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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Bismarck, ND has a Safety Score of 25/100 — higher crime than 75% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,677.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,221 of 2,957 US cities and #6 of 9 in North Dakota.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Bismarck, ND?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Bismarck, North Dakota Safe?
Bismarck, North Dakota, the state capital, sits on the east bank of the Missouri River. Named for German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, it's a regional hub with a growing population of over 70,000.
Bismarck has a safety score of 25/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,677.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Bismarck ranks #6 out of 9 cities in North Dakota and #2221 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 25th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 75% of US cities.
Year over year, Bismarck's total crime rate decreased by 22%, with violent crime declining 11.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Bismarck Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 210 | 278.0 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 1 | 1.3 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 34 | 45.0 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 46 | 60.9 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 129 | 170.8 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 1,813 | 2,399.9 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 187 | 247.5 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,452 | 1,922.0 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 174 | 230.3 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Bismarck vs North Dakota Average
How does Bismarck's crime rate compare to the North Dakota state average?
| Metric | Bismarck | North Dakota Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 278.0 | 354.0 | -21.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,399.9 | 2,471.4 | -2.9% |
| Murder Rate | 1.3 | 3.1 | -57.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,677.8 | 2,825.4 | -5.2% |
Bismarck Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Bismarck, North Dakota.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 75,546 | 2,677.8 | 278.0 | 2,399.9 |
| 2023 | 74,802 | 3,433.1 | 315.5 | 3,117.6 |
| 2022 | 74,604 | 3,687.5 | 313.7 | 3,373.8 |
| 2021 | 75,396 | 3,784.0 | 289.1 | 3,494.9 |
| 2020 | 74,997 | 3,674.8 | 354.7 | 3,320.1 |
| 2019 | 74,705 | 3,088.2 | 305.2 | 2,783.0 |
Bismarck Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Bismarck and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: North Dakota crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bismarck, North Dakota safe?
Bismarck has a safety score of 25/100, meaning it has less crime than about 25% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,677.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Bismarck is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Bismarck, North Dakota?
According to FBI data for 2024, Bismarck has a violent crime rate of 278.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,399.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Bismarck compare to the national average?
Bismarck's total crime rate of 2,677.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 75,546 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Bismarck?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Bismarck are larceny-theft (1,452 reported incidents) and burglary (187 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 8.6x in the city.
Is Bismarck safe to visit?
Like any city, Bismarck has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 25/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.