Is Monmouth or Salem Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Monmouth is safer than Salem (Safety Score 71/100 vs 15/100), with a total crime rate of 1,079 per 100,000 versus 3,338 for Salem — 68% lower. Monmouth has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Monmouth has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Salem is 15.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Monmouth — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Salem — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Monmouth, OR
Salem, OR
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Monmouth | Salem | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,078.6 | 3,337.7 | -2,259.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 132.6 | 534.5 | -401.9 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 4.5 | -4.5 |
| Rape Rate | 0.0 | 37.1 | -37.1 |
| Robbery Rate | 35.4 | 88.8 | -53.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 97.3 | 401.8 | -304.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 946.0 | 2,803.3 | -1,857.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 88.4 | 442.3 | -353.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 760.3 | 1,965.9 | -1,205.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 97.3 | 395.1 | -297.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Monmouth or Salem safer?
Monmouth is safer with a total crime rate of 1,079 per 100K vs 3,338 for Salem — a 68% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Monmouth has a violent crime rate of 132.6 per 100K while Salem has 534.5. Monmouth has lower violent crime.
About Monmouth, OR
Monmouth, Oregon, is a small city in the Willamette Valley, home to Western Oregon University since 1882. It's primarily a college town with a young adult population. With a safety score of 71/100 and a population coverage of 11,311, Monmouth has a total crime rate of 1,078.6 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.