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10 Most Dangerous Cities in Oregon (2024 Update)

Downtown Astoria Oregon

Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.

Excessive property and violent crimes can make a city a dangerous place to live in and visit. You must be aware of risky towns around you to decide if it is safe to travel and live there.

This article will cover the 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Oregon. If you’d like to educate yourself more on the state’s hazardous locations or just know what’s happening in each city, continue reading.

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The 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Oregon: A Quick Look

1. Portland, OR

portland oregon train station
Image Credit: 12019, Pixabay
Population 656,222
Violent crime rate 3.65 per 1,000 citizens
Property crime rate 26.23 per 1,000 citizens
Unemployment rate 6.9%

Portland is the largest city in Oregon, with the highest population in the state. The city’s population has grown by over 50%, but with that came an increase in violence and crimes. Violence has started to rise since 2019, and one of the crimes that stand out the most is gun violence. There have been numerous homicide victims over the past year. Portland had more shootings and homicides than some larger cities in the US, which shows just how unstable the situation is.

Other minor crimes like carjacking, vandalism, theft, and drug dealing are very common in this city as well. Also, walking the streets of Portland alone at night is not recommended, especially if you’re a female.


2. Ontario, OR

Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot
Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot (Image Credit: Ron Reiring, Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0)
Population 55,444
Violent crime rate 3.52 per 1,000 citizens
Property crime rate 52.13 per 1,000 citizens
Unemployment rate 5.3%

Ontario is a small city in Oregon, with only 55,444 residents. Still, regardless of the number of people, the crime rates are pretty high. That doesn’t apply to half of the violent crimes as much as property crimes. While the violent crime rates are not too high, the property crime rates are incredibly high, especially for a town that size. An interesting fact is that in Ontario, a crime occurs every 6 hours and 45 minutes.

While violent crimes are lower than property crimes, they are still happening, and one of the most frequent of them is assault. Other crimes like rape, murder, and homicide are not as frequent, but they still exist. If you are planning to live in this city, or just visit it, be aware of these issues and always be alert to avoid any possible problems.


3. Astoria, OR

astoria column
Image Credit: B Brown, Shutterstock
Population 41,250
Violent crime rate 2.46 per 1,000 citizens
Property crime rate 49.17 per 1,000 citizens
Unemployment rate 7.7%

Astoria is a little port city with only 41,250 citizens. Although the town’s not big, crimes occur daily.  There are not too many violent crimes, but property crimes are frequent in this city. Theft, car stealing, and burglaries are among the most common felonies in this area of Oregon. That mainly happens due to the unemployment rate, which is higher than the US average.

If you’re living in Astoria or planning to move there, make sure you have an alarm system to prevent possible robberies. The safest part of the town is the southeast area, while the most dangerous part is the northwest area. Walking through specific neighborhoods at night is dangerous because you can be a target for pickpockets and thieves.


4. Warrenton, OR

Warrenton Historic District OR
Warrenton Historic District OR (Image Credit: Strawser via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Population 5,877
Violent crime rate 1.39 per 1,000 citizens
Property crime rate 15.55 per 1,000 citizens
Unemployment rate 7.7%

Warrenton is a tiny city in Oregon (Clatsop County), with only 5,877 inhabitants. If you look at Warrenton’s crime rates, they don’t seem too concerning. Still, when you compare them to the number of residents in this tiny city, you’ll realize that that’s a very high rate for an area of this population. Crimes are not occurring daily, but on average, a crime occurs every 2 days in Warrenton.

This is another city where property crimes are more usual than violent crimes, and again, the unemployment rate contributes to that. Other common crimes are assault, theft, burglary, vehicle theft, and rape.


5. Eugene, OR

Fountain in Eugene Oregon
Fountain in Eugene Oregon (Image Credit: Visitor7, Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0)
Population 177,732
Violent crime rate 2.13 per 1,000 citizens
Property crime rate 41.76 per 1,000 citizens
Unemployment rate 6.3%

Eugene is located in the Pacific Northwest. Crimes in this city usually occur every 45 minutes, so the crime rate here is relatively high compared to some safer places in Oregon. The property crime rate is incredibly high, and it’s even higher than the US average. Burglaries and theft are common due to poverty and high unemployment rates. When it comes to violent crimes, they do not occur as often, but they still exist, and they are higher than the usual rates for communities of that size.


6. Coos Bay, OR

Chandler Hotel Coos Bay Oregon
Chandler Hotel Coos Bay Oregon (Image Credit: Ian Poellet, Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0)
Population 16,417
Violent crime rate 2.24 per 1,000 citizens
Property crime rate 32.45 per 1,000 citizens
Unemployment rate 7.8%

Coos Bay is relatively small, but the crime rates here are higher than the average crime rates in the US. When it comes to violent crimes, there’s no murder, but assault, rape, and robbery are common in this town. Property crimes occur in this city often, and so are vehicle thefts, burglaries, and regular thefts. This is once again a city where the unemployment rate is high, considering how many people live there. Homelessness is also prevalent in Coos Bay.

 


7. Salem, OR

Downtown Salem Oregon
Downtown Salem Oregon (Image Credit: M.O. Stevens, Wikimedia Commons CC BY 3.0)
Population 177,694
Violent crime rate 2.31 per 1,000 citizens
Property crime rate 26.12 per 1,000 citizens
Unemployment rate 6.2%

Salem is the capital of Oregon, and the second-largest city, located in Willamette Valley. It is Marion county’s county seat. When it comes to crime, there are both property and violent crimes, and like most other cities in Oregon, property crime is more frequent than violent ones. Theft and burglaries are very common, and robberies and assaults happen occasionally. Issues like murder and homicides haven’t happened lately, but rape and prostitution are increasing.

One of the areas with the highest crime rate is Northeast Salem, particularly the Highland Neighborhood and the Hollywood District.  If you still decide you will travel to Salem, choose a rental property, or buy a house, choose areas of West Salem or South Salem, which are currently the safest.


8. Roseburg, OR

Roseburg Station - Roseburg, Oregon
Roseburg Station – Roseburg, Oregon (Image Credit: Ian Poellet via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Population 23,793
Violent crime rate 1.92 per 1,000 citizens
Property crime rate 31.17 per 1,000 citizens
Unemployment rate 7.3%

Roseburg is another city in Oregon that’s relatively small, but regardless of its size, it has a lot of crimes happening. If you compare the number of crimes per 1,000 citizens for a town with only 23,793 people living in it, you can see the area is unsafe. Crime numbers are higher than they should be for a city of this size, which is not good news. Violent crimes do not occur often, but rape and assault do happen. Also, thefts, break-ins, vandalism, and burglaries are more common than they should be.

 


9. Woodburn, OR

woodburn oregon
Image Credit: Piqsels
Population 26,799
Violent crime rate 3.65 per 1,000 citizens
Property crime rate 38.23 per 1,000 citizens
Unemployment rate 6.2%

Woodburn is a small town in Oregon with plenty of natural beauty. Burglaries, car theft, and mugging happen multiple times a day, making this an unstable environment for people who want a tranquil life. If you compare the crime rate in this city with the national average, you’ll see that crimes are 54.53% higher. When it comes to violent crimes, the most frequent ones are aggravated assault and rape. If you still want to experience life in Woodburn, we suggest installing cameras and an alarm system at your property to prevent any possible problems.


10. Klamath Falls, OR

Klamath Falls
Klamath Falls (Image Credit: Llywrch, Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0)
Population 22,034
Violent crime rate 3.08 per 1,000 citizens
Property crime rate 42.71 per 1,000 citizens
Unemployment rate 8.4%

With only 22,034 residents, Klamath Falls is among many small towns in Oregon that experience troubling crime rates. If we’re looking at violent crimes, assault and robbery are usually why crime rates are rising. The police departments of the city are trying to resolve the problems, so the city is on a good pace toward preventing violent crimes. Although that is true, property crimes occur frequently. Theft, vehicle theft, burglary, and arson are still occurring daily.

 

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Why Is There More Crime In Oregon Than Ever Before?

Some of Oregon’s cities have been experiencing an undeniable increase in crimes over the past couple of years. One of the main reasons is that there are no opportunities for people to prosper. Hopefully, the situation in Oregon will change, but for now, bypass any cities and areas that are unsafe.

Veterans park Klamath Falls Oregon
Veterans park Klamath Falls Oregon (Image Credit: Bobjgalindo, Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0)

How to Stay Safe in Oregon

When it comes to staying safe in Oregon, there are simple things you can do. If you are a traveler or a visitor to areas prone to crime, be cautious and try not to be too flashy. If possible, use cards instead of money and keep a low profile in dangerous areas of the city. On the other hand, if you live in one of the most dangerous cities in Oregon, secure your home and your vehicle properly, travel in groups, and avoid crime-prone neighborhoods.

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Conclusion

Regarding crime, the situation in Oregon is currently not the best. Still, if you are careful and cautious, you shouldn’t have too many problems, but be aware of your surroundings and the people you spend your time with. The cities we listed are quite dangerous, but other towns in Oregon might be a safer option for a stress-free move or vacation.


Featured Image Credit: Downtown Astoria Oregon (Image Credit: Steve Morgan, Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0)

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