Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Minnesota

Minnesota, famous for its beautiful lakes and friendly people, also includes cities where crime worries officials. Although most neighborhoods are safe and comfortable, some cities have been reporting more theft, burglary, assault, and similar crimes.

In this article, we will examine the most dangerous cities in Minnesota, how to evaluate the riskiness of different neighborhoods, and tips for keeping safe.

Is Minnesota Dangerous?

Minnesota is considered to be an averagely safe state. Even though Minnesota's crime rate is close to the national average, some cities in the state report much higher crime rates. Only 2.5 violent crimes take place per every thousand people in Minnesota, which is below the national standard of 4.0. Despite this, urban areas have more property crimes, which boosts the crime rate in these cities.

In Minnesota, some cities are growing safer because of better police work and community participation, but some still struggle with crime. Cities usually have the highest number of reported crimes if we follow yearly crime trends.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Minnesota

These are the top 10 most dangerous cities in Minnesota, with the most total reported crimes for every 1,000 residents.

Waite Park

Waite Park, home to 7,719 individuals, has the highest crime rate among the cities on the list, at 73.77 events per 1,000 residents. Even though violence in neighborhoods isn't a major issue, nearly 7000 property crimes for every 100,000 residents are measured against other small cities.

Bemidji

A total of 6,615 crimes happen out of 100,000 residents in Bemidji, or 66.15 crimes per 1,000 local people. This city's crime rate is higher with violence, so better safety measures should be developed.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis, Minnesota, has a population of 424536, and the total crime rate there is 63.84 crimes per 1,000 people. In the city, there are about 1,132 crimes involving violence for 100,000 people. Most of these are caused by assaults, robberies, and shootings in specific areas.

Roseville

There are 60.42 crimes per 1,000 people in Roseville, with a population of 36,139. Its suburban nature does not stop it from having high theft and burglary rates which helped put it on this list.

West St. Paul

There are 43.98 crimes reported for every 1,000 people in West St. Paul, home to 19,805 people. There is less violent crime in the city compared to some, yet property crime is still an issue.

Bloomington

Bloomington's population of 85,226 results in a per 1,000 level of 42.32. Over the years, this city has reported plenty of theft, shoplifting, and, now and then, violent incidents.

St. Cloud

In St. Cloud, home to 68,390 people, the crime rate is 38.10 per 1,000. The city has tried to lower crime rates, but burglary and car theft remain problems.

St. Paul

St. Paul's population is 305,877, and the crime rate in the city is 37.14 crimes per 1,000 people. Because violent crime happens more often in the city than in the country, people and organizations here are making efforts to stop it.

Fridley

Fridley is a suburb of Minneapolis that has 27,789 residents and reported 36.86 crimes per 1,000 residents. Burglary and theft happen more frequently in the city than violent crimes.

Maplewood

Last on our list is Maplewood, which hosts a population of 40,684 and sees 34.69 crimes for every 1,000 residents. While this list might not be as expensive, commercial zones are still dealing with some obstacles.

How to Determine the Most Dangerous Cities in Minnesota?

Analysts study several important factors to determine the most dangerous cities in Minnesota.

• Count the crimes per 1,000 people, mixing those caused by violence with those related to property, to see how cities compare with each other.

• The seriousness of homicide, aggravated assault, and armed robbery matters more in crime statistics than minor thefts.

• Check the size of the city because sometimes, due to more incidents, small towns can have high crime rates.

• Analyze crime rates over periods, as places that see increasing or continuously high rates of crime are watched more carefully.

• By looking at reports sent to the FBI and other databases, accuracy in the rankings is improved.

• If residents or newcomers know about these elements, they can easily pick a safe area.

How to Stay Safe in Dangerous Cities in Minnesota?

Cities with high crime rates still have ways for people to keep themselves and their friends and families secure when living in the top 10 most dangerous cities in Minnesota.

• Check your surroundings often, particularly when it's dark or if you are somewhere you are unfamiliar with.
• Using the motion tracking camera - Reolink Trackmix, you can observe your location live, be alerted when motion is detected, and talk through the device to force an intruder to leave.
• Local apps and watching over your community can make the place safer for everyone.
• Don't forget to lock your car and doors since most thefts happen by chance.
• If certain spots record extra crime, plan well and be more cautious if you have to be there.
• You can lower your risks a lot with proper approaches and good practices wherever you live.

FAQs

What City in Minnesota Has the Highest Crime Rate?

Right now, Waite Park leads Minnesota with the highest total crime, at 73.77 crimes per 1,000 residents, which is largely caused by property crime.

What is the Safest City in Minnesota?

St. Paul Park is the safest city here in Minnesota, with only 689 crimes for 100,000 residents. However, it is a small city with a population of just over 5000.

Conclusion

Minnesota includes safe cities as well as cities facing problems with crime. More incidents occur in Minnesota's most dangerous cities, including Minneapolis and St. Paul, since they are busy cities and face financial challenges and twice as many people. Yet, when looking at per capita numbers, smaller cities, including Waite Park and Bemidji, appear with some of the highest crime rates, which tend to be related to property crimes.