Is Helena or New York City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, New York City is safer than Helena (Safety Score 19/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100,000 versus 3,096 for Helena — 2% lower. Helena has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Helena has a 85% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 235.5x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Helena — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Helena, MT
New York City, NY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Helena | New York City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,096.1 | 3,039.7 | +56.4 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 513.7 | 671.4 | -157.8 |
| Murder Rate | 2.8 | 3.9 | -1.1 |
| Rape Rate | 116.4 | 23.4 | +92.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 28.4 | 187.5 | -159.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 366.1 | 456.2 | -90.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,582.4 | 2,368.3 | +214.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 232.7 | 154.7 | +78.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,210.7 | 2,015.0 | +195.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 139.1 | 198.5 | -59.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Helena or New York City safer?
New York City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100K vs 3,096 for Helena — a 2% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Helena has a violent crime rate of 513.7 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. Helena has lower violent crime.
About Helena, MT
Helena, Montana's capital, sits in the Prickly Pear Valley surrounded by the eastern front of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the 1864 gold rush, its population is around 32,000. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 35,238, Helena has a total crime rate of 3,096.1 per 100,000 residents.
About New York City, NY
New York City, a global financial hub, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River. Home to the iconic Statue of Liberty, its five boroughs house over 8 million people, making it the most populous city in the United States. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 8,299,271, New York City has a total crime rate of 3,039.7 per 100,000 residents.