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Crime Rates In Montana

There is a lot of good news regarding crime. Nationally, crime has been trending downward for decades. According to FBI crime data, violent crime is dropping dramatically across the country.

The US is a big country, and crime levels can vary widely by location. Even just looking at Montana crime rates, cities like Billings, Helena, and Bozeman can differ significantly. Let’s take a closer look at crime specifically in Montana, see how it compares to national levels, and share tips on how to protect yourself.

Montana Crime Rates

Montana Compared to National Averages

Unfortunately, law enforcement reports have Montana violent crime ranked above the national average. Montana ranked 16th for the highest violent crime rate in the nation, at 418 per 100,000 in 2022, a drop from 11th, at 470 per 100,000 in 2021. Maine has the lowest violent crime rate for any US state.

Aggravated assault makes up the majority of violent crimes in every state, and according to crime statistics, Montana is 10th in the nation. Montana is very low in two of the other major crimes, however, coming in at 43rd for robberies and tied for 32nd in murder rate.

In 2023, Montana’s property crime rate was 1833.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, down from 1919 in 2022 and right around the national average. Most of these property crimes are larceny, such as shoplifting; trailing way behind is motor vehicle theft.

Of cities in Montana with accurately reported data, Missoula had the highest violent crime, with a total of 310 incidents, followed by Great Falls with 302. Billings, however, was found to be overreporting violent crime in the FBI’s methodology, highlighting the importance of looking closely at Montana crime rates.

Montana property crime stays consistent in these rankings; Billings had the highest with 4,449 property crimes, followed by Great Falls and Missoula at just over 3,000 each, giving a clear picture of Montana crime rates across the state.

Montana Crime Rates
View of Missoula from Mount Sentinel, in Missoula, Montana.

Avoiding Crime

Even though crime is down across the board, none of us want to be victims. Understanding Montana crime rates can help you stay aware and take precautions. The best way to avoid being a victim is simply paying attention. Most crimes are crimes of opportunity, so do your best not to present one.

If you must travel through areas with higher crime, do so in groups—strength in numbers is real. Even in generally safe areas, staying aware of your surroundings is essential.

A sound home security system goes a long way toward preventing break-ins, which are already rare in Montana. Simple, obvious steps like these are the most effective at keeping you safe from crime.

Big Sky Country is fortunate to be relatively safe for most people, at least in terms of crime. There is a lot of wilderness to get lost in that presents its own danger.

Ultimately, we are safer from crime than we have ever been. Crime rates have been consistently falling for decades, even as we’ve become more aware of the crimes that happen.

Taking obvious steps to protect yourself like locking doors, being aware of your surroundings, avoiding risky situations, and using basic safety measures will keep you generally safe from most crimes and greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

While The Advocates is not a criminal law firm, your safety is important to us. We want you to take steps to stay protected in your daily life. However, if you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident, we are here to guide you through the aftermath. After an accident, you deserve more than just legal representation. After an accident, you deserve an empathetic law firm that puts you first.

You deserve an Advocate.