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C

Is Bismarck, North Dakota Safe?

Population 77,963 · Safer than 32% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Bismarck earns a C safety grade with 221.5 crimes per 1,000 residents. Violent crime runs close to the national average, putting the city behind 68% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,465 per 100K.

Bismarck Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricBismarckNorth Dakota AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate329.1328.7363.8
Property Crime Rate1886.31989.21,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate271.0--268.2
Theft Rate1465.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate381.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

221.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

329/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1886/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Bismarck

Violent crime in Bismarck is close to the national average. The rate of 329.1 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1886.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,465 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Bismarck Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault271
01.0x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery53
084% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary273
01.0x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,465
01.0x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft381
01.2x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Bismarck Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Bismarck
329.1
State
328.7
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Bismarck
1886.3
State
1989.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Bismarck Safety

Is Bismarck safe?
Not especially. Bismarck earns a C with a crime rate of 221.5 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 Bismarck?
221.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 329.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1886.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Bismarck safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Bismarck's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,465 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Bismarck?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Bismarck generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Bismarck police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Bismarck?
No. Crime in Bismarck has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Bismarck compare to other cities in North Dakota?
Below average for the state. Bismarck ranks behind about 68% of North Dakota cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Bismarck 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 Bismarck?
Bad. A C grade and 221.5 per-thousand rate put Bismarck below 68% of US cities. Violent crime at 329 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Bismarck?
329.1 per 100,000, which is 10% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (271), robbery (53), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

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View all North Dakota 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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