Despite having a population of only 1.79 million people, the state of Idaho has the tenth-lowest rate of violent crime and the third-lowest incidence of property crime in the country. In fact, US News classified Idaho as the third-safest state in the US overall.
This seems to be due to the fact that Idaho has 2.4 cases of violent crime per 1,000 residents, when the average for the nation is 4.0. In addition, the rate of property crime in Idaho is 11.1 per 1,000 residents, while the rate of property crime nationally is 19.6.
So, if you are looking for the safest cities in Idaho, you must not miss out this article.
1. Rexburg
Rexburg, with a population of 29,000, is located in a remote region of the Rocky Mountains not far from the Wyoming border. For the past three years in a row, the city’s violent crime rate has not exceeded.
In 2022, there were 3.4 property crimes per 1,000 residents, a decrease from the 4.7 per 1,000 recorded the year before. There doesn’t appear to be any growing pains despite the city’s rapid expansion in recent years. It consistently ranks as one of the safest places to live in California.
2. Hailey
About 8,000 individuals live in the much more remote city of Hailey. The area is located 60 miles east of Boise and features vast stretches of open land in all directions. The crime rate has been low for many years and is actually going down.
Dropping from 2.3 in 2021 to 1.6 in 2022, the violent crime rate was decreasing. Also in 2022, there are 2.2 property crimes per 1,000 people, which is significantly lower than the national average of 3.4 per 1,000 people. On the other hand, the cost of living is quite low, and the median income is $51,000.
3. Rigby
About 5,000 people call the town of Rigby, Idaho home. Located approximately 20 miles north of Idaho Falls, Rigby has an extremely low rate of overall crime. The rate of violent crime in Rigby has been decreasing over the past few years, and it currently stands at 0.2 per 1,000 residents for the year 2022.
The rate of property crime has also decreased. In 2022, the rate is 9.2 per 1,000 people, while in 2020, it was 10.2 per 1,000 people. The town is traversed by Highway 20, and the area to the east of it has a significantly higher rate of violent crime.
You might also be interested to know about the best cities to live in Idaho peacefully.
4. Middleton
Middleton, Idaho, a rural community with a population of 8,000, is located around 20 miles from Boise. Although the population has increased rapidly over the past 20 years – by more than 2,000 people, the crime rate has remained quite low throughout this time.
In 2022, the rate of violent crime is 1.5 per 1,000 people, compared to 1.3 in 2021 and 1.4 in 2020. The rate of property crime in 2021 was 6.6 per 1,000 and was at a low of 4.5 in 2020. In 2022, the rate of property crime was 6.6 per 1,000.
5. Buhl
Violent crime rate is currently at 2.2 per 1,000 and property crime is around 5.7. This level has been the same for a few years. Your likelihood of being a victim of a violent crime in Buhl is one in 1,408, significantly fewer than the state average of one in 415. Additionally, the median household income is $42,525, and the median individual income is $21,000 in Buhl.
Learn more about the most expensive cities in Idaho.
6. Mountain Home
A town with a population of 15,000 people and located only a few miles south of Boise is called Mountain Home. Due to its location on an interstate, proximity to a major metropolis, and an active Air Force base, one may anticipate a higher rate of crime in this community than it really exists.
Since the beginning of 2022, there have been three cases of violent crime for every 1,000 people and six cases of property crime for every 1,000 persons. It has been climbing steadily over the past few years, reaching new heights in the process.
Despite this, the vast majority of locals believe it to be a secure city. The fact that there were no armed robberies reported in 2021 is one few positives of this city.
7. Fruitland
Near the border with Washington state and around 50 miles north of Boise is where you’ll find the small community of 5,500 inhabitants known as Fruitland. In recent years, there has been a slow but steady increase in the city’s crime rate, but it is still significantly lower than the averages for both the state and the region.
The rate of violent crime in 2021 was .5 per 1,000 people, and .8 per 1,000 people in 2020. In 2022, the rate of violent crime was 1.1 per 1,000 people. The rate of property crime in 2021 was exceptionally low, 6.6 per 1,000 people. In 2022, the rate of property crime was 10 per 1,000 people, compared to 12.8 in 2020.
8. Meridian
It’s likely that Meridian, Idaho is not the kind of place where you’d expect to find a low crime rate, but the city actually boasts a very low crime rate. Meridian is located just north of Boise and is home to 120,000 people.
Over the course of the past three years, the rate of violent crime has stayed unchanged at 1.6 incidents per 1,000 residents. The percentage of crimes committed against property has been steadily declining recently. The rate in 2022 is 8.4 per 1,000 people, whereas in 2021 it was 10.7 and in the year before it was 12.1.
9. Shelley
Shelley has a population of around 5,000 and is located about 10 miles south of Idaho Falls along Interstate 15. The crime rate may be higher along the highways, but it is not in Shelley. Although violent crime has increased, it remains at historically low levels.
There have been 1.3 violent crimes per 1,000 individuals so far this year (2022). During the year 2021, it was .02 per 1,000 and a rate of fewer than 1 per 1,000 on average over the past few years. There were 11.9 property crimes per 1,000 people in 2022, up from 11.3 in 2021; but that’s a decrease from 2020, when there were 14.1 property crimes for every 1,000 people.
10. Moscow
Moscow, Idaho has a population of 26,000 people, making it slightly larger than other of the cities on this list; nevertheless, the city’s crime rate is quite low. Its rate of violent crime is less than half a person per one thousand residents. In the year 2022, it was 0.4, whereas in the year 2021 it was 0.3, and in the year 2020 it was 0.5.
Despite this, the rate of property crime is still far lower than both the state and the national average. Over the past three years, it has remained relatively unchanged at a rate of approximately 15 cases per 1,000 persons. A median salary of $41,000 can be found in this city, which is also home to the University of Idaho.
As safety is the first and foremost priority for humans, it is your right to know how much a place is safe and secure before you plan to visit or move there. Hopefully this list of the safest cities will help you in making your decision.