.

It turns out, the crime dramedy actually let Bemidji off easy when it comes to crime rates, seeing as the real city ranks as the most dangerous in Minnesota. Folks in Bemidji had a 1 in 13 chance of being the victim of a property crime over 2020, so watch your wallet, or you'll be saying "oh, jeez" before you know it.

On top of that, Bemidji had the third highest violent crime rate in Minnesota, with an aggravated assault going down more than once a week, on average.

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 15,567
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 603 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 7,329 (Third most dangerous)
More on Bemidji:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Bemidji, MN

When it comes to the Twin Cities, Minneapolis comes in as the naughtier sibling. Take our advice and buddy up in the City of Lakes, because, with an average of almost one murder a week, Minneapolis has the third highest murder rate in Minnesota.

On top of that, Minneapolis had the ninth highest rate of rape cases in the state. Overall, residents had a 1 in 86 shot of being the victim of a violent crime.

Even your home is unsafe in Minneapolis, considering the city had the highest burglary rate statewide.

Still, if you stick to one of Minneapolis's safest neighborhoods and use good judgment, you shouldn't have to worry.

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 435,116
Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,154 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,558 (Ninth most dangerous)
More on Minneapolis:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Minneapolis, MN

Located just south of St. Paul, West Paul is a city of 20,007 jammed into five square miles. So it kind of makes sense that West St. Paul had the second highest property crime rate, with residents facing a 1 in 12 chance of having their stuff stolen or damaged.

Violent crime wasn't so bad in West St. Paul, overall. However, the city did have the fifth highest murder rate. So don't stay out late at St. Clair Park by yourself.

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 20,007
Rank Last Year: 4 (Up 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 434 (11th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 7,792 (Second most dangerous)
More on West St. Paul:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

West St. Paul, MN

Like its Twin City, St. Paul is a victim of simply being a big city. Hey, when you have loads of fun neighborhoods and great things to do, more people are going to wander through and inflate your crime numbers.

Still, Minnesota's capital city has come crime numbers that are hard to ignore. Like residents having a 1 in 133 chance of being the victim of a violent crime over a year. Or about two murders a month going down, which works out to the seventh highest murder rate in Minnesota.

And while property crime isn't too bad in St. Paul, it still has higher rates of car theft and arson than Minneapolis, with 2,829 stolen cars and 225 arson cases recorded in 2020.

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 309,859
Rank Last Year: 6 (Up 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 748 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,802 (12th most dangerous)
More on St. Paul:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

St. Paul, MN

Even though Waite Park only occupies the #5 position on this list, it has the highest overall crime rate in Minnesota, outstripping the national average by 300%.

How'd that happen? Well, Waite Park has the highest property crime rate by a significant margin. On average, two cars a month are stolen in Waite Park -- quite often for a city of just 7,812.

On the bright side, most of the other property crimes are just larcenies, which makes sense for a spot with so much retail. Still, we didn't rank it among the worst places to live in Minnesota for no reason.

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 7,812
Rank Last Year: 3 (Down 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 332 (17th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 10,112 (Most dangerous)
More on Waite Park:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Waite Park, MN

The county seat of Crow Wing County, Brainerd is known for its awesome lakes. Unfortunately, it's also known for high rates of violent crime.

For starters, Brainerd had about 1.5 rape cases per month over 2020, giving it the highest rate of rape cases in Minnesota. Overall, residents had a 1 in 191 shot of being violently attacked over the year.

Some of that's due to a fairly regular stream of tourists, but it doesn't change the fact that a lot of crime goes down relative to Brainerd's native population.

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 13,417
Rank Last Year: 8 (Up 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 521 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,644 (14th most dangerous)
More on Brainerd:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Brainerd, MN

Known as the Queen City of the North, Virginia's kingdom is plagued by high crime rates. For starters, Virginia had the 12th highest burglary rate in Minnesota.

But it's the violent crime that makes it unsafe to stay out at Olcott Park after the sun goes down.

Virginia had the 26th highest rate of rape cases statewide, a big contributor to the city's ranking as the fourth most violent place in Minnesota.

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 8,337
Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 539 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,514 (17th most dangerous)
More on Virginia:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Virginia, MN

So the other Brooklyn is just across the bridge from Manhattan -- one of the most iconic urban areas in the country. Brooklyn Center sits just north of Minneapolis. Sure, that's the largest metro area in Minnesota... but not quite the same thing.

Still, this suburb has its charms, from golf courses to parks along the Mississippi River. However, it also has its drawbacks. And, no, we aren't talking about the arctic winters. Rather, Brooklyn Center has a high crime rate. This includes 200 car thefts and 44 robberies in a population of 30,744 people.

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 30,744
Rank Last Year: 12 (Up 4)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 481 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,607 (16th most dangerous)
More on Brooklyn Center:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Brooklyn Center, MN

Here's another Minneapolis suburb that makes this list. Fridley sits just north of the big city. The community is built along the Mississippi River, which gives it some charming features, like parks by the water. This being Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes, you'll find a lake in town too -- Moore Lake.

Just don't go strolling by the river late at night. Robberies represent a real problem in the community, with 32 such crimes in a population of 27,892. The rates for car thefts and larcenies are also high.

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 27,892
Rank Last Year: 13 (Up 4)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 340 (16th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,589 (Eighth most dangerous)
More on Fridley:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Fridley, MN

Poor Minneapolis. The area surrounding the city dominates this list. Here, yet again, sits another of the state's most dangerous areas.

Roseville lies to the northeast of the city center, about 15 minutes from downtown. The community itself began building up in the 1940s and saw massive growth in the 1950s and 1960s. Lately, the area's history has become more troubled. Violence remains relatively rare, but property crime rates have reached epidemic proportions. This includes 283 burglaries and 59 robberies in a population of 36,675. Roseville suffers a large number of car thefts as well.

