Is Owatonna or St. Paul Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Owatonna is safer than St. Paul (Safety Score 76/100 vs 13/100), with a total crime rate of 971 per 100,000 versus 3,452 for St. Paul — 72% lower. Owatonna has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Owatonna has a 100% lower rate.
Note: St. Paul is 11.4x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Owatonna — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
St. Paul — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Owatonna, MN
St. Paul, MN
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Owatonna | St. Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 970.9 | 3,452.1 | -2,481.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 150.5 | 618.0 | -467.5 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 8.6 | -8.6 |
| Rape Rate | 37.6 | 65.8 | -28.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 7.5 | 119.1 | -111.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 105.4 | 424.3 | -318.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 820.4 | 2,834.1 | -2,013.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 109.1 | 468.3 | -359.2 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 624.7 | 1,883.6 | -1,258.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 86.6 | 482.2 | -395.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Owatonna or St. Paul safer?
Owatonna is safer with a total crime rate of 971 per 100K vs 3,452 for St. Paul — a 72% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Owatonna has a violent crime rate of 150.5 per 100K while St. Paul has 618.0. Owatonna has lower violent crime.
About Owatonna, MN
Owatonna, Minnesota, a city of about 26,000 residents in Steele County, is home to the National Farmers' Bank, a Louis Sullivan-designed architectural masterpiece. Situated at the confluence of the Straight and Maple Rivers, its economy has historical roots in agriculture and manufacturing. With a safety score of 76/100 and a population coverage of 26,573, Owatonna has a total crime rate of 970.9 per 100,000 residents.
About St. Paul, MN
St. Paul, Minnesota, is the state capital, known for its historic Summit Avenue. This city, one of the "Twin Cities," sits on the Mississippi River, with a diverse population of over 300,000 residents. With a safety score of 13/100 and a population coverage of 304,051, St. Paul has a total crime rate of 3,452.1 per 100,000 residents.