In the past, we researched the safest places to live in Minnesota, and we of course can’t stop there, so we have to examine the flip side – the most dangerous places in Minnesota. We looked at crime rates across the state and found the places with the highest to bring you the most dangerous cities in Minnesota. This is not to say these still aren’t wonderful places to live or visit, in fact, when the website Neighborhood Scout researched the most dangerous cities in America, only Minneapolis showed up on the list, and it was #78 (Milwaukee was #23, in case you were wondering). But without further ado, thanks to Area Vibes, here are the most dangerous places in Minnesota, where you are most likely to be a victim of a crime.

  1. Grand Rapids

Facebook/Grand Rapids, Minnesota Fan Page Grand Rapids is a Minnesota city with good schools and cheap housing, but high rates of property crime keep it on the list at #13. Grand Rapids, MN 55744, USA

  1. Bemidji

Facebook/Visit Bemidji Bemidji, one of our favorite “up north” areas has a surprising number of thefts, but scores high for amenities, cost of living, education, and recreational opportunities, thanks, in part, to it being home to Lake Bemidji State Park. Bemidji, MN 56601, USA

  1. St. Cloud

Facebook/City of St. Cloud, MN St. Cloud is another one of Minnesota’s larger cities. With good schools and cheap housing, the only downside is that St. Cloud’s crime rates are one-third more than the national average. St. Cloud, St Cloud, MN, USA

  1. Waite Park

Google Maps Waite Park has three times the Minnesota average of reported thefts, but it also has top ratings for amenities, cost of living, and education, along with a good housing market and one of the best swimming holes in Minnesota. Waite Park, MN, USA

  1. Park Rapids

Facebook/Visit Park Rapids Park Rapids is a small town with high rates of burglary and theft. They also have great schools, a low cost of living, and good amenities. Park Rapids, MN 56470, USA

  1. Duluth

Flickr/Sharon Mollerus Minnesota’s fifth-largest city has some of the highest education, amenity, and cost of living rankings, which are paired with high numbers of thefts and assaults. However, don’t make the mistake of avoiding Duluth altogether. It’s actually one of the best places in the state to enjoy the outdoors. Duluth, MN, USA

  1. Spring Lake Park

Google Maps Spring Lake Park is a small town with high theft rates. However, its education rankings are top-notch. Spring Lake Park, MN 55432, USA

  1. West St. Paul

Facebook/City of West St. Paul West St. Paul is #6 for extremely high incidents of theft among other crimes. West Saint Paul, West St Paul, MN 55118, USA

  1. Brainerd

Facebook/Brainerd.com Brainerd has amazing ratings for amenities, cost of living, and education, but it has more than double the average Minnesota crime rates. Brainerd, MN 56401, USA

  1. Brooklyn Center

Facebook/City of Brooklyn Center, MN Brooklyn Center is not one of Minnesota’s largest cities, but it has one of the higher rates of violent crime, causing it to nab the #4 spot on our list. Brooklyn Center gets good ratings though for a low cost of living and a stable housing market. Brooklyn Center, MN, USA

  1. Virginia

Flickr/edkohler A small town, Virginia ended up high on the list due to a larger number of less violent property crimes. They do, however, get top ratings for amenities, education, and cost of living! Plus, it’s one of the best towns for foodies in Minnesota. Virginia, MN, USA

  1. St. Paul

Flickr/Jonathan Miske Predictably coming in second is the second-largest city in Minnesota. St. Paul is top-rated for everything except crime rates. St. Paul has an average of 4,147 crimes reported per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 3,099 crimes per 100,000 people. Saint Paul, St Paul, MN, USA

  1. Minneapolis

Flickr/Ron Reiring With over twice the Minnesota average crime rate, Minneapolis is the most dangerous city in the state, and both luckily (for the rest of Minnesota and unluckily, was the only place to make the top 100 most dangerous cities in the country. Minneapolis, MN, USA

So, what do you think? Did you know these were the most dangerous places in Minnesota? Were you surprised by any of the places on this list? Know of any other dangerous places to avoid in Minnesota? Tell us!

Facebook/Grand Rapids, Minnesota Fan Page

Grand Rapids is a Minnesota city with good schools and cheap housing, but high rates of property crime keep it on the list at #13.

Grand Rapids, MN 55744, USA

Facebook/Visit Bemidji

Bemidji, one of our favorite “up north” areas has a surprising number of thefts, but scores high for amenities, cost of living, education, and recreational opportunities, thanks, in part, to it being home to Lake Bemidji State Park.

Bemidji, MN 56601, USA

Facebook/City of St. Cloud, MN

St. Cloud is another one of Minnesota’s larger cities. With good schools and cheap housing, the only downside is that St. Cloud’s crime rates are one-third more than the national average.

St. Cloud, St Cloud, MN, USA

Google Maps

Waite Park has three times the Minnesota average of reported thefts, but it also has top ratings for amenities, cost of living, and education, along with a good housing market and one of the best swimming holes in Minnesota.

Waite Park, MN, USA

Facebook/Visit Park Rapids

Park Rapids is a small town with high rates of burglary and theft. They also have great schools, a low cost of living, and good amenities.

