CityCheck
CitiesSafetyAskPlan
D-

Is Cottage Grove, Minnesota Safe?

Population 43,604 · Safer than 12% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

With a violent crime rate above the national average, Cottage Grove faces real safety challenges. It earns a D- grade and ranks below 88% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,493 per 100K.

Cottage Grove Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricCottage GroveMinnesota AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate434.2323.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2416.22036.71,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate357.0--268.2
Theft Rate1493.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate498.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD-

285 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD

434/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2416/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Cottage Grove

Violent crime in Cottage Grove is above the national average. The rate of 434.2 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2416.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,493 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Assault is notable at 357 per 100K, above the national 268.2.

Cottage Grove Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault357
01.3x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery104
01.6x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary461
01.7x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,493
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft498
01.6x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Cottage Grove Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Cottage Grove
434.2
State
323.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Cottage Grove
2416.2
State
2036.7
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Cottage Grove Safety

Is Cottage Grove safe?
Not especially. Cottage Grove earns a D- with a crime rate of 285 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs above the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Cottage Grove?
285 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 434.2 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2416.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Cottage Grove safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Cottage Grove's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,493 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Cottage Grove?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Cottage Grove generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Cottage Grove police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Cottage Grove?
No. Crime in Cottage Grove has been trending down, which is good news for the D--rated city.
How does Cottage Grove compare to other cities in Minnesota?
Below average for the state. Cottage Grove ranks behind about 81% of Minnesota cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Cottage Grove to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is above the national average. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Cottage Grove?
Bad. A D- grade and 285 per-thousand rate put Cottage Grove below 88% of US cities. Violent crime at 434 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Cottage Grove?
434.2 per 100,000, which is 19% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (357), robbery (104), and murder (4.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Minnesota

Similar-sized communities in Minnesota. Compare crime rates across the state.

D-
See crime rates in Maplewood40,717 pop · Grade D-
D+
See crime rates in Mankato46,529 pop · Grade D+
C
See crime rates in Moorhead46,533 pop · Grade C
D+
See crime rates in Shakopee49,366 pop · Grade D+
D
See crime rates in St. Louis Park50,027 pop · Grade D
C
See crime rates in Inver Grove Heights36,873 pop · Grade C
View all Minnesota city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Cottage Grove

Get weekly safety updates for Cottage Grove

Weekly crime trend updates and safety grade changes delivered to your inbox.

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.

Know before you go

CityCheck covers safety grades, crime data, and things to do for every US city.

Explore cities