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 36,675
Rank Last Year: 16 (Up 6)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 316 (21st most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,462 (Fourth most dangerous)
More on Roseville:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Roseville, MN

Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Minnesota for 2022?

Every year the FBI release two crime datasets, a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in the country, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.

For our analysis, we focused on the JUST released 2020 data, specifically the 2020 Crime In The United States Report. We will update the results when data becomes available in September 2022.

So what criteria did we use? Have a look:

  • Violent Crimes Per Capita
  • Property Crimes Per Capita

In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Minnesota cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 120 cities in Minnesota.

We then ranked each city from 1 to 120 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.

Next, we averaged the two rankings into one "Dangerous Index".

Finally, we ranked every city on the "Dangerous Index" with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Minnesota -- Bemidji. Any ties went to the smaller city. You can download the data here.

Most Dangerous Places To Live In Minnesota FAQs

Is Minnesota a dangerous state?

No, Minnesota is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #19 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in minnesota ranks 38th highest in the United States -- 28.45% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the North Star State ranks 20th highest in the United States -- 8.51% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.

Is Minneapolis, MN a dangerous city?

Yes, Minneapolis is a dangerous city. Minneapolis ranks as the #20 most dangerous out of 320 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Minneapolis might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Linden Hills is the safest in Minneapolis, while Hawthorne is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.

Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Minneapolis ranks 24th highest in America -- 110.39% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 27th highest in the United States -- 71.63% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is 'dangerous'. Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.

Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In Minnesota

Most Dangerous Cities In Minnesota Graph

Click To Enlarge

Summary: Locking It All Up In Minnesota

So what is the most dangerous city in Minnesota? After analyzing 120 cities in Minnesota, Bemidji takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Minnesota based on the most recently reported FBI data -- 2020.

The latest FBI crime data shows that Bemidji ranks as the most dangerous city in Minnesota for 2022.

We want to point out again that there's still safes places in Bemidji and that this isn't a comment on the people that live there. So please don't beat us up.

Yes, there are about 185 police officers per 100,000 residents in Minnesota, but they just can't be everywhere. So, smaller Minnesota cities like Bemidji and Brainerd are starting to suffer the consequences. But, the place that's getting hit the worst, is Minnesota's most dangerous place, Bemidji.

To see how your city faired, take a look at the list below; and if you don't find what you're looking for there, head to the bottom.

Learn more about the safest places in Minnesota.

If you're looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.

Here are the safest cities in Minnesota:

  1. Chaska (Pop. 27,353)
  2. Orono (Pop. 20,387)
  3. South Lake Minnetonka (Pop. 12,867)
  4. Dayton (Pop. 6,958)
  5. St. Joseph (Pop. 7,448)
  6. Minnetrista (Pop. 10,738)
  7. West Hennepin (Pop. 5,995)
  8. Rosemount (Pop. 25,597)
  9. Cold Spring/Richmond (Pop. 5,791)
  10. Corcoran (Pop. 6,352)

For more Minnesota reading, check out:

Crime By City In Minnesota

Rank City Population Violent Crimes Per Capita Property Crimes Per Capita
1 Bemidji 15,567 603 7,329
2 Minneapolis 435,116 1,154 4,558
3 West St. Paul 20,007 434 7,792
4 St. Paul 309,859 748 3,802
5 Waite Park 7,812 332 10,112
6 Brainerd 13,417 521 3,644
7 Virginia 8,337 539 3,514
8 Brooklyn Center 30,744 481 3,607
9 Fridley 27,892 340 4,589
10 Roseville 36,675 316 6,462
11 Maplewood 41,096 323 4,625
12 Spring Lake Park 6,978 515 3,210
13 Brooklyn Park 80,897 432 3,406
14 Willmar 19,901 472 2,909
15 Duluth 85,555 300 3,768
16 Columbia Heights 21,291 469 2,785
17 Moorhead 44,132 428 2,952
18 Alexandria 13,978 379 2,940
19 Bloomington 85,159 312 3,392
20 Fergus Falls 13,834 274 3,635
21 Red Wing 16,304 251 2,999
22 Robbinsdale 14,437 443 2,071
23 Fairmont 9,964 351 1,816
24 Albert Lea 17,599 198 2,767
25 Crystal 22,987 269 2,231
26 Burnsville 61,445 244 2,538
27 Baxter 8,447 142 4,131
28 Mankato 43,276 249 2,387
29 Forest Lake 21,230 178 2,859
30 Little Falls 8,682 218 2,487
31 St. Anthony 9,095 197 2,671
32 Anoka 17,593 329 1,699
33 Hopkins 18,568 215 2,418
34 Hermantown 9,661 113 4,699
35 Faribault 23,958 254 1,940
36 Inver Grove Heights 35,861 242 2,136
37 Sauk Rapids 14,300 195 2,251
38 New Hope 20,970 166 2,694
39 Winona 26,487 169 2,578
40 Detroit Lakes 9,352 160 2,726
41 North St. Paul 12,591 174 2,438
42 St. Louis Park 49,058 128 3,006
43 Rochester 120,336 249 1,922
44 South St. Paul 20,053 169 2,493
45 Waseca 8,805 204 1,976
46 New Brighton 22,843 157 2,692
47 Coon Rapids 63,162 191 2,183
48 Austin 25,267 277 1,591
49 Oakdale 27,990 114 3,344
50 Morris 5,339 224 1,741

How Is Your Town In ?

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our ninth time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Minnesota and is updated for 2022.

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.