Perhaps it is because it is a rural state, Idaho has one of the lowest crime rates in the nation.
There are a lot of safe areas in this state, and there may be more danger from natural things than there is from criminal activity.
The entire state has just 1.79 million people.
Idaho has the 10th lowest violent crime rate in the nation and the third-lowest property crime rate.
US News ranked it as the third safest state in the nation overall.
Idaho has 2.4 violent crimes per 1,000 people, and the national average is 4.0.
Property crime in Idaho is 11.1 per 1,000, and the national rate is 19.6.
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10 Safest Cities in Idaho
Rexburg
Rexburg, population 29,000, is near the Wyoming border and in a relatively isolated area of the Rocky Mountains.
Its violent crime rate has been .02 per 1,000 for three years running, which is far below even the good state average.
Its property crime rate for 2022 was 3.4 per 1,000, which is down from 4.7 in 2020.
The city has grown a lot in recent years and does not seem to be struggling with growing pains.
Outdoor activities abound, with Yellowstone and Grand Teton close by.
It tops most lists of the safest cities in the state.
Hailey
Hailey is an even more isolated town with about 8,000 people.
It is 60 miles east of Boise, and there are a lot of open spaces in all directions.
It has had a low crime rate for several years and even that is declining.
In 2022, there were 1.6 violent crimes per 1,000 people, down from 2.3 the previous year.
Property crime is very low here, with 2.2 property crimes per 1,000 people in 2022, compared to 3.4 in 2021.
It has a median income of $51,000 in an area that has a low cost of living.
In 2020, there were only 14 violent crimes, and 19 property crimes total.
Weiser
Weiser is a town of 4,000 near the Oregon state line on the Snake River.
There are not a lot of people here, and not much crime.
In 2021, there were four violent crimes and 23 property crimes.
Violent crime was less than one per 1,000 and property crime was at four per 1,000.
That level has been the same for a few years.
Your chance of being a victim of a violent crime in Weiser is one in 1,408, far less than the state average of one in 415.
The median income is $21,000 for an individual and $36,000 for a family.
That is below the national average, but the cost of living there is as well.
Shelley
Shelley, Idaho is a town of about 5,000, and about 10 miles south of Idaho Falls on Interstate 15.
Crime rates sometimes go up around the interstates, but not at Shelley.
There has been a rise in violent crime, but it is still very low.
So far, in 2022, there have been 1.3 violent crimes per 1,000 people.
In 2021, that figure was.02 per 1,000.
The average over the last several years has been less than one per 1,000.
The property crime rate has been going down.
In 2022 there were 11.9 property crimes per 1,000, and in 2021 it was at 11.3.
That is lower than in 2020 when there were 14.1 property crimes per 1,000.
Moscow
Moscow, Idaho is a little larger than some towns on our list, at 26,000 people, but its crime rate is very low.
Its violent crime rate is less than half of a person per 1,000.
In 2022 it was .04, in 2021 it was .03, and in 2020 it was .05.
Property crime is a lot higher, however, but still below the state and national average.
It has held steady at around 15 per 1,000 people for the last three years.
It is home to the University of Idaho and has a median income of $41,000.
It’s 10 miles from Pullman, WA, home of Washington State University.
Meridian
Meridian, Idaho may not be a place you would expect to see a low crime rate, but it has a very low one.
Meridian has 120,000 people and is just north of Boise.
The violent crime rate has remained steady at 1.6 per 1,000 people for the last three years.
Its property crime rate has been going down significantly.
In 2022, it is at 8.4 per 1,000 and was at 10.7 in 2021 and 12.1 the previous year.
Rigby
Rigby, Idaho is a town of about 5,000 people, 20 miles north of Idaho Falls, and has a very small amount of crime.
Rigby’s violent crime rate has been falling, and so far, in 2022, the violent crime rate is .2 per 1,000 people.
In 2021, that rate was .7, and it was 1.5 in 2020.
Property crime has gone down as well.
In 2022 it is at 9.2 per 1,000 people, and in 2020 that number is at 10.2.
Highway 20 goes through the town, and to the east, the crime rate is much higher.
Rigby is one of the most ethnically diverse towns in the state.
Its education level is higher than the national average, but $19,000 per capita income is lower than the state average.
Mountain Home
Mountain Home is a town of 15,000 people just a few miles south of Boise.
Being on the Interstate, close to a big city, and with an Air Force base nearby, you might expect more crime than this city has.
So far, in 2022, there were three violent crimes per 1,000 people and six property crimes per 1,000.
That is higher than some, and it has increased over the last few years.
Still, most residents feel it is a safe city.
One bright spot is that there were no armed robberies reported in 2021.
Middleton
Middleton, Idaho is a small town of 8,000 about 20 miles from Boise.
Its population has been growing fast, up more than 2,000 over the last 20 years, but the crime rate has remained fairly low.
The violent crime rate was 1.5 per 1,000 in 2022, 1.3 in 2021, and 1.4 in 2020.
In 2020, the rate of property crime was 6.6 per 1,000, and in 2021 it was at 8.9 and was a low of 4.5 in 2020.
Fruitland
Fruitland is a small town of 5,500 people near the Washington state line, and about 50 miles north of Boise.
Its crime rate has been inching upward in recent years but is still well below state and regional averages.
In 2020, the violent crime rate was 1.1 per 1,000, more than doubling the .5 in 1,000 in 2021, and it was at .8 in 2020.
The property crime rate was very low in 2021 at 6.6 per 1,000, sandwiched between two years that were much higher.
The property crime rate was 10 per 1,000 in 2022, and 12.8 in 2020.
5 Safety Tips for Traveling in Idaho
- Make sure your car is in good condition before heading out. Check the tires, look for leaks, and other basic safety items. There are a lot of remote areas in this state and not much phone coverage at times, so you don’t want to get stranded.
- Lock your car and your hotel room. It is a very rural state and very safe, and that can lull you into a state of carelessness. Even in safe areas, there are still people looking for an opportunity to commit a crime. Most criminals do not break locks.
- Pay attention to the weather. Watch local news for weather information and any other hazard you need to be aware of. The weather can change quickly, and wildfires are common in the Western part of the country.
- Stay hydrated. Especially in summer, it can be very hot. You can get dehydrated before you realize you are in trouble easily. Keep water in your car just in case you need it. Avoid alcohol and caffeine as much as possible.
- Don’t look like a tourist. Criminals look for victims, and someone who is not familiar with the area, who is confused, is a convenient target. Avoid carrying around paper maps. Act like you know where you are going. Don’t flash your cash or expensive electronics.
Idaho Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Idaho Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the highest property crime rate?
The small town of Ponderay in the northwest corner, with a population of about 2,000, has a property crime rate of 44.2 per 1,000 people, which is double the national average.
What city has the worst violent crime rate?
Garden City, a suburb of Boise, has a violent crime rate of 688 per 100,000, double the national average.
It also has double the national average for rape cases.
Oddly perhaps, its property crime rate is about the state average.
What area of the state is the safest?
The eastern area north of Idaho Falls has three towns on our list that are not far apart on U.S. Highway 20, near the Wyoming border.
Idaho is a rural state with low crime rates, but it’s important to stay aware of your surroundings and take precautions while traveling.
Idaho will always have a place in my heart, I grew up here and moved to another state to build a family with my husband. We challenged ourselves to have a family away from our comfort city.