The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In North Dakota


The most dangerous places in North Dakota are Fargo and Devils Lake for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

Most dangerous cities in North Dakota research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data using Saturday Night Science to determine the most dangerous cities in North Dakota.

We examined the violent and property crime per capita statistics for every place with over 2,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 22 North Dakota cities. Here are the results of our analysis:

  • The most dangerous city in North Dakota is Fargo based on the most recent FBI crime data.

  • The violent crime rate in North Dakota is 616 per 100k people.

  • The property crime rate in North Dakota is 4,147 per 100k people.

  • The safest city in North Dakota is Hazen.

  • North Dakota is the 24th most dangerous state in the United States.

Most Dangerous Cities In North Dakota Map


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Methodology | FAQs | References


In North Dakota, you have to watch out for unruly mountain lions in Williston and to make sure you haven’t taken a wrong exit into one the most dangerous places in North Dakota.

There really are dangerous places in North Dakota.

Some might say it’s because North Dakota’s frigid temperatures make people angry, or some might say the state needs to offer better jobs with competitive salaries. But we’ll put opinion aside and show you the top ten most dangerous places in the Peace Garden State for 2024 based on data.

We used Saturday Night Science to compare FBI data for violent and property crimes per capita in the 22 North Dakota cities with a population of 2,000.

The Most Dangerous Cities In North Dakota For 2024

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

What’s the most dangerous place in North Dakota? The most dangerous place in North Dakota is Fargo.

North Dakota is one of the fastest-growing state in the U.S., but the population influx in some of these cities has been accompanied by rapid growth in crime.

For more North Dakota reading, check out:

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In North Dakota For 2024

Fargo, ND

Source: Wikipedia User Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) | CC BY-SA 2.5

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 127,649
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 616 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,147 (Most dangerous)
Murders: 5
More on Fargo: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

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 2024.

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.

Devils Lake, ND

Source: Wikipedia User Andrew Filer from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) | CC BY-SA 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 7,212
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 485 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,062 (Second most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Devils Lake: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

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.

Watford City, ND

Source: Wikipedia User Andrew Filer from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) | CC BY-SA 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 5,513
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 507 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,231 (Seventh most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Watford City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

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.

Bismarck, ND

Source: Wikipedia User Bobak Ha’Eri | CC BY 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 74,604
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 309 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,363 (Fourth most dangerous)
Murders: 6
More on Bismarck: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

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, ND

Source: Wikipedia User Andrew Filer from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) | CC BY-SA 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 25,513
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 497 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,151 (Eighth most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on Williston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

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, ND

Source: Public domain

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 58,620
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 293 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,987 (Fifth most dangerous)
Murders: 2
More on Grand Forks: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

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.

Mandan, ND

Source: Wikipedia User afiler | CC BY-SA 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 24,666
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 235 (Tenth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,478 (Third most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on Mandan: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

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.

Dickinson, ND

Source: Wikipedia User Hans Andersen (talk) (Uploads) | GFDL

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 24,577
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 248 (Eighth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,733 (11th most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Dickinson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Located in Stark County, North Dakota, Dickinson is ranked as the eighth most dangerous place to live in the state for 2024. 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, ND

Source: Wikipedia User Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) | CC BY-SA 2.5

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 7,956
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 188 (14th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,287 (Sixth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Wahpeton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Wahpeton may have the world’s largest catfish, but it also has the ninth largest crime problem in North Dakota for 2024.

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, ND

Source: Wikipedia User LinkTiger | GFDL

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 15,772
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 228 (11th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,079 (Ninth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Jamestown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

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.

Crime By City In North Dakota

Rank City Population Total Crimes Per 100K Violent Crimes Per 100K Property Crimes Per 100K Murders
1 Fargo 127,649 4,763 616 4,147 5
2 Devils Lake 7,212 4,547 485 4,062 0
3 Watford City 5,513 2,738 507 2,231 0
4 Bismarck 74,604 3,672 309 3,363 6
5 Williston 25,513 2,649 497 2,151 1
6 Grand Forks 58,620 3,280 293 2,987 2
7 Mandan 24,666 3,713 235 3,478 1
8 Dickinson 24,577 1,981 248 1,733 0
9 Wahpeton 7,956 2,476 188 2,287 0
10 Jamestown 15,772 2,307 228 2,079 0
11 Minot 47,278 1,345 298 1,046 3
12 Grafton 4,117 1,530 242 1,287 0
13 Rugby 2,505 1,037 199 838 0
14 Valley City 6,547 1,909 152 1,756 0
15 West Fargo 39,987 1,470 182 1,287 0
16 Beulah 3,032 989 197 791 0
17 New Town 2,713 368 184 184 0
18 Lincoln 4,387 661 136 524 0
19 Lisbon 2,177 597 0 597 0
20 Carrington 2,029 295 98 197 1
21 Stanley 2,327 300 42 257 0
22 Hazen 2,271 132 0 132 0

Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in North Dakota for 2024?

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

For our analysis, we focused on the 2022 data, specifically the 2022 Crime In The United States Report for North Dakota.

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 22 cities in North Dakota.

We then ranked each city from 1 to 22 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.

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our tenth time ranking the most dangerous places to live in North Dakota and is updated for 2024.

Most Dangerous Places To Live In North Dakota FAQs

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 most dangerous in the United States — 11.03% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Peace Garden State ranks 2most dangerous in the United States — 8.68% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.

Yes, Fargo is a dangerous city. Fargo ranks as the #54 most dangerous out of 328 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 114th highest in America — 11.38% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 46th highest in the United States — 51.98% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 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 22 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 — 2022.

The latest FBI crime data shows that Fargo ranks as the most dangerous city in North Dakota for 2024.

The most dangerous cities in North Dakota are .

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.

What’s the most dangerous place in North Dakota? The most dangerous place in North Dakota is Fargo.

North Dakota is one of the fastest-growing state in the U.S., but the population influx in some of these cities has been accompanied by rapid growth in crime.

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. Rugby (Pop. 2,505)
  2. Valley City (Pop. 6,547)
  3. West Fargo (Pop. 39,987)
  4. Beulah (Pop. 3,032)
  5. New Town (Pop. 2,713)
  6. Lincoln (Pop. 4,387)
  7. Lisbon (Pop. 2,177)
  8. Carrington (Pop. 2,029)
  9. Stanley (Pop. 2,327)
  10. Hazen (Pop. 2,271)

For more North Dakota reading, check out:

References

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.

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