Park Rapids, MN 56470, USA

Flickr/Sharon Mollerus

Minnesota’s fifth-largest city has some of the highest education, amenity, and cost of living rankings, which are paired with high numbers of thefts and assaults. However, don’t make the mistake of avoiding Duluth altogether. It’s actually one of the best places in the state to enjoy the outdoors.

Duluth, MN, USA

Spring Lake Park is a small town with high theft rates. However, its education rankings are top-notch.

Spring Lake Park, MN 55432, USA

Facebook/City of West St. Paul

West St. Paul is #6 for extremely high incidents of theft among other crimes.

West Saint Paul, West St Paul, MN 55118, USA

Facebook/Brainerd.com

Brainerd has amazing ratings for amenities, cost of living, and education, but it has more than double the average Minnesota crime rates.

Brainerd, MN 56401, USA

Facebook/City of Brooklyn Center, MN

Brooklyn Center is not one of Minnesota’s largest cities, but it has one of the higher rates of violent crime, causing it to nab the #4 spot on our list. Brooklyn Center gets good ratings though for a low cost of living and a stable housing market.

Brooklyn Center, MN, USA

Flickr/edkohler

A small town, Virginia ended up high on the list due to a larger number of less violent property crimes. They do, however, get top ratings for amenities, education, and cost of living! Plus, it’s one of the best towns for foodies in Minnesota.

Virginia, MN, USA

Flickr/Jonathan Miske

Predictably coming in second is the second-largest city in Minnesota. St. Paul is top-rated for everything except crime rates. St. Paul has an average of 4,147 crimes reported per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 3,099 crimes per 100,000 people.

Saint Paul, St Paul, MN, USA

Flickr/Ron Reiring

With over twice the Minnesota average crime rate, Minneapolis is the most dangerous city in the state, and both luckily (for the rest of Minnesota and unluckily, was the only place to make the top 100 most dangerous cities in the country.

Minneapolis, MN, USA

The risks facing residents of the Land of 10,000 Lakes don’t end with the most dangerous cities in Minnesota. Need some examples? Check out our list of things in Minnesota that can kill you.

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The OIYS Visitor Center

Most Dangerous Places In Minnesota July 28, 2022 Daniella DiRienzo What are the best things about living in Minnesota? There are so many benefits of living in Minnesota including the average cost of housing. And while the cost of homes and rental rates have increased in recent years, the state’s housing prices are still much lower than in other populated urban areas such as New York City. The low cost of housing isn’t the only perk of living in Minnesota, though. There are many more, including easy access to numerous outdoor activities, thanks to dozens of state parks as well as a handful of national parks. Lastly, let’s not forget that Minnesota is home to one of the world’s best shopping destinations – the Mall of America. What are the worst things about living in Minnesota? Overall, life in Minnesota is pretty great; however, just like any other state, there are some bad things about living in Minnesota. For starters, there’s the extremely harsh winter season. Residents have to deal with frigid temperatures, but that’s not all. There’s also the immense snowfall, which is sometimes too much for plows to keep up with, and that means residents can be stuck at home for days at a time. The summer season can also be a bit difficult in Minnesota. Sure, the temperatures aren’t as blistering as in some states; however, the warm weather paired with the state’s thousands of lakes creates the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Most Dangerous Places In Minnesota

July 28, 2022

Daniella DiRienzo

What are the best things about living in Minnesota? There are so many benefits of living in Minnesota including the average cost of housing. And while the cost of homes and rental rates have increased in recent years, the state’s housing prices are still much lower than in other populated urban areas such as New York City. The low cost of housing isn’t the only perk of living in Minnesota, though. There are many more, including easy access to numerous outdoor activities, thanks to dozens of state parks as well as a handful of national parks. Lastly, let’s not forget that Minnesota is home to one of the world’s best shopping destinations – the Mall of America. What are the worst things about living in Minnesota? Overall, life in Minnesota is pretty great; however, just like any other state, there are some bad things about living in Minnesota. For starters, there’s the extremely harsh winter season. Residents have to deal with frigid temperatures, but that’s not all. There’s also the immense snowfall, which is sometimes too much for plows to keep up with, and that means residents can be stuck at home for days at a time. The summer season can also be a bit difficult in Minnesota. Sure, the temperatures aren’t as blistering as in some states; however, the warm weather paired with the state’s thousands of lakes creates the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

There are so many benefits of living in Minnesota including the average cost of housing. And while the cost of homes and rental rates have increased in recent years, the state’s housing prices are still much lower than in other populated urban areas such as New York City. The low cost of housing isn’t the only perk of living in Minnesota, though. There are many more, including easy access to numerous outdoor activities, thanks to dozens of state parks as well as a handful of national parks. Lastly, let’s not forget that Minnesota is home to one of the world’s best shopping destinations – the Mall of America.

What are the worst things about living in Minnesota?

Overall, life in Minnesota is pretty great; however, just like any other state, there are some bad things about living in Minnesota. For starters, there’s the extremely harsh winter season. Residents have to deal with frigid temperatures, but that’s not all. There’s also the immense snowfall, which is sometimes too much for plows to keep up with, and that means residents can be stuck at home for days at a time. The summer season can also be a bit difficult in Minnesota. Sure, the temperatures aren’t as blistering as in some states; however, the warm weather paired with the state’s thousands of lakes creates the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.