Montana’s Safest Cities of 2025

Alina Bradford
Cathy Habas
Mar 17, 2025
Icon Time To Read5 min read
Icon CheckEdited ByKit Smith
Icon CheckData Analysis ByDaniel Delgado

For over 11 years, SafeWise experts have conducted independent research and testing to write unbiased, human reviews (not robots). Learn more.

11th annual Safest Cities report banner

Here are the 5 Safest Cities in Montana for 2025

See crime rates for the safest cities.

In last year's State of Safety report, we saw a dramatic increase in Montana residents who told us they'd experienced a violent crime over the previous 12 months. This year, that percentage has decreased slightly but remains higher than the national average. Montanans' concern about violent crime jumped year over year. 

Other types of crime have decreased across The Treasure State, and three of this year's five safest cities saw a decrease in property crime. 

In this report

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NOTE: If your city is missing from our full report, it means that it was below the population threshold or didn’t submit a complete crime report to the FBI in 2023.

Do people feel safe in Montana? Survey insights for 2025

Bar chart comparing how safe Montana residents feel, with 56% feeling safe versus the 48% national average.

Bar chart comparing how safe Montana residents feel, with 56% feeling safe versus the 48% national average. Image: SafeWise

We didn't have enough data to accurately calculate statewide crime rates for our 2025 report, but our annual State of Safety survey allows us to understand crime trends in The Treasure State based on personal experiences and concerns. 

An increasing percentage of Montanans say they feel safe in the state, up from 54% to 56%. That puts them above the national average of 48%, but there are still 11 states with residents who feel even safer. In fact, all of Montana's neighbors reported a higher confidence level, with Wyoming, South Dakota, and North Dakota coming in at 68% and Idaho at 70%. 

Nationwide, Montana residents are among those most likely to think crime is increasing, but the idea that crime is decreasing is gaining some traction in the state. Montanans don't seem too concerned about this potential rise in crime—they report some of the lowest levels of worry across the board. 

Based on our survey results, package theft could be more common in Montana than in previous years, but other types of crime seem to be dropping. 

Find safety and security resources in Montana.

Property crime in Montana: Fear vs. reality

Montana residents worried more about property crime and package theft in the 8 months prior to our survey compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, their property crime experiences fell year over year and now sit just below the national average. Package theft is on the rise but also remains below the national average.

  • 36% of Montana residents said they experienced package theft in the 8 months prior to our survey, up from 32% the previous year (US 27%).
  • Concern about property crime increased from 44% to 47% (US 54%).
  • Montanans report the seventh lowest level of concern about property crime nationwide.
  • 36% of participants reported experiencing package theft in the 8 months prior to the survey, up from 32% the previous year (US 37%).
  • The percentage of Montana residents concerned about package theft rose from 41% to 46% (US 52%).
  • 34% told us they increased security and safety measures in the 8 months prior to our survey, up from 32% (US 37%).
  • Montanans prefer to protect their property with guard dogs (44%), firearms (42%), and security cameras (42%).
"We've had an increase in the number of people that have entered our property. When confronted, they almost take the attitude of being in the right."
—Montana resident*

Cyber crime concern in Montana

For the first time, our State of Safety survey included questions about cyber crime concerns, experiences, and safety measures. Here's what Montanans had to say:

  • 61% of Montanans worry about cyber crime, making it the most worrisome crime in the state (US 69%).
  • Only Vermont (58%) and Nebraska (53%) residents worry less than Montanans about cyber crime.
  • 35% of Montanans said they experienced a cyber crime in the 8 months prior to our survey (US 33%).
  • 26% told us they use a password manager, which is the highest percentage in the nation (US 18%).
  • Montana residents are among those least likely to use an identity protection program (MT 7%, US 11%).
  • With the exception of VPNs and identity protection, Montanans are more likely to use all other cyber protective services than the average American.
"Internet hackers were the biggest concern, next to internet financial fraud."
—Montana resident*

Natural disasters in Montana

  • 14% of Montanans surveyed said they had been evacuated for a natural disaster in the 8 months prior to our survey. Only five other states reported higher percentages.
  • Fire and smoke is the main concern among Montanans, and they worry about it more than anyone else in the country (MT 72%, US 42%). 
  • Extreme heat/cold is the next highest weather-related concern at 51%. After that, strong winds are the next biggest concern, with just under half (49%) of Montanans worrying about it. 
  • 42% worry about drought (US 32%).
  • 16% of Montana residents worry about flooding, which is the third lowest percentage in the nation behind Wyoming (15%) and Idaho (12%). 
"My biggest safety concern is bad weather, including ice storms, thunderstorms, high winds, extreme cold and heat."
—Montana resident*

What security measures do Montanans use most?

Top security measures used in Montana: guard dogs, firearms, and security cameras, compared to national trends.

Top security measures used in Montana: guard dogs, firearms, and security cameras, compared to national trends. Image: SafeWise

What crimes are Montana residents concerned about most?

Bar chart of top crime concerns in Montana, showing violent crime, property crime, gun violence, and package theft rates.

Bar chart of top crime concerns in Montana, showing violent crime, property crime, gun violence, and package theft rates. Image: SafeWise

Violent crime in Montana: Fear vs. reality

Montanans were more likely to experience violent crime first-hand in the 8 months prior to our survey compared to the average American. Montana residents also reported an increase in concern about violent crime, but they're still among those least concerned nationwide.

  • 19% of people in Montana reported having a personal experience with violent crime in the last 8 months prior to the survey, down from 21% the year before (US 14%).
  • The percentage of Montanans who worry about violent crime on a daily basis increased from 38% to 52% year over year (US 59%). 
  • Nearly half of all Montanans (46%) report using some form of personal protection—outpacing the US average of 35%.
  • Montana residents prefer to protect themselves with firearms (24%), pocket knives (22%), and pepper spray (21%).
  • Montanans are among those most likely to carry pepper spray. Only residents from Virginia (28%), Mississippi (22%), and Oklahoma (22%) use it more. 
"Drug use is rampant, and that leads to crimes. I am also concerned with the anger of some of the folks regarding politics."
—Montana resident*

*Quotes collected from our latest State of Safety survey.

Attitudes about gun violence in Montana

  • 38% of those surveyed named gun violence as a safety concern, up from 35% the year before (US 57%).
  • Residents of just four other states worry less about gun violence than Montanans: South Dakota (36%), North Dakota (34%), Alaska (33%), and Wyoming (31%). 
  • Gun violence is the crime that Montanans are the least concerned about.
  • 9% of Montana residents reported having experience with gun violence, down from 14% the previous year (US 11%).
  • Montana has had 