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C

Is Big Lake, Minnesota Safe?

Population 12,929 · Safer than 36% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Big Lake is a smaller community of 12,929 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs close to the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 212.8 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,573 per 100K.

Big Lake Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricBig LakeMinnesota AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate370.7323.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1757.22036.71,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate306.0--268.2
Theft Rate1573.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate177.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

212.8 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC-

371/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1757/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Big Lake

Violent crime in Big Lake is close to the national average. The rate of 370.7 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1757.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,573 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Assault is notable at 306 per 100K, above the national 268.2.

Big Lake Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault306
01.1x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery86
01.4x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary314
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,573
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft177
056% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Big Lake Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Big Lake
370.7
State
323.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Big Lake
1757.2
State
2036.7
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Big Lake Safety

Is Big Lake safe?
Not especially. Big Lake earns a C with a crime rate of 212.8 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 Big Lake?
212.8 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 370.7 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1757.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Big Lake safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Big Lake has a C grade, so it's not the safest destination, but tourist areas generally see less violent crime than the citywide average suggests.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Big Lake?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Big Lake generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Big Lake police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Big Lake?
No. Crime in Big Lake has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Big Lake compare to other cities in Minnesota?
Below average for the state. Big Lake ranks behind about 73% of Minnesota cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Big Lake 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 Big Lake?
Mixed. Violent crime is close to the national average, and property crime is close to the national average. It's not great, but it's not the worst either, landing at the 36th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Big Lake?
370.7 per 100,000, which is 2% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (306), robbery (86), and murder (3.0) 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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