Montana Murder Rate Among Lowest In The Nation

When you think about the safest places to live in the U.S., Montana is usually near the top of the list. It makes sense when you think of our landscape. We’re a big, wide-open state with more cows than people, and while we do have a handful of “cities,” even those would be considered small towns compared to most of the country. Crime here just doesn’t stack up the same.

Now... if you want proof beyond the small-town vibe, let’s look at the murder rate numbers across the nation. At the top end of the list is Washington, D.C., which leads the nation with a shocking 39 murders per 100,000 people. Louisiana comes next at 14.5, followed by New Mexico at 11.5, and Alabama at 10.3. Clearly, some states have it rough when it comes to violent crime.

But now let’s flip the script and look at the safest states in the nation. The places where violent crime is not the norm.

Top 10 states with the lowest murder rates in 2023

1. New Hampshire – 1.85 (26 murders)
2. Utah – 1.99 (68 murders)
3. Massachusetts – 2.09 (146 murders)
4. Idaho – 2.34 (46 murders)
5. Iowa – 2.46 (79 murders)
6. Vermont – 2.47 (16 murders)
7. Rhode Island – 2.55 (28 murders)
8. Montana – 2.82 (32 murders)
9. New Jersey – 2.84 (264 murders)
10. South Dakota – 2.94 (27 murders)

Get our free mobile app

So yes, your gut feeling about Montana being safe is right. We’re sitting in the Top 10 safest states in the country when it comes to murder rates.