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C

Is Moorhead, Minnesota Safe?

Population 46,533 · Safer than 34% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Moorhead is a smaller community of 46,533 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs close to the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 217.1 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,196 per 100K.

Moorhead Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricMoorheadMinnesota AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate357.9323.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1812.82036.71,832.3
Murder Rate8.0--5.7
Assault Rate283.0--268.2
Theft Rate1196.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate461.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

217.1 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC-

358/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1813/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Moorhead

Violent crime in Moorhead is close to the national average. The rate of 357.9 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1812.8 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,196 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Moorhead Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder8
01.4x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault283
01.1x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery83
01.3x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary306
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,196
085% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft461
01.4x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Moorhead Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Moorhead
357.9
State
323.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Moorhead
1812.8
State
2036.7
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Moorhead Safety

Is Moorhead safe?
Not especially. Moorhead earns a C with a crime rate of 217.1 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 Moorhead?
217.1 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 357.9 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1812.8 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Moorhead safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Moorhead's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,196 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Moorhead?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Moorhead generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Moorhead police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Moorhead?
No. Crime in Moorhead has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Moorhead compare to other cities in Minnesota?
Below average for the state. Moorhead ranks behind about 67% of Minnesota cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Moorhead to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Moorhead?
Bad. A C grade and 217.1 per-thousand rate put Moorhead below 66% of US cities. Violent crime at 358 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Moorhead?
357.9 per 100,000, which is 2% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (283), robbery (83), and murder (8.0) 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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