OR · 6 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in Oregon
Oregon recorded 319 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, close to the national rate and down 10% since 2022. Of the 6 cities we cover, Portland, Salem and Gresham have the highest rates and Bend the lowest. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
Portland
Bend
Eugene
Gresham
Hillsboro
SalemFBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in Oregon, ranked
The 6 Oregon cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 4 of 6 run above the state average of 319. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and each guide above shows where.
- 1
Portland
702 violent crimes per 100k
2.2× the state average
- 2
Salem
424 violent crimes per 100k
1.3× the state average
- 3
Gresham
362 violent crimes per 100k
near the state average
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland | 702 | 5,113 | 631,483 |
| 2 | Salem | 424 | 2,365 | 181,534 |
| 3 | Gresham | 362 | 2,340 | 110,776 |
| 4 | Eugene | 347 | 2,842 | 178,886 |
| 5 | Hillsboro | 288 | 1,980 | 111,167 |
| 6 | Bend | 193 | 1,339 | 108,819 |
| Oregon average | 319 | 2,184 | ||
| US average | 330 |
Safest cities in Oregon we cover
At the other end of the list, these have the lowest violent crime rates of the 6 cities in this ranking.
- Bend193 per 100k · 40% below the state average
- Hillsboro288 per 100k · near the state average
- Eugene347 per 100k · near the state average
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.
Oregon crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Oregon?
Of the 6 Oregon cities in our ranking, Portland has the highest violent crime rate: 702 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 2.2 times the state average. Salem and Gresham come next. Even in Portland, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Portland guide shows which ones.
What is the safest city in Oregon?
Among the cities we rank, Bend has the lowest violent crime rate, at 193 per 100,000 residents in 2025, 40% below the state average. Hillsboro follows with 288. A low citywide rate doesn't mean every block is the same, but day-to-day risk is lower.
Is Oregon safe to visit?
For most visitors, yes, with ordinary precautions. Oregon recorded 319 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, close to 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 6 city guides cover them block by block.
Which Oregon cities have above-average crime?
4 of the 6 cities we rank have a violent crime rate above the Oregon average of 319 per 100,000 residents: Portland, Salem, Gresham and Eugene. The other 2 are below it.
Is crime going up or down in Oregon?
Violent crime in Oregon went from 355 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 319 in 2025, down 10%. Property crime went from 3,002 to 2,184 over 2022–2025, down 27%.
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.