Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Helena, MT has a Safety Score of 18/100 — higher crime than 82% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,096.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,443 of 2,971 US cities and #4 of 7 in Montana.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Helena, Montana Safe?
Helena, Montana's capital, sits in the Prickly Pear Valley surrounded by the eastern front of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the 1864 gold rush, its population is around 32,000.
Helena has a safety score of 18/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,096.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Helena ranks #4 out of 7 cities in Montana and #2443 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 18th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 82% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Helena is rape, at 116.4 per 100K — 2.7x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.3x the national rate.
Year over year, Helena's total crime rate decreased by 15.4%, with violent crime declining 24.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Helena Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 181 | 513.7 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 2.8 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 41 | 116.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 10 | 28.4 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 129 | 366.1 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 910 | 2,582.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 82 | 232.7 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 779 | 2,210.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 49 | 139.1 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Helena vs Montana Average
How does Helena's crime rate compare to the Montana state average?
| Metric | Helena | Montana Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 513.7 | 576.6 | -10.9% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,582.4 | 2,872.9 | -10.1% |
| Murder Rate | 2.8 | 3.3 | -12.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,096.1 | 3,449.5 | -10.2% |
Helena Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Helena, Montana.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 35,238 | 3,096.1 | 513.7 | 2,582.4 |
| 2023 | 34,744 | 3,658.2 | 676.4 | 2,981.8 |
| 2022 | 33,896 | 4,038.8 | 770.0 | 3,268.8 |
| 2021 | 34,262 | 3,931.5 | 688.8 | 3,242.7 |
| 2020 | 33,629 | 4,314.7 | 648.3 | 3,666.5 |
| 2019 | 32,806 | 4,846.7 | 579.2 | 4,267.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Helena, Montana safe?
Helena has a safety score of 18/100, meaning it has less crime than about 18% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,096.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Helena is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Helena, Montana?
According to FBI data for 2024, Helena has a violent crime rate of 513.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,582.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Helena compare to the national average?
Helena's total crime rate of 3,096.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 35,238 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Helena?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Helena include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Helena safe to visit?
Like any city, Helena has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 18/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.