Is Cottage Grove or Gresham Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Cottage Grove is safer than Gresham (Safety Score 34/100 vs 22/100), with a total crime rate of 2,230 per 100,000 versus 2,837 for Gresham — 21% lower. Cottage Grove has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Cottage Grove has a 56% lower rate.
Note: Gresham is 10.3x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Cottage Grove — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Gresham — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Cottage Grove, OR
Gresham, OR
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Cottage Grove | Gresham | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,230.2 | 2,836.9 | -606.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 272.9 | 410.2 | -137.3 |
| Murder Rate | 9.4 | 5.5 | +3.9 |
| Rape Rate | 37.6 | 57.6 | -19.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 37.6 | 85.0 | -47.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 188.2 | 262.2 | -74.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,957.3 | 2,426.6 | -469.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 150.6 | 318.9 | -168.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,656.2 | 1,472.8 | +183.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 150.6 | 635.0 | -484.4 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cottage Grove or Gresham safer?
Cottage Grove is safer with a total crime rate of 2,230 per 100K vs 2,837 for Gresham — a 21% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Cottage Grove has a violent crime rate of 272.9 per 100K while Gresham has 410.2. Cottage Grove has lower violent crime.
About Cottage Grove, OR
Cottage Grove, the "Covered Bridge Capital of Oregon," is a small city in Lane County, nestled in the southern Willamette Valley. Its population is approximately 10,000 residents, with a median age of around 40. With a safety score of 34/100 and a population coverage of 10,627, Cottage Grove has a total crime rate of 2,230.2 per 100,000 residents.
About Gresham, OR
Gresham, Oregon, a city in Multnomah County, is the fourth largest in the state. Once known as "Turkey Town" for its poultry industry, it sits at the eastern edge of the Portland metropolitan area, near the foothills of Mount Hood. With a safety score of 22/100 and a population coverage of 109,452, Gresham has a total crime rate of 2,836.9 per 100,000 residents.