North Dakota is a state that does NOT get the love it deserves if you ask us. As the least-visited state in the entire country and with a population of less than 780,000 in 2020, it’s one of those corners of the world that’s all too easy to forget even exists. But, for those of us who live here (and may have lived here for our whole lives), it’s a slice of paradise. It’s perfect for anyone seeking a life of peace, quiet, and relative solitude. Should you be considering a move to beautiful North Dakota, you’ll want to know where the safest spots to be are. Our friends at SafeWise publish a report annually about the top ten safest towns in every state, including North Dakota, and here they are:
- Hazen
Andrew Filer/Flickr With a population of 2,298 people, Hazen is the perfect place to live if you’re looking for peace and quiet (and safety). With a violent crime rate of 0 per 1,000 residents in 2020 and 0.4 per 1,000 in 2021, Hazen is the safest place to hang your hat in all of North Dakota. Its property crime rate wasn’t a whole lot higher, at 1.3 per 1,000 residents in 2021. Hazen, ND 58545, USA
- Beulah
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr The second-safest town in North Dakota is Beulah, a little piece of heaven with a population of just 3,141. In 2021, the violent crime rate per 1,000 residents was 1.3, and the property crime was 5.3. If you’re a fan of places that are safer than quite literally most places in the USA, this is a great option. Beulah, ND 58523, USA
- New Town
Andrew Filer/Flickr At third on the list comes New Town, a little spot with a population of 2,677. In 2021, the violent crime rate was ZERO! How cool is that? As for the property crime rate, it was 6.1 per 1,000 residents, earning its place solidly at number three. New Town, ND 58763, USA
- Carrington
Matt Zimmerman/Flickr Carrington hits the list one spot higher than it was last year at #4. The population of Carrington is 1,971 people, and the violent crime rate for 2021 was 0.5 per 1,000 residents. Property crime in 2021 was just 4.5 per 1,000 residents. Carrington, ND 58421, USA
- Stanley
Andrew Filer/Flickr Halfway through the list and we stumble upon Stanley, a little crossroads town on the 8 and 2. Its population is 2,868, and it had a violent crime rate of 0.7 in 2021. Interestingly, the property crime rate was also 0.7 per 1,000. Stanley, ND 58784, USA
- Lincoln
Andrew Filer/Flickr Lincoln has actually dropped down two spots from last year’s ranks, with a population of 4,006 and a violent crime rate of 0.8 per 1,000 residents in 2021 (up from 0.5 in 2020). Property crimes for 2021 were 2.3 per 1,000 residents, and in 2020 it was 3.5 per 1,000 - so at least those went down. Lincoln, ND 58504, USA
- Rugby
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr Rugby has the distinction of calling itself the geographic center of North America, but that title actually goes to Center. That being said, Rugby is still a wonderful place to live, with a low violent crime rate of just 0.4 in 2021. Rugby, ND 58368, USA
- Lisbon
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr Our eighth safest town in North Dakota is Lisbon, which is located in the beautiful Sheyenne River Valley. Its population was 2,041 in 2021, and the property crime rate was 13.8 per 1,000 residents. The violent crime rate in Lisbon was 1.0 per 1,000 residents. Lisbon, ND 58054, USA
- Watford City
Andrew Filer/Flickr Our second-to-last entry is Watford City, which has the second-highest population on this list at 9,309 people. Despite the higher comparative population, its violent crime rate is still low and was low in 2021 as well, at 4.9 per 1,000 residents. Property crime rates were 15.1 per 1,000 residents. Watford City, ND 58854, USA
- West Fargo
Ken Lund/Flickr Finally, the tenth safest town in North Dakota is West Fargo. Its population is the largest on this list, at 38,561 people, and the violent crime rate is still surprisingly low at 1.4 per 1,000 residents. Any one of the towns and cities named on this list would be an excellent choice in the event that you ever decide to move, be it to North Dakota in general or if you already live here and are looking to relocate. West Fargo, ND, USA
To view the official SafeWise report, as well as to check out their methods for yourself, be sure to visit the SafeWise website for North Dakota! Did your town make the list? Let us know in the comments!
Andrew Filer/Flickr
With a population of 2,298 people, Hazen is the perfect place to live if you’re looking for peace and quiet (and safety). With a violent crime rate of 0 per 1,000 residents in 2020 and 0.4 per 1,000 in 2021, Hazen is the safest place to hang your hat in all of North Dakota. Its property crime rate wasn’t a whole lot higher, at 1.3 per 1,000 residents in 2021.
Hazen, ND 58545, USA
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
The second-safest town in North Dakota is Beulah, a little piece of heaven with a population of just 3,141. In 2021, the violent crime rate per 1,000 residents was 1.3, and the property crime was 5.3. If you’re a fan of places that are safer than quite literally most places in the USA, this is a great option.
Beulah, ND 58523, USA
At third on the list comes New Town, a little spot with a population of 2,677. In 2021, the violent crime rate was ZERO! How cool is that? As for the property crime rate, it was 6.1 per 1,000 residents, earning its place solidly at number three.
New Town, ND 58763, USA
Matt Zimmerman/Flickr
Carrington hits the list one spot higher than it was last year at #4. The population of Carrington is 1,971 people, and the violent crime rate for 2021 was 0.5 per 1,000 residents. Property crime in 2021 was just 4.5 per 1,000 residents.
Carrington, ND 58421, USA
Halfway through the list and we stumble upon Stanley, a little crossroads town on the 8 and 2. Its population is 2,868, and it had a violent crime rate of 0.7 in 2021. Interestingly, the property crime rate was also 0.7 per 1,000.
Stanley, ND 58784, USA
Lincoln has actually dropped down two spots from last year’s ranks, with a population of 4,006 and a violent crime rate of 0.8 per 1,000 residents in 2021 (up from 0.5 in 2020). Property crimes for 2021 were 2.3 per 1,000 residents, and in 2020 it was 3.5 per 1,000 - so at least those went down.
Lincoln, ND 58504, USA
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Rugby has the distinction of calling itself the geographic center of North America, but that title actually goes to Center. That being said, Rugby is still a wonderful place to live, with a low violent crime rate of just 0.4 in 2021.
Rugby, ND 58368, USA
Our eighth safest town in North Dakota is Lisbon, which is located in the beautiful Sheyenne River Valley. Its population was 2,041 in 2021, and the property crime rate was 13.8 per 1,000 residents. The violent crime rate in Lisbon was 1.0 per 1,000 residents.
Lisbon, ND 58054, USA
Our second-to-last entry is Watford City, which has the second-highest population on this list at 9,309 people. Despite the higher comparative population, its violent crime rate is still low and was low in 2021 as well, at 4.9 per 1,000 residents. Property crime rates were 15.1 per 1,000 residents.
Watford City, ND 58854, USA
Ken Lund/Flickr
Finally, the tenth safest town in North Dakota is West Fargo. Its population is the largest on this list, at 38,561 people, and the violent crime rate is still surprisingly low at 1.4 per 1,000 residents. Any one of the towns and cities named on this list would be an excellent choice in the event that you ever decide to move, be it to North Dakota in general or if you already live here and are looking to relocate.
West Fargo, ND, USA
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