It is important to know how safe certain communities are, especially if you considering moving to, well, just about anywhere in North Dakota. Though many other things could be a factor, this is certainly one of the more important ones! This list may help you out – we checked out Neighborhood Scout’s safety ratings to compile a list of the safest cities in North Dakota to call home.

Editor’s note: This list is up to date as of November 2021. 

1. Menoken
Menoken, ND 58558, USA
Andrew Filer/Flickr
This little, tiny town - with a population of 165 as of 2020 - comes in at first - having been at #3 previously. This town is truly so small that you'll miss it if you're not looking for it; it is a small community with, literally, just one neighborhood. No wonder it's so safe!
2. Medora
Medora, ND 58645, USA
Al/Flickr
The small town of Medora makes an appearance on the list when it didn't before! It has a population of 129, and is located west of Belfield in western North Dakota.
3. Powers Lake
Powers Lake, ND 58773, USA
Photo Credit
Powers Lake was founded all the way back in 1909. The population has been on a slow decline for years; for example, in 2000, the population of Powers Lake was 309, and in 2010 it had dropped to 280. In 2019, it was estimated to be approximately 293 - so perhaps it's on the rise once more? Hopefully - it's safe enough to raise a family here for sure.
4. Fort Yates
Fort Yates, ND 58538, USA
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Fourth on the list is another small town of just about 188. Fort Yates is part of Sioux County in south-central North Dakota.
5. Maddock
Maddock, ND 58348, USA
Andrew Filer/Flickr
If there's anything wonderful about North Dakota, it's the wide open spaces and plentiful recreation opportunities. In towns like Maddock, it's certainly safe to do all those things and more. In 2019, the population of Maddock was 384.

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6. Scranton
Scranton, ND, USA
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Down in the southwest corner of North Dakota is the town of Scranton, which ranks sixth-safest in the state - down a few spots, but still on the list! The name comes from a town in Pennsylvania that shares its roots in coal mining. As of 2019, the population in Scranton was 365.
7. Marmarth
Marmarth, ND 58643, USA
Keith Ewing/Flickr
In seventh place after Scranton is Marmarth. Marmarth has a population of just 91 people, and with such a tiny populace, it's no wonder it's in the top ten safest places in North Dakota. You might notice the pattern here - smaller is safer, in many cases!
8. Finley
Finley, ND 58230, USA
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
East of Cooperstown is the town of Finley, which ranks eighth on this list. It's another newcomer! It has a population of about 362 as of 2019.
9. Leeds
Leeds, ND 58346, USA
The West End/Flickr
Leeds comes in at ninth! Population: 558. Founded in: 1887. Town status: ridiculously safe.
10. Surrey
Surrey, ND, USA
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Last but not least (or dangerous!) is Surrey. Surrey has a population of about 1,053 - making it one of the larger towns on this list.

This is based on the crime rates in every city and town in North Dakota as collected by Neighborhood Scout. To see the list and read about their methods, check out the official website.

What do you think of this data? What do you think are the best places in North Dakota to live? Tell us your picks in the comments! Now that you’ve seen the safest cities in North Dakota, take a look at the most dangerous ones.

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Tori Jane | November 12, 2021

What are some dangerous places in North Dakota?  

North Dakota is one of the least-populated states in the entire nation. That being said, there are still, naturally, places with higher crime rates than others. According to RoadSnacks.com, the most dangerous places in North Dakota include Bismarck, with a population of 74,700+ and a violent crime rate of 305 per 100,000 residents, Devils Lake, with a population of 7,200+ and a violent crime rate of 274 per 100,000, Mandan, with a population of 23,000+ and a violent crime rate of 369 per 100,000, and, most of all, Fargo, with a population of 127,400+ and a violent crime rate of a startling 450 per 100,000 residents. Of course, when compared to states with significantly higher populations, North Dakota is pretty safe, overall. It has the 16th-lowest violent crime rate in the nation, and the 22nd-lowest property crime rate in the nation as well. That’s pretty good, considering it’s 16th out of 50!  

What are the best cities in North Dakota to live in?  

Of course, “best” is subjective – but there are some places that tend to pop up more often than others when folks are thinking about the “best of” North Dakota’s cities. Interestingly, despite their appearances on the “worst-of” crime rates in the state, several of the “worst” cities make this list as well, proving that many places are multi-faceted and worth visiting despite what statistics might say. For example, according to The Crazy Tourist, the five best places in North Dakota to live include Fargo, West Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, and Horace. Considering that Fargo and Bismarck are the largest cities this little state’s got, it makes sense that these would appear as both among the best places to live and as having the highest crime rates. Interested in some of our favorite small towns in North Dakota? Check this list out!  

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