Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Cottage Grove, MN has a Safety Score of 85/100 — safer than 85% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 721.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #446 of 2,957 US cities and #15 of 89 in Minnesota.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Cottage Grove, MN?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Cottage Grove, Minnesota Safe?
Cottage Grove, a Mississippi River town southeast of St. Paul, was once a thriving logging community. This Washington County suburb has grown significantly in recent decades, with a population exceeding 39,000.
Cottage Grove has a safety score of 85/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 721.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Cottage Grove ranks #15 out of 89 cities in Minnesota and #446 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 85th percentile for safety — safer than 85% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Cottage Grove are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Cottage Grove's total crime rate decreased by 6.3%, with violent crime declining 46.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Cottage Grove Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 17 | 39.4 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 7 | 16.2 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 4 | 9.3 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 6 | 13.9 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 294 | 681.6 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 26 | 60.3 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 251 | 582.0 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 17 | 39.4 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Cottage Grove vs Minnesota Average
How does Cottage Grove's crime rate compare to the Minnesota state average?
| Metric | Cottage Grove | Minnesota Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 39.4 | 342.5 | -88.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 681.6 | 2,206.8 | -69.1% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 4.5 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 721.1 | 2,549.3 | -71.7% |
Cottage Grove Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Cottage Grove, Minnesota.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 43,131 | 721.1 | 39.4 | 681.6 |
| 2023 | 42,096 | 769.7 | 73.6 | 696.0 |
| 2022 | 40,871 | 1,008.1 | 68.5 | 939.5 |
| 2021 | 38,534 | 1,248.3 | 96.0 | 1,152.2 |
| 2020 | 37,940 | 1,560.4 | 55.4 | 1,505.0 |
| 2019 | 37,534 | 1,649.2 | 77.3 | 1,571.9 |
Cottage Grove Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Cottage Grove and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Minnesota crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cottage Grove, Minnesota safe?
Cottage Grove has a safety score of 85/100, meaning it has less crime than about 85% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 721.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Cottage Grove is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in Cottage Grove, Minnesota?
According to FBI data for 2024, Cottage Grove has a violent crime rate of 39.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 681.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Cottage Grove compare to the national average?
Cottage Grove's total crime rate of 721.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 43,131 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Cottage Grove?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Cottage Grove are larceny-theft (251 reported incidents) and burglary (26 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 17.3x in the city.
Is Cottage Grove safe to visit?
Like any city, Cottage Grove has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 85/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.