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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Scottsbluff, NE has a Safety Score of 14/100 — higher crime than 85% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,371.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,529 of 2,957 US cities and #15 of 16 in Nebraska.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Scottsbluff, NE?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Scottsbluff, Nebraska Safe?
Scottsbluff, Nebraska, a city named for Hiram Scott, a fur trapper who died there, is a regional hub in the Nebraska Panhandle. This agricultural community of around 15,000 residents is known for its proximity to Scotts Bluff National Monument.
Scottsbluff has a safety score of 14/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,371.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Scottsbluff ranks #15 out of 16 cities in Nebraska and #2529 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 15th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 85% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Scottsbluff is rape, at 78.4 per 100K — 1.8x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Scottsbluff's total crime rate decreased by 28.4%, with violent crime rising 149.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Scottsbluff Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 90 | 588.0 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 12 | 78.4 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 1 | 6.5 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 77 | 503.1 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 426 | 2,783.2 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 36 | 235.2 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 372 | 2,430.4 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 18 | 117.6 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Scottsbluff vs Nebraska Average
How does Scottsbluff's crime rate compare to the Nebraska state average?
| Metric | Scottsbluff | Nebraska Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 588.0 | 312.5 | +88.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,783.2 | 2,466.0 | +12.9% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.6 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,371.2 | 2,778.5 | +21.3% |
Scottsbluff Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 15,306 | 3,371.2 | 588.0 | 2,783.2 |
| 2023 | 15,249 | 4,708.5 | 236.1 | 4,472.4 |
| 2022 | 15,224 | 3,356.5 | 420.4 | 2,936.2 |
| 2021 | 15,463 | 3,013.7 | 504.4 | 2,509.2 |
| 2020 | 15,665 | 3,300.4 | 383.0 | 2,917.3 |
| 2019 | 15,862 | 3,063.9 | 334.1 | 2,729.8 |
Scottsbluff Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Scottsbluff and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Nebraska crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Scottsbluff, Nebraska safe?
Scottsbluff has a safety score of 14/100, meaning it has less crime than about 14% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,371.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Scottsbluff is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Scottsbluff, Nebraska?
According to FBI data for 2024, Scottsbluff has a violent crime rate of 588.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,783.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Scottsbluff compare to the national average?
Scottsbluff's total crime rate of 3,371.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 15,306 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Scottsbluff?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Scottsbluff are larceny-theft (372 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (77 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.7x in the city.
Is Scottsbluff safe to visit?
Like any city, Scottsbluff has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 14/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.