Is Fargo or Minot Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Minot is safer than Fargo (Safety Score 49/100 vs 7/100), with a total crime rate of 1,722 per 100,000 versus 4,195 for Fargo — 59% lower. Fargo has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in property crime, where Minot has a 62% lower rate.
Note: Fargo is 2.9x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Fargo — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Minot — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Fargo, ND
Minot, ND
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Fargo | Minot | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,195.1 | 1,721.9 | +2,473.2 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 498.2 | 318.9 | +179.4 |
| Murder Rate | 4.4 | 2.1 | +2.3 |
| Rape Rate | 102.5 | 53.2 | +49.3 |
| Robbery Rate | 77.4 | 44.6 | +32.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 314.0 | 219.0 | +95.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,696.9 | 1,403.0 | +2,293.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 741.4 | 240.2 | +501.2 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,600.9 | 939.6 | +1,661.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 354.5 | 223.2 | +131.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fargo or Minot safer?
Minot is safer with a total crime rate of 1,722 per 100K vs 4,195 for Fargo — a 59% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Fargo has a violent crime rate of 498.2 per 100K while Minot has 318.9. Minot has lower violent crime.
About Fargo, ND
Fargo, North Dakota, a city of over 120,000, sits on the Red River of the North, forming a metropolitan area with Moorhead, Minnesota. Home to North Dakota State University, it's a regional hub for agriculture and technology. With a safety score of 7/100 and a population coverage of 135,682, Fargo has a total crime rate of 4,195.1 per 100,000 residents.
About Minot, ND
Minot, home to the Scandinavian Heritage Park, sits in northern North Dakota. This city of about 48,000 residents is a regional hub near the Canadian border. With a safety score of 49/100 and a population coverage of 47,041, Minot has a total crime rate of 1,721.9 per 100,000 residents.