Is Salem or St. Helens Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, St. Helens is safer than Salem (Safety Score 66/100 vs 15/100), with a total crime rate of 1,197 per 100,000 versus 3,338 for Salem — 64% lower. Salem has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where St. Helens has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Salem is 12.2x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Salem — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
St. Helens — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Salem, OR
St. Helens, OR
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Salem | St. Helens | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,337.7 | 1,197.3 | +2,140.4 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 534.5 | 273.7 | +260.8 |
| Murder Rate | 4.5 | 0.0 | +4.5 |
| Rape Rate | 37.1 | 34.2 | +2.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 88.8 | 6.8 | +82.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 401.8 | 232.6 | +169.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,803.3 | 923.7 | +1,879.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 442.3 | 218.9 | +223.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,965.9 | 636.3 | +1,329.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.1 | 68.4 | +326.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salem or St. Helens safer?
St. Helens is safer with a total crime rate of 1,197 per 100K vs 3,338 for Salem — a 64% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Salem has a violent crime rate of 534.5 per 100K while St. Helens has 273.7. St. Helens has lower violent crime.
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.
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 66/100 and a population coverage of 14,616, St. Helens has a total crime rate of 1,197.3 per 100,000 residents.