Is Portland or St. Helens Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, St. Helens is safer than Portland (Safety Score 67/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 1,197 per 100,000 versus 6,247 for Portland — 81% lower. Portland has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where St. Helens has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Portland is 42.6x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Portland, OR?
Portland — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
St. Helens — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Portland, OR
St. Helens, OR
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Portland | St. Helens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 6,246.7 | 1,197.3 | +5,049.4 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 720.5 | 273.7 | +446.8 |
| Murder Rate | 10.8 | 0.0 | +10.8 |
| Rape Rate | 50.9 | 34.2 | +16.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 177.4 | 6.8 | +170.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 481.2 | 232.6 | +248.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 5,526.2 | 923.7 | +4,602.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 727.4 | 218.9 | +508.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 3,921.3 | 636.3 | +3,285.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 877.6 | 68.4 | +809.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Portland or St. Helens safer?
St. Helens is safer with a total crime rate of 1,197 per 100K vs 6,247 for Portland — a 81% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Portland has a violent crime rate of 720.5 per 100K while St. Helens has 273.7. St. Helens has lower violent crime.
About Portland, OR
About St. Helens, OR
St. Helens, Oregon, a port city on the Columbia River, is known for its historic downtown and as the filming location for "Halloweentown." It's the county seat of Columbia County, with a population of around 14,000. With a safety score of 67/100 and a population coverage of 14,616, St. Helens has a total crime rate of 1,197.3 per 100,000 residents.