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D-

Is Portland, Oregon Safe?

Population 635,109 · Safer than 11% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Portland 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 291.6 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,729 per 100K.

Portland Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricPortlandOregon AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate333.3332.5363.8
Property Crime Rate2582.22078.01,832.3
Murder Rate7.0--5.7
Assault Rate225.0--268.2
Theft Rate1729.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate324.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD-

291.6 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

333/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeF

2582/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Portland

Violent crime in Portland is close to the national average. The rate of 333.3 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is well above the national average at 2582.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,729 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Portland Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder7
01.2x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault225
084% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery57
090% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary319
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,729
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft324
01.0x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Portland Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Portland
333.3
State
332.5
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Portland
2582.2
State
2078.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Portland Safety

Is Portland safe?
Not especially. Portland earns a D- with a crime rate of 291.6 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 Portland?
291.6 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 333.3 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2582.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Portland safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Portland's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,729 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Portland?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Portland generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Portland police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Portland?
Crime rates have held steady in Portland, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D- grade.
How does Portland compare to other cities in Oregon?
Below average for the state. Portland ranks behind about 83% of Oregon cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.4x the national rate.
How safe is Portland to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Portland?
Bad. A D- grade and 291.6 per-thousand rate put Portland below 89% of US cities. Violent crime at 333 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Portland?
333.3 per 100,000, which is 8% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (225), robbery (57), and murder (7.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Oregon

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

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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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