The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In North Dakota For 2022


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

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In North Dakota it's a given that you have to watch out for unruly mountain lions in Williston and temperatures that could freeze an egg on a sidewalk in Parshall, but did you know that you also have to watch out for the state's most dangerous places?

That's right. There really are dangerous places in North Dakota. Some might say it's because North Dakota's frigid temperatures make people angry, some might say the state needs to offer better jobs with competitive salaries, and some might say that it's just people being people; any way you look at it, the numbers don't lie, And lucky for you, RoadSnacks is here to tell you the top ten most dangerous places in the Peace Garden State for 2022.

How'd we determine the most dangerous places in North Dakota? We consulted the numbers. In total, we analyzed 21 cities. We looked at the FBI's latest crime report for violent crime and property crime statistics for every place with over 2,000 residents.

We discovered a couple of things. One, the residents of North Dakota should not be too shocked by this considering they are one of the top 25 most dangerous state in the country. Two, the state's violent crime and property crime numbers have left the national average in the dust.in a bad way. And three, you should probably take a look at our list before you make in life changing decisions.

Have we piqued your interest? Want to know more about our methodology and where the most dangerous places in North Dakota are located? Keep reading.

The Most Dangerous Cities In North Dakota For 2022

  1. Fargo
  2. Devils Lake
  3. Mandan
  4. Wahpeton
  5. Williston
  6. Bismarck
  7. Grand Forks
  8. Jamestown
  9. Valley City
  10. Minot

North Dakota is the fastest growin state in the U.S., but the population influx in some of these cities has been accompanied by a rapid growth in crime. North Dakota still has less crime than most states, but a handful of its cities, including the capital, are more dangerous than others.

So, what's the most dangerous place in North Dakota? That would be, Fargo.

Take a look at the list below to see the rest of North Dakota's most dangerous places.

Learn more about the safest places in North Dakota.

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 North Dakota reading, check out:

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In North Dakota For 2022

Best-known from the Coen brothers' movie about a crime gone wrong, Fargo has plenty of real crime going on, considering it's the most dangerous city in North Dakota for 2022.

Fargo averaged one car theft each day over 2020 and maintained the second highest burglary rate in North Dakota. We just hope nobody combines those crimes and pulls an airplane heist of the Fargo Air Museum.

Overall, residents had a 1 in 28 chance of being the victim of a property crime and a 1 in 217 chance of being the victim of a violent crime. That includes the fourth highest rate of rape cases and the fourth highest murder rate in North Dakota -- oh jeez.

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 126,927
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 460 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,468 (Third most dangerous)
More on Fargo:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Fargo, ND

Located in northeastern North Dakota, Devils Lake experienced a solid rise in violent crime over the last year.

Unfortunately, a lot of that is down to Devils Lake having the highest rate of rape cases in North Dakota.

Devils Lake also has the second highest overall crime rate in North Dakota, beating out the national average by a good margin. That's because Devils Lake had the second highest property crime rate statewide, with residents facing a 1 in 27 chance of having their stuff stolen or damaged over 2020.

So while the eponymous Devils Lake offers a lot of outdoor fun, you should make sure to keep a close eye on your valuables while you're out there.

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 7,339
Rank Last Year: 4 (Up 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 367 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,665 (Second most dangerous)
More on Devils Lake:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Devils Lake, ND

Located across the Missouri River from Bismarck, Mandan ranks as North Dakota's third most dangerous place to call home.

Mandan is home to Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, but we think honest Abe would be rolling over in his grave if he saw how much crime was going down here. Mandan had the fifth highest murder rate and the fifth highest rate of rape cases in North Dakota.

Additionally, Mandan reported 980 property crimes in 2020 -- definitely not something to be proud of.

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 23,221
Rank Last Year: 2 (Down 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 357 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,220 (Most dangerous)
More on Mandan:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Mandan, ND

Wahpeton may have the world's largest catfish, but it also has the fourth largest crime problem in North Dakota for 2022.

Located an hour south of Fargo, Wahpeton had the 14th highest murder rate statewide. Other than that, though, Wahpeton is the least violent place on this list.

On the other hand, Wahpeton residents had a 1 in 37 chance of being the victim of a property crime over 2020. That includes the third highest burglary rate in North Dakota, so invest in a good security system if you're living in Wahpeton.

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 7,731
Rank Last Year: 9 (Up 5)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 362 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,638 (Fifth most dangerous)
More on Wahpeton:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Wahpeton, ND

Williston experienced a slight drop in its crime rates to change this many spots on this list from last year, but things are still far from perfect. Located in the northwestern part of the state, Williston is the second fastest growing city in North Dakota, and it seems local authorities are struggling to keep up.

Like the first couple cities on this list, Williston's biggest issue is violent crime -- residents had a 1 in 267 shot of being violently attacked over 2020. Once again, that includes rape and murder rates that both place in the top five statewide.

You should also watch your valuables when you're out at Fort Union Trading Post because property crime rates in Williston rank as the eighth highest in North Dakota.

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 31,046
Rank Last Year: 3 (Down 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 373 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,335 (Eighth most dangerous)
More on Williston:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Williston, ND

The capital and second biggest city in North Dakota, Bismarck has a lot to work on in the crime department.

While there are lions and tigers and bears at the Dakota Zoo, the really scary stuff is going down on Bismarck's streets.

Crime has stayed steady in Bismarck over the past year, but that's hardly good news when you have the sixth highest violent crime rate and the fourth highest property crime rate in the state.

Overall, Bismarck ranked in North Dakota's top ten for burglary, rape, and murder rates.

