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B-

Is Portsmouth, New Hampshire Safe?

Population 23,028 · Safer than 51% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Portsmouth is a smaller community of 23,028 people with a B- safety grade. Crime runs well below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 176.7 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,343 per 100K.

Portsmouth Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricPortsmouthNew Hampshire AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate201.8288.0363.8
Property Crime Rate1565.11921.31,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate158.0--268.2
Theft Rate1343.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate296.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyB-

176.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeB-

202/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC+

1565/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Portsmouth

Violent crime in Portsmouth is well below the national average. The rate of 201.8 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1565.1 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,343 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Portsmouth Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault158
059% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery22
035% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary291
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,343
096% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft296
093% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Portsmouth Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Portsmouth
201.8
State
288.0
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Portsmouth
1565.1
State
1921.3
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Portsmouth Safety

Is Portsmouth safe?
It depends on where in Portsmouth you are. The city gets a B- overall, with violent crime well below the national average and property crime close to the national average. Some areas are safer than others.
What is the crime rate in Portsmouth?
176.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 201.8 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1565.1 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Portsmouth safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Portsmouth has a B- 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 Portsmouth?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Portsmouth generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Portsmouth police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Portsmouth?
No. Crime in Portsmouth has been trending down, which is good news for the B--rated city.
How does Portsmouth compare to other cities in New Hampshire?
Middle of the pack for New Hampshire. Portsmouth isn't the safest option in the state, but it's not the most concerning either, ranking around the 45th percentile among New Hampshire cities.
How safe is Portsmouth to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is well below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Portsmouth?
Mixed. Violent crime is well 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 51th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Portsmouth?
201.8 per 100,000, which is 45% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (158), robbery (22), and murder (5.0) per 100,000.

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View all New Hampshire 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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