No, Oregon is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #30 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in Oregon ranks 36th most dangerous in the United States -- 21.07% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Beaver State ranks seventh most dangerous in the United States -- 36.05% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.
Here is a breakdown of crime rates in Oregon per capita compared to the national average so you can compare.
Statistic | Oregon Count Raw | Oregon / 100k People | National / 100k People | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Total Crimes Per 100K | 125,162 | 2,950.9 | 2,346.0 | |
Murder | 125 | 2.9 | 6.5 | |
Robbery | 2,180 | 51.4 | 73.9 | |
Aggravated Assault | 8,510 | 200.6 | 279.7 | |
Violent Crime | 12,380 | 291.9 | 387.8 | |
Burglary | 14,386 | 339.2 | 314.2 | |
Larceny | 81,811 | 1,928.8 | 1,398.0 | |
Car Theft | 16,585 | 391.0 | 246.0 | |
Property Crime | 112,782 | 2,659.0 | 1,958.2 |
Wikipedia User Visitor7 | CC BY-SA 3.0
Yes, Portland is a dangerous city. Portland ranks as the #9 most dangerous out of 328 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Portland might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Alameda is the safest in Portland, while Sunderland is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Portland ranks 79th highest in America -- 35.7% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks eighth highest in the United States -- 131.77% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 and that no city in America is "dangerous". Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
The county in Oregon with the lowest cost of living is Clackamas County. The average living wage in Clackamas County is $100,740 according to MIT data. Clackamas County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Oregon as a whole. Childcare costs $16,564 a year in Clackamas County for two children compared to the Oregon average of $15,236. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $18,432 per year in Clackamas County compared to $15,603 on average in Oregon.
The cost of living in Oregon is 7.0% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Oregon is $96,003 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Oregon household is $65,667.
The cheapest housing market in Oregon is Ontario. The average home value in Ontario is $121,600, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Oregon is $336,700, almost 2.8 times higher than Ontario.