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 74,997
Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 346 (Sixth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,294 (Fourth most dangerous)
More on Bismarck:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Bismarck, ND

Grand Forks is the state's 3rd biggest city and home to the University of North Dakota. It's also the seventh most dangerous place to live in North Dakota.

Grand Forks is not the sort of place where you can leave your doors unlocked or your packages out on the porch for long, considering it had the eighth highest burglary rate in North Dakota.

Violent crime is also on the rise in Grand Forks. Residents had a 1 in 342 chance of finding themselves on the receiving end of a violent attack in 2020.

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 56,163
Rank Last Year: 6 (Down 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 292 (Eighth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,341 (Seventh most dangerous)
More on Grand Forks:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Grand Forks, ND

Source: Public domain

Jamestown is situated smack dab in the middle of Bismarck and Fargo on I-94. While not as dangerous as either of the big cities, Jamestown does have some issues with crime.

Like having the eighth highest rate of rape cases in North Dakota and ranking in the top ten for both property and violent crime.

So while you can enjoy the wholesome family-fun at Frontier Village, remember that the real Jamestown is a lot less safe than the historical recreation.

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 15,044
Rank Last Year: 10 (Up 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 232 (Tenth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,353 (Sixth most dangerous)
More on Jamestown:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Jamestown, ND

Located about an hour west of Fargo, Valley City is the smallest spot on this list, proving that tiny cities can be every bit as dangerous as big ones. Valley City saw a rise in violent crime over the year, leading to it having the ninth highest violent crime rate in North Dakota.

At the same time, property crime stayed level, which is nothing to brag about when you have the ninth highest property crime rate statewide. Here's hoping nobody breaks in to steal artifacts from the Barnes County Historical Society Museum.

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 6,288
Rank Last Year: 7 (Down 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 238 (Ninth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,972 (Ninth most dangerous)
More on Valley City:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Valley City, ND

Source: Public domain

This being North Dakota, there's not much around Minot. Still, even with its rural surroundings, if you happen to find yourself in town, you'll find a lot of attractions to keep you busy.

Located in the north-central part of the state, Minot provides the home of the Minot Air Force Base. Given this aviation focus, you'll also find the Dakota Territory Air Museum. But, wait, there's more: the town also boasts the Scandinavian Heritage Association, the Taube Museum of Art, and the North Dakota State Fair Center.

Unfortunately, you'll also run into a surprisingly high crime rate. This represents the number 10 most dangerous spot in North Dakota.

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 48,108
Rank Last Year: 11 (Up 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 322 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,662 (12th most dangerous)
More on Minot:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Minot, ND

Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in North Dakota 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 North Dakota cities over 2,000 in population. That left us with 21 cities in North Dakota.

We then ranked each city from 1 to 21 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 North Dakota -- Fargo. Any ties went to the smaller city. You can download the data here.

Most Dangerous Places To Live In North Dakota FAQs

Is North Dakota a dangerous state?

No, North Dakota is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #27 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in north dakota ranks 30th highest in the United States -- 15.16% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Peace Garden State ranks 2highest in the United States -- 8.47% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.

Is Fargo, ND a dangerous city?

Yes, Fargo is a dangerous city. Fargo ranks as the #98 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 Fargo might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are.

Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Fargo ranks 158th highest in America -- 16.18% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 75th highest in the United States -- 30.62% 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 North Dakota

Most Dangerous Cities In North Dakota Graph

Click To Enlarge

Summary: Locking It All Up In North Dakota

So what is the most dangerous city in North Dakota? After analyzing 21 cities in North Dakota, Fargo takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in North Dakota based on the most recently reported FBI data -- 2020.

The latest FBI crime data shows that Fargo ranks as the most dangerous city in North Dakota for 2022.

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

North Dakota is the fastest growin state in the U.S., but the population influx in some of these cities has been accompanied by a rapid growth in crime. North Dakota still has less crime than most states, but a handful of its cities, including the capital, are more dangerous than others.

So, what's the most dangerous place in North Dakota? That would be, Fargo.

Take a look at the list below to see the rest of North Dakota's most dangerous places.

Learn more about the safest places in North Dakota.

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 North Dakota:

  1. Dickinson (Pop. 23,801)
  2. Watford City (Pop. 9,309)
  3. West Fargo (Pop. 38,561)
  4. Lisbon (Pop. 2,041)
  5. Rugby (Pop. 2,561)
  6. Lincoln (Pop. 4,006)
  7. Stanley (Pop. 2,868)
  8. Beulah (Pop. 3,141)
  9. New Town (Pop. 2,677)
  10. Hazen (Pop. 2,298)

For more North Dakota reading, check out:

Crime By City In North Dakota

Rank City Population Violent Crimes Per Capita Property Crimes Per Capita
1 Fargo 126,927 460 3,468
2 Devils Lake 7,339 367 3,665
3 Mandan 23,221 357 4,220
4 Wahpeton 7,731 362 2,638
5 Williston 31,046 373 2,335
6 Bismarck 74,997 346 3,294
7 Grand Forks 56,163 292 2,341
8 Jamestown 15,044 232 2,353
9 Valley City 6,288 238 1,972
10 Minot 48,108 322 1,662
11 Grafton 4,143 217 1,520
12 Dickinson 23,801 163 1,915
13 Watford City 9,309 204 1,020
14 West Fargo 38,561 142 1,893
15 Lisbon 2,041 195 587
16 Rugby 2,561 39 1,444
17 Lincoln 4,006 149 449
18 Stanley 2,868 174 209
19 Beulah 3,141 0 668
20 New Town 2,677 74 373
21 Hazen 2,298 0 217

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 North Dakota 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.