Is Forest Grove or Salem Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Forest Grove is safer than Salem (Safety Score 49/100 vs 49/100), with a total crime rate of 1,704 per 100,000 versus 1,706 for Salem — 0% lower. Forest Grove has lower rates in 4 of 6 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Salem has a 55% lower rate.
Forest Grove — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Salem — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Forest Grove, OR
Salem, MA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Forest Grove | Salem | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,704.2 | 1,706.0 | -1.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 337.1 | 152.3 | +184.8 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 0.0 | +0.0 |
| Rape Rate | 77.8 | 13.1 | +64.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 18.5 | 34.8 | -16.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 240.8 | 104.5 | +136.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,367.1 | 1,553.7 | -186.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 203.8 | 106.6 | +97.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,063.3 | 1,347.0 | -283.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 100.0 | 100.1 | -0.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Forest Grove or Salem safer?
Forest Grove is safer with a total crime rate of 1,704 per 100K vs 1,706 for Salem — a 0% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Forest Grove has a violent crime rate of 337.1 per 100K while Salem has 152.3. Salem has lower violent crime.
About Forest Grove, OR
Nestled in the northern Willamette Valley, Forest Grove is a small city of roughly 26,000 residents. It is home to Pacific University, the oldest university west of the Mississippi, founded in 1849. With a safety score of 49/100 and a population coverage of 26,992, Forest Grove has a total crime rate of 1,704.2 per 100,000 residents.
About Salem, MA
Salem, Massachusetts, renowned for the 1692 witch trials, is a small coastal city north of Boston. Its population is approximately 45,000, with a significant portion employed in tourism and education. With a safety score of 49/100 and a population coverage of 45,955, Salem has a total crime rate of 1,706.0 per 100,000 residents.