Is West Lebanon Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

West Lebanon, New Hampshire, is part of the Lebanon community, with nearly 15,000 residents across the city. Lebanon is just five miles from Hanover, where the Ivy League school Dartmouth is located.

This part of New England is known as the Upper Valley, which is made up of nine small towns between New Hampshire and Vermont along a 40-mile stretch of the Connecticut River.

Directly across the river from West Lebanon is Hartford, Vermont.

The Upper Valley boasts culture, artists, higher learning, outdoor activities, and four seasons of things to do.

NOTE: To learn more about the Appalachian Trail in this region, please read our article about Hanover, which is where the 90-mile stretch of the trail enters New Hampshire and goes to Glencliff.

To the northeast of Lebanon, the White Mountains region begins.

The closest access point of the park is less than an hour away at Polar Caves Park.

Staying in West Lebanon puts you close to many shopping options and restaurants while still being at a great base camp for travel throughout either state.

Warnings & Dangers in West Lebanon

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low risk here, especially with so many things to do that are family-friendly. Violent crime rates are less than half the national average. We'll go through Lebanon's crime statistics and information as we dive deeper into this, but you should also know that Hanover is a low-risk city as well.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Advance Transit is the public transportation for the town and throughout the Upper Valley. Taxis and rideshares are easy to find, and rental cars will give you more freedom to explore. All options are low risk.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

Since 2017, the city has averaged one pickpocket or purse snatching a year, so there's a low risk.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

Winter storms, hurricane remnants, and nor'easters are the biggest issues here. You should also know about wildfire risks and flash flooding challenges. Summers can have extreme heat, but it's easy to prepare for that. Treat it with a medium risk since there can be weather issues in every season. The Emergency Preparedness section of the city's website can give you all the safety information you need.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

This is a low risk, with two to four robberies a year since 2018. None of those incidents was a mugging.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

This is another low risk, with no hard targets nearby and no big cities close enough to cause concerns. You can read the Homeland Security website to learn more about mass shooting incidents, as that's an ongoing issue you can't prepare for other than to be vigilant about reporting suspicious activity.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

The Lebanon Police Department (LPD) has a Scams & Prevention website section to review. It details the most common scams and what to do if you are a victim. That said, the risk is low, and no scams here are known to target just tourists.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Nothing in the crime data suggests there's a greater risk for women, but you should always use the standard cautions. The charm of New England's small towns can easily cause people to let down their guard. Don't let that happen to you.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The 2022 Water Quality Report shows full compliance and no violations. On top of that, the increase in precipitation helped with the ongoing drought in the Upper Valley. For more up-to-date water quality issues, follow the city's social media sites. That's where you can learn about issues like hydrant flushing and water main breaks.

Safest Places to Visit in West Lebanon

The city of Lebanon’s website has a section for “Places of Interest In and Around Lebanon.”

That does include West Lebanon.

In fact, I can tell you that most tourist sites in this region cover the ENTIRE region, even if it’s just a city or town website.

I noticed this while researching Hanover.

More often than not, sites will send you to Vermont.

As I write travel safety stories about New England, I always find a place in a town that I secretly nickname “The place where a Hallmark movie would be located.”

In Lebanon, that’s Colburn Park.

There’s a bandstand surrounded by a town square with adorable shops, historic sites, and the Lebanon Opera House.

Stop by the historical society to get a walking map tour of Lebanon.

Even though it was incorporated back in the 1760s, 200 years later, a fire would permanently change its footprint.

There’s a lot of history to learn here and too much of it that burned to the ground.

When you get to West Lebanon, it will feel much more big-box suburban.

However, if you forgot something for the trip, you have just about every type of store you can imagine.

This is a good time to tell you that New Hampshire doesn’t have a state sales tax.

If something is priced at $10, you’ll pay exactly $10.

While the Connecticut River forms the state line on the western edge of Lebanon, the Mascoma River runs through and along Lebanon and West Lebanon.

Riverside Park is a great place to enjoy the river and other outdoor activities.

Storrs Hill Ski Area isn’t one of the major resorts New Hampshire is known for, but it sure is the closest option to Lebanon.

Ski rentals are not available at this resort, but you can find some at the Golf and Ski Warehouse in West Lebanon.

(See? I told you they have EVERYTHING there!)

The best Instagram moment in Lebanon is the Packard Hill Covered Bridge.

It’s on Riverside Drive, going over the Mascoma River.

Just east of Lebanon is the Enfield Shaker Museum in the Shaker Village, where immigrants first arrived in 1793.

Overnight accommodations are available in the “Great Stone Dwelling.”

I’ve researched several Shaker villages in America, and I have to say, they are quite fascinating with how they lived and what they believed.

Places to Avoid in West Lebanon

You won’t find a bad part of town in Lebanon or West Lebanon.

The street layout is very simple, and it’s easy to get between the cities and neighboring communities.

Homelessness is a problem across New Hampshire, especially in Manchester, but Lebanon also has its fair share of challenges.

To avoid dating this article, I would recommend avoiding any area that clearly is a homeless camp and steering clear of panhandlers.

Also, if you see advice telling you to visit WRJ and you can’t seem to find it on the New Hampshire map, that’s because it’s a shortened name for White River Junction, just across the river from West Lebanon.

It’s one of the hubs of activity day and night.

For those who want to avoid snow, Lebanon might not be the place for a winter trip.

With more than six feet of snow falling and an average of 92 days with snow on the ground, you’ll likely be dealing with snow.

The good news is that the street crews know how to clear snow quickly and efficiently.

Safety Tips for Traveling to West Lebanon

So... How Safe Is West Lebanon Really?

I’ll let the good people of Lebanon partially answer this question.

In a 2022 community survey, the following issues were identified as the greatest problems in the community:

• Drug Abuse
• Traffic Issues
• Homelessness

All violent crime categories ranked at 6% or less.

Burglaries and thefts were at 20%.

Nearly 2/3 of all residents believe that drug abuse is the biggest issue.

At least 80% of respondents said that they feel very safe when they are alone outside during the day.

That dropped to 60% when asked if they feel safe at night.

It’s a little too easy to write off drug crime concerns as “If I don’t do drugs, it’s not a risk for me” because drug dealers and users are more prone to theft or violence to feed the habit.

Yes, you should avoid the drug world, but it also means staying aware of your surroundings.

Lock your car, and don’t leave valuables in plain sight.

Even something like an iPhone charger could seem valuable enough to break a window.

If you get a rental car, ask what prevention is on the vehicle to avoid an expensive catalytic converter theft.

All of that is an abundance of caution because crime rates here are nothing to be overly concerned about.

Plus, New Hampshire overall is one of the top three safest states.

How Does West Lebanon Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

International guests must have a passport and visa or visa waiver. You can find all the requirements for those on the U.S. State Department or Customs and Immigration websites. The rules are the same whether you fly into the country or cross the Canadian border.

Currency

You'll only be able to use the U.S. Dollar here. Exchange currency at home to get the lowest fees from your own bank. Most major airports have currency exchange options. Using credit cards for as many purchases as possible gives the best fraud protection.

Weather

Pack for the appropriate season, but always err on the side of more layers and jackets, even in summer. Bug spray, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes are a must. For winter, bring all the accessories and insulated layers, plus snow boots. You can rent ski equipment here.

Airports

Lebanon's airport has flights from Cape Air to consider. If you want a major airport, Manchester is 64 miles away, with Burlington, Vermont, and Albany, New York, being 75–100 miles away. Boston Logan International Airport is 109 miles away.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance that covers your flight, rental car, and accidental coverage is important here since the weather can be unpredictable, and wonderful outdoor adventures come with certain risks.

West Lebanon Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

New Hampshire - Safety by City