Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Salem, OR has a Safety Score of 15/100 — higher crime than 85% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,337.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,518 of 2,957 US cities and #42 of 49 in Oregon.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Salem, Oregon Safe?
Salem, Oregon, the state capital, is bisected by the Willamette River. It's home to Willamette University, the oldest university in the Western United States, and boasts a population of over 180,000 residents.
Salem has a safety score of 15/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,337.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Salem ranks #42 out of 49 cities in Oregon and #2518 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 Salem is burglary, at 442.3 per 100K — 1.5x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.7x the national rate.
Year over year, Salem's total crime rate decreased by 8.6%, with violent crime rising 19.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Salem Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 951 | 534.5 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 8 | 4.5 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 66 | 37.1 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 158 | 88.8 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 715 | 401.8 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 4,988 | 2,803.3 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 787 | 442.3 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 3,498 | 1,965.9 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 703 | 395.1 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Salem vs Oregon Average
How does Salem's crime rate compare to the Oregon state average?
| Metric | Salem | Oregon Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 534.5 | 408.2 | +30.9% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,803.3 | 3,154.8 | -11.1% |
| Murder Rate | 4.5 | 4.4 | +1.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,337.7 | 3,563.0 | -6.3% |
Salem Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Salem, Oregon.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 177,936 | 3,337.7 | 534.5 | 2,803.3 |
| 2023 | 178,276 | 3,650.5 | 447.6 | 3,202.9 |
| 2022 | 179,661 | 4,126.7 | 489.3 | 3,637.4 |
| 2021 | 178,106 | 4,090.8 | 462.7 | 3,628.2 |
| 2020 | 176,632 | 4,219.5 | 403.1 | 3,816.4 |
| 2019 | 175,867 | 4,070.1 | 381.0 | 3,689.2 |
Salem Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Salem and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Oregon crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salem, Oregon safe?
Salem has a safety score of 15/100, meaning it has less crime than about 15% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,337.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Salem is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Salem, Oregon?
According to FBI data for 2024, Salem has a violent crime rate of 534.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,803.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does Salem compare to the national average?
Salem's total crime rate of 3,337.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 177,936 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Salem?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Salem are larceny-theft (3,498 reported incidents) and burglary (787 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 5.2x in the city.
Is Salem safe to visit?
Like any city, Salem has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 15/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.