MN · 3 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in Minnesota
Minnesota recorded 227 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 31% below the national rate and down 20% since 2022. We cover Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Rochester. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
Minneapolis
Saint Paul
RochesterFBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in Minnesota, ranked
The 3 Minnesota cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 2 of 3 run above the state average of 227. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and each guide above shows where.
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis | 1,005 | 4,520 | 428,057 |
| 2 | Saint Paul | 491 | 2,826 | 307,657 |
| 3 | Rochester | 201 | 1,453 | 124,142 |
| Minnesota average | 227 | 1,430 | ||
| US average | 330 |
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported by each city's police department per 100,000 residents; most cities use 2025 data, and a small year next to a name marks a different latest complete year. Only cities with a neighborhood guide are included, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. How we rank cities.
Minnesota crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Minnesota?
Of the 3 Minnesota cities in our ranking, Minneapolis has the highest violent crime rate: 1,005 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 4.4 times the state average. Saint Paul and Rochester come next. Even in Minneapolis, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Minneapolis guide shows which ones.
What is the safest city in Minnesota?
Among the cities we rank, Rochester has the lowest violent crime rate, at 201 per 100,000 residents in 2025, 11% below the state average. Saint Paul follows with 491.
Is Minnesota safe to visit?
For most visitors, yes, with ordinary precautions. Minnesota recorded 227 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 31% below the national rate of 330. Crime is concentrated in specific neighborhoods and hours rather than spread evenly, so knowing where those areas are matters more than the statewide figure; our 3 city guides cover them block by block.
Which Minnesota cities have above-average crime?
2 of the 3 cities we rank have a violent crime rate above the Minnesota average of 227 per 100,000 residents: Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The other 1 are below it.
Is crime going up or down in Minnesota?
Violent crime in Minnesota went from 284 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 227 in 2025, down 20%. Property crime went from 1,992 to 1,430 over 2022–2025, down 28%.
Where do these crime figures come from?
From the FBI Crime Data Explorer, which collects the offenses reported by each police department. Rates are offenses per 100,000 residents, so cities of different sizes can be compared, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. Our methodology explains the details.