Is Lincoln City or Salem Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Lincoln City is safer than Salem (Safety Score 29/100 vs 15/100), with a total crime rate of 2,445 per 100,000 versus 3,338 for Salem — 27% lower. Lincoln City has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Salem has a 55% lower rate.
Note: Salem is 17.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Lincoln City — 2-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Salem — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Lincoln City, OR
Salem, OR
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Lincoln City | Salem | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,445.1 | 3,337.7 | -892.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 497.0 | 534.5 | -37.5 |
| Murder Rate | 9.9 | 4.5 | +5.4 |
| Rape Rate | 99.4 | 37.1 | +62.3 |
| Robbery Rate | 49.7 | 88.8 | -39.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 337.9 | 401.8 | -63.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,948.1 | 2,803.3 | -855.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 387.6 | 442.3 | -54.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,461.1 | 1,965.9 | -504.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 99.4 | 395.1 | -295.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lincoln City or Salem safer?
Lincoln City is safer with a total crime rate of 2,445 per 100K vs 3,338 for Salem — a 27% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Lincoln City has a violent crime rate of 497.0 per 100K while Salem has 534.5. Lincoln City has lower violent crime.
About Lincoln City, OR
Lincoln City, Oregon, known for its "Finders Keepers" glass floats, stretches along seven miles of Pacific coastline. This small resort town in the Oregon Coast Range is home to a diverse population of just under 10,000 residents. With a safety score of 29/100 and a population coverage of 10,061, Lincoln City has a total crime rate of 2,445.1 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.