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D

Is Billings, Montana Safe?

Population 121,239 · Safer than 19% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Billings has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 258.4 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,583 per 100K.

Billings Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricBillingsMontana AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate375.0356.1363.8
Property Crime Rate2209.22091.21,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate224.0--268.2
Theft Rate1583.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate413.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

258.4 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC-

375/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2209/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Billings

Violent crime in Billings is close to the national average. The rate of 375.0 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2209.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,583 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Billings Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault224
084% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery88
01.4x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary402
01.5x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,583
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft413
01.3x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Billings Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Billings
375.0
State
356.1
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Billings
2209.2
State
2091.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Billings Safety

Is Billings safe?
Not especially. Billings earns a D with a crime rate of 258.4 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 Billings?
258.4 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 375.0 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2209.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Billings safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Billings's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,583 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Billings?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Billings generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Billings police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Billings?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Billings's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a D grade overall.
How does Billings compare to other cities in Montana?
Below average for the state. Billings ranks behind about 75% of Montana cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Billings to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Billings?
Bad. A D grade and 258.4 per-thousand rate put Billings below 81% of US cities. Violent crime at 375 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Billings?
375.0 per 100,000, which is 3% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (224), robbery (88), and murder (3.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Montana

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

D+
See crime rates in Missoula78,903 pop · Grade D+
C-
See crime rates in Great Falls60,208 pop · Grade C-
D
See crime rates in Bozeman58,814 pop · Grade D
C
See crime rates in Helena35,138 pop · Grade C
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See crime rates in Kalispell31,851 pop · Grade D
C-
See crime rates in Belgrade13,107 pop · Grade C-
View all Montana 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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