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C

Is Prior Lake, Minnesota Safe?

Population 28,140 · Safer than 39% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Prior Lake is a smaller community of 28,140 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 205.2 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,609 per 100K.

Prior Lake Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricPrior LakeMinnesota AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate253.1323.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1799.22036.71,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate192.0--268.2
Theft Rate1609.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate253.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

205.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

253/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1799/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Prior Lake

Violent crime in Prior Lake is below the national average. The rate of 253.1 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1799.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,609 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Prior Lake Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault192
072% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery59
093% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary319
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,609
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft253
079% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Prior Lake Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Prior Lake
253.1
State
323.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Prior Lake
1799.2
State
2036.7
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Prior Lake Safety

Is Prior Lake safe?
Not especially. Prior Lake earns a C with a crime rate of 205.2 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Prior Lake?
205.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 253.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1799.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Prior Lake safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Prior 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 Prior Lake?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Prior Lake generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Prior Lake police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Prior Lake?
No. Crime in Prior Lake has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Prior Lake compare to other cities in Minnesota?
Below average for the state. Prior Lake ranks behind about 63% of Minnesota cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Prior Lake to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Prior Lake?
Mixed. Violent crime is below 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 39th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Prior Lake?
253.1 per 100,000, which is 30% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (192), robbery (59), 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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