If you are thinking about visiting Minneapolis and have some qualms about the safety of the city, we got you covered.
Lets deep dive into the some crime statistics and crime rates and see how safe or dangerous Minneapolis really is.
Is Minneapolis, MN safe?
Statistically speaking, Minneapolis is an unsafe city. It’s violent crime rate and murder rate are many times more than the national average and its property crime rate is about double the national average.
Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on Minneapolis’ crime rate:
What is Minneapolis’s Crime Rate?
In 2021 Minneapolis reported 5,945 violent crimes and had a crime rate of 1,366.31 per 100,000 residents. Minneapolis’ crime rate is 3.5x times greater than the national average.
Here’s a table showing you the crime rate over the last 4 years.
|
Population |
Violent Crime |
Crime Rate |
2018 |
425,403 |
3,854 |
905.96 |
2019 |
429,606 |
4,322 |
1,006.04 |
2020 |
429,954 |
5,428 |
1,262.46 |
2021 |
435,113 |
5,945 |
1,366.31 |
Minneapolis’ Crime Rate Breakdown
Violent Crime Rate
Minneapolis has a similar violent crime rate to cities like New Orleans, Albuquerque and Baltimore.
You have a 1 in 73 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Minneapolis.
Here’s a map showing you how violent crime has trended in Minneapolis over a 12 year period. Violent crime has increased 10% over 2020 and 38% since 2019
*Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults.
Minneapolis’s Murder Rate
In 2021, Minneapolis reported 96 murders and had a murder rate of 22.1 per 100,000 residents. 96 murders is the most amount of murders recorded in Minneapolis since 1995.
96 murders is the most amount of murders in Minneapolis in the last 20 years. The record was set in 1995 when 97 murders were reported.
Minneapolis’ murder rate is 3.4x times greater the national average.
Minneapolis has a similar homicide rate to cities like Cincinnati, Milwaukee and Indianapolis.
You have a 1 in 4,532 chance of becoming a victim of murder in Minneapolis.
Here’s a map showing you how murders have trended over the last 12 years in Minneapolis. Murder in the city has doubled since 2019.
Minneapolis Property Crime Rate
In 2020 Minneapolis reported 18,166 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 4,225.10 per 100,000 residents.
Minneapolis’ property crime rate is 2.2x times greater the national average.
Minneapolis has a similar property crime rate to Houston, Lousiville, and Fort Lauderdale.
You have a 1 in 24 chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Minneapolis.
Here’s a map showing you how property crime has trended in Minneapolis over a 12 year period. Property crime has remained consistent over that timeframe.
*Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson
Minneapolis’ crime rate vs other cities in Minnesota (2020)
Here’e how Minneapolis’ violent crime rate compared to other cities in Minnesota. Minneapolis had the highest crime rate of all the cities listed in 2020.
City |
Population |
Violent Crime Rate (2020) |
Minneapolis |
429,954 |
1,262.46 |
St. Paul |
311,527 |
744.72 |
Brooklyn Park |
86,478 |
404.73 |
Duluth |
86,697 |
296.43 |
Bloomington |
89,987 |
295.60 |
Rochester |
121,395 |
247.13 |
Blaine |
70,222 |
118.20 |
Woodbury |
75,102 |
94.54 |
Maple Grove |
70,253 |
79.71 |
Plymouth |
81,026 |
65.41 |
Minneapolis Crime Rate Comparison
Here’s a list of the top 20 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. Minneapolis had the 19th highest crime rate for major cities in the United States.
How are Minneapolis’ crime rates calculated?
Crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
For example, in 2021 there were 96 murders in Minneapolis and the population was 435,113. This equals a murder rate of 22.1 per 100,000 residents.
Minneapolis’s Crime Statistics
Here’s a breakdown of all the crimes in the city for 2020 and 2021
|
2020 |
2021 |
Percent Change |
Homicide |
84 |
96 |
14% |
Rape |
438 |
413 |
-6% |
Robbery |
1,931 |
2,310 |
20% |
Aggravated Assault |
2,975 |
3,126 |
5% |
Burglary |
3,971 |
2,548 |
-36% |
Larceny/Theft |
12,059 |
11,435 |
-5% |
Motor Vehicle Theft |
3,905 |
4,054 |
4% |
Arson |
139 |
129 |
-7% |
TOTALS |
25,502 |
24,111 |
-5% |
**All data is from the Minneapolis Police Department Crime Data**
How much has crime increased in Minneapolis?
In 2021, Minneapolis reported 24,111 total crimes, which is a 5% decrease over 2020.
In 2021, Minneapolis reported 5,945 violent crimes, which is a 10% increase over 2020.
In 2021, Minneapolis reported 96 murders, which is a 14% increase over 2020.
In 2021, Minneapolis reported 18,166 property crimes, which is a 34% decrease over 2020.
How bad is crime in Minneapolis?
Statistically speaking, crime in Minneapolis is bad. It’s violent crime rate and murder has significantly increased in the city over the last few years and property crime in the city has remained consistently high.
Most dangerous neighborhoods in Minneapolis, MN
The most dangerous area of Minneapolis is North Minneapolis. It is plagued by violent crimes, gangs, shootings, drug dealing and poverty.
Another problem area in Minneapolis is the area south of downtown; Ventura Village and Phillips.
Here’s a maps showing you all the locations of reported gunfire in 2022 to give you a better perspective of the dangerous parts of Minnnapolis
Is Downtown Minneapolis safe?
Downtown Minneapolis is generally a safe area to visit, however many residents mention that downtown is not lively at night and basically shuts down in the evening and the weekends.
There are also certain pockets of downtown that should be avoided:
- Avoid the immediate areas around light-rail station, light rail stops and bus stops.
- Avoid Nicollet and Grant.
- Avoid Loring Park at night.
- Avoid the area immediately around Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC)
- On 10th Ave & 5th St there are homeless encampments.
- Avoid Nicollet & 18th.
Is the public transportation in Minneapolis safe?
The public transportation system in Minneapolis is handled by the Metro Transit and it offers many routes that interweave throughout the entire city.
The Metro has a spotty reputation among the residents of the city. Many residents say its safe during regular commuting hours (7am – 6pm), however there is a contingent of residents who say that the metro has really gone downhill over the years and has become really sketchy.
The best advice we can offer is to avoid taking the Metro at night. You should opt for a cab or ride sharing service instead.
Is Minneapolis safe at night?
Minneapolis is generally safe at night as long as you stay out of the problem areas (North Minneapolis, Ventura Village and Phillips). Be aware that streets and squares that are perfectly safe to visit in the daytime can be questionable and sketchy at night. Stay in well lit and populated places at night and avoid walking through desolate areas.
Minneapolis is also not a place you want to be wandering around aimlessly at night, so save the sight seeing for the daytime.
What do residents of Minneapolis say about it’s safety?
- "Since the riots and burning of the third precinct, 150 have either left the police department or are on disability, leaving the city even more unprotected. Nice neighborhoods are short officers and criminals know this, and are taking advantage of it. Theft, carjackings, burglaries, assaults and other violent crime are through the roof."
- "Avoid North Minneapolis, all of it. Broadway and Lowry are open air drug markets."
- "The North side has been a hot zone for violence and gang activity for decades and there are some p0ockets of the south side, near downtown that suffer from extreme poverty."
- "There has been an increase in crime in Minneapolis, ever since the protests over the murder of George Floyd. Before I would feel safe driving around at night but now I don’t feel driving in a lot of areas."
- "Stay far away from North Minneapolis. It has been a problem area for generations. That part of the city doesn’t have to offer in the way of attractions or destinations, unless you have friends there or are looking to buy drugs."
- "I don’t really fear for my safety in Minneapolis but I would be lying if I said it isn’t something in the back of my mind."
- "I signed up for a conceal carry class the other day; that’s how safe I feel."
- "2020 was a hard year for the city and for everyone, not just us. We had some major shit that went down, between George Floyd and the Panndemic. But don’t let the media fool you, 90% of the city is perfectly fine to live in, just a few places and times you’d want to avoid"
- "I have definitely noticed an increase in violence lately."
- "Don’t go to North Minneapolis. End of story. You will regret it. Unless you go so far North you aren’t in Minneapolis anymore."
- "North Minneapolis is sketchy AF! There is an entire facebook group with over 10k members that is dedicated to complaining about how bad of an area it is."
- "The city took a 1-2 punch with the protest from the George Floyd murder and the pandemic and it really shows in the crime rate."
Tips to stay safe while visiting Minneapolis, MN
- Thoroughly research the city before you visit and figure out what areas are good and what areas are not so good. Plan your trip with this information in mind.
- Stay in well populated and well lit areas at night. Don’t walk through a desolate area and don’t walk through alleys.
- Avoid North Minnneapolis at night.
- Always be aware of your surroundings. Don’t bury your face in your phone and don’t get lost in your headphones while walking or taking the metro.
- Avoid walking by yourself at night, especially if you are a woman.
- Don’t engage with panhandlers and homeless people. Avoid them and keep walking.
Facts about Minneapolis, MN
- The population of Minneapolis in 2021 was 435,113 and is the 46th most populous city in the United States.
- The city covers a land area of 57.51 square miles.
- The racial makeup of the city: 9.6% Hispanic or Latino, 60.0% White, 19.2% African American, 1.4% Native American, 5.9% Asian, and 4.8% from two or more races.
- The median income for a household in the city was $62,583. The per capita income for the city was $38,808.
- 19.1% of the population live below the poverty line.
- The median home value in Minneapolis is $324,985 in 2022.
- In 2022, the average rent for a Minneapolis 2-bedroom apartment is 2,378.
- 90.0% of residents 25 and older is a high school graduate. 50.4% of residents 25 and older has a bachelors degree or higher.
Leave a Reply