The 10 Safest Cities In Montana For 2024

The 10 Safest Cities In Montana For 2024

Colstrip is no stranger to the Homesnacks spotlight; we've already named it the second best and fourth most affordable place to live in Montana for 2019. Being #1 in safety is just one more reason Colstrip is a superstar city.

Colstrip averaged just one property crime per month and one violent crime every three months, so your chances of getting into trouble with criminals is basically nil. In fact, the 1 in 2,009 chance residents face of being the victim of a property crime is nearly five times lower than the national average. Colstrip also has a ton of great parks, making it a great city for families.

Dillon is the second safest place to live in Montana, but it does have a sort of spooky aspect to it. Why?

Well, Bannack State Park is a historical ghost down, with over 60 original structures built as early as the 1860's during the gold rush. Luckily, any ghostly gold-diggers that might be hanging around evidently found enough nuggets that they don't need to steal these days; Dillon had the sixth safest rate of property crime in Montana.

Red Lodge ranks as the third safest place to live in Montana for 2024.

Crime can be an issue for places that are tucked away but not for Red Lodge. This mountain town seems to strictly attract the best types of people, which probably explains why it only had 8 violent crimes reported in 2022.

The citizens and visitors of Red Lodge obviously have a deep respect for the boundaries of others, their property included. After a day of cross-country skiing along the Silver Run National Recreation Trail, you can hit the hay here with confidence. Since only 2 burglaries were reported in 2022, it is safe to assume you will wake up to find everything right where you left it.

Manhattan, situated in Gallatin County, Montana, with a modest population of 2,154, is distinguished for its exceptional safety record. The town had 0 murders and only 2 violent crime incidents, leading it to be the second safest lowest for violent crime. Property crime is relatively infrequent, positioning Manhattan as the 14th safest community regarding property incidents, having reported only 30 occurrences.

Manhattan renamed itself to honor its thriving barley industry. Despite its limited size of less than 2 square miles, Manhattan upholds a tight-knit community and a very low crime per capita rate of 1,485/100k people.

5. Lewistown

Lewistown, positioned in the heart of Montana, is a historical and secure city. Its strategic location near Great Falls and Billings, coupled with a population that exudes small-town allure, leads to an overall ranking as the fifth safest place in the state. Lewistown has flourished thanks to being a railway hub, which has shaped its community and safety profile.

The city boasts an impressive #2 total crime rank, marking it as one of Montana's safest locations. With 0 occurrences of murder, very low violent crime rates, and minimal property crime, Lewistown is a desirable place to live in Fergus County.

Hamilton, located in Ravalli County, Montana, ranks as the sixth safest city in Montana as of 2024. Established by Marcus Daly, its low population of 5,138 enjoys minimal crime rates, with a violent crime rate of 136/100k people. The city's law enforcement effectiveness is evident through its fourth safest position in violent crime rankings, addressing offenses such as rape and aggravated assault. It stands as the 13th safest for property crimes.

Don't let the rugged terrain fool you; Glendive's motto is "good people surrounded by Badlands," and boy do residents live up to it. Glendive had the fifth safest rate of property and 12th safest rate of violent crime in Montana. The 1 in 285 chance Glendive residents face of being the victim of a violent crime is well below the national average. Safety is great and all, but Glendive also has natural beauty going for it. The city is home to Makoshika State Park, where you can see badland formations and dinosaur fossils.

Unfortunately, this is the second time Glendive has earned the silver instead of the gold medal on one our lists; we named the city the second best place to raise a family in Montana.

East Helena, located in Lewis and Clark County of Montana, is the eighth safest city in Montana,. With a small population of just over 2,140 and negligible crime rates, the city, with roots dating back to Montana's gold rush era, reports virtually no violent crime. Property crimes are also scarce, with only 3 burglaries recorded.

East Helena's low crime figures affirm its position as the safest for violent crimes and 17th safest for property crimes across the Treasure State.

Located in the southeastern part of the state in Custer County, Miles City is the ninth safest city in Montana. Miles City residents had about a 1 in 272 chance of being the victim of a violent crime, which is about half as much as the national average. The property crime rate in Miles City is also the fourth safest in Montana. Miles City is home to Pirogue Island State Park, an island on the Yellowstone River that'll make fishers and bird-watchers alike happy for hours.

Hardin ranks as the tenth safest city in Montana with just 11 violent crimes. The city also reports a mere 39 property crimes.

Established in 1911 and acting as the county seat of Big Horn County, Hardin achieved local significance because of agricultural landmarks such as Thomas D. Campbell's wheat farming and economic diversification seen with the establishment of the Holly Sugar Company. This blend of history and economic stability, alongside a steady population of 3,656, plays a crucial role in Hardin's consistent crime management, keeping it among the top safe havens in Montana.

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