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Is Williston, North Dakota Safe?

Population 29,522 · Safer than 35% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 29,522, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Williston earns a C with violent crime close to the national average. The trend has been positive. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,528 per 100K.

Williston Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricWillistonNorth Dakota AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate350.3328.7363.8
Property Crime Rate1803.51989.21,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate267.0--268.2
Theft Rate1528.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate232.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

215.4 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

350/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1804/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Williston

Violent crime in Williston is close to the national average. The rate of 350.3 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1803.5 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,528 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Williston Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault267
0100% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery40
063% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary222
082% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,528
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft232
073% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Williston Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Williston
350.3
State
328.7
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Williston
1803.5
State
1989.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Williston Safety

Is Williston safe?
Not especially. Williston earns a C with a crime rate of 215.4 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 Williston?
215.4 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 350.3 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1803.5 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Williston safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Williston 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 Williston?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Williston generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Williston police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Williston?
No. Crime in Williston has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Williston compare to other cities in North Dakota?
Middle of the pack for North Dakota. Williston isn't the safest option in the state, but it's not the most concerning either, ranking around the 42th percentile among North Dakota cities.
How safe is Williston 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 Williston?
Mixed. Violent crime is close to 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 35th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Williston?
350.3 per 100,000, which is 4% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (267), robbery (40), 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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