Is Cottage Grove or Salem Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Cottage Grove is safer than Salem (Safety Score 34/100 vs 15/100), with a total crime rate of 2,230 per 100,000 versus 3,338 for Salem — 33% lower. Cottage Grove has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Cottage Grove has a 58% lower rate.
Note: Salem is 16.7x 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
Salem — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Cottage Grove, OR
Salem, OR
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Cottage Grove | Salem | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,230.2 | 3,337.7 | -1,107.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 272.9 | 534.5 | -261.6 |
| Murder Rate | 9.4 | 4.5 | +4.9 |
| Rape Rate | 37.6 | 37.1 | +0.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 37.6 | 88.8 | -51.2 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 188.2 | 401.8 | -213.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,957.3 | 2,803.3 | -846.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 150.6 | 442.3 | -291.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,656.2 | 1,965.9 | -309.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 150.6 | 395.1 | -244.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cottage Grove or Salem safer?
Cottage Grove is safer with a total crime rate of 2,230 per 100K vs 3,338 for Salem — a 33% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Cottage Grove has a violent crime rate of 272.9 per 100K while Salem has 534.5. 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 Salem, OR
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. With a safety score of 15/100 and a population coverage of 177,936, Salem has a total crime rate of 3,337.7 per 100,000 residents.