The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In North Dakota

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In North Dakota For 2023

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 2023.

Fargo averaged one car theft each day over 2022 and maintained the 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 24 chance of being the victim of a property crime and a 1 in 162 chance of being the victim of a violent crime. That includes the second highest rate of rape cases and the sixth highest murder rate in North Dakota — oh jeez.

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 24 chance of having their stuff stolen or damaged over 2022.

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.

The state’s oil boom over the past decade has caused Watford City’s population to soar by over 300% since 2010, making it the the fastest growing city in North Dakota. Obviously, the influx of people has made things less safe.

While you can’t see anything nefarious from the vista at River Bend Overlook, trust us when we tell you there’s a whole lot of crime going down in Watford City.

Violent crime fell last year, but it’s still the second most violent place in North Dakota. Residents had a 1 in 196 shot of being assaulted, raped, robbed, or murdered over 2022.

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 fifth 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.

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 200 shot of being violently attacked over 2022. 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.

Grand Forks is the state’s 3rd biggest city and home to the University of North Dakota. It’s also the sixth 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 second highest burglary rate in North Dakota.

Violent crime is also on the rise in Grand Forks. Residents had a 1 in 340 chance of finding themselves on the receiving end of a violent attack in 2022.

Located across the Missouri River from Bismarck, Mandan ranks as North Dakota’s seventh 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 fourth highest murder rate and the ninth highest rate of rape cases in North Dakota.

Additionally, Mandan reported 858 property crimes in 2022 — definitely not something to be proud of.

Located in Stark County, North Dakota, Dickinson is ranked as the eighth most dangerous place to live in the state for 2023. This ranking is based on various crime statistics, including a total of 61 violent crimes, including 0 murder cases, 10 rapes, 2 robberies, and 49 aggravated assaults.

While Dickinson may face challenges in terms of safety, it’s important to note that these statistics provide an opportunity for improvement. Dickinson has the potential to overcome these challenges and enhance its livability for its population of approximately 24,577 residents.

Wahpeton may have the world’s largest catfish, but it also has the ninth largest crime problem in North Dakota for 2023.

Located an hour south of Fargo, Wahpeton had the 15th 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 43 chance of being the victim of a property crime over 2022. That includes the sixth highest burglary rate in North Dakota, so invest in a good security system if you’re living in Wahpeton.

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 fifth 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.

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