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D

Is Bemidji, Minnesota Safe?

Population 15,770 · Safer than 19% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Crime in Bemidji runs high. The city's D grade puts it below 81% of US cities, with violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,662 per 100K.

Bemidji Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricBemidjiMinnesota AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate390.1323.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2212.62036.71,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate289.0--268.2
Theft Rate1662.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate489.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD

260.3 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

390/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2213/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Bemidji

Violent crime in Bemidji is close to the national average. The rate of 390.1 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2212.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,662 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Bemidji Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault289
01.1x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery85
01.3x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary267
099% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,662
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft489
01.5x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Bemidji Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Bemidji
390.1
State
323.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Bemidji
2212.6
State
2036.7
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bemidji Safety

Is Bemidji safe?
Not especially. Bemidji earns a D with a crime rate of 260.3 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Bemidji?
260.3 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 390.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2212.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Bemidji safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Bemidji's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,662 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Bemidji?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Bemidji generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Bemidji police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Bemidji?
No. Crime in Bemidji has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Bemidji compare to other cities in Minnesota?
Below average for the state. Bemidji ranks behind about 82% of Minnesota cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Bemidji to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Bemidji?
Bad. A D grade and 260.3 per-thousand rate put Bemidji below 81% of US cities. Violent crime at 390 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Bemidji?
390.1 per 100,000, which is 7% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (289), robbery (85), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

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View all Minnesota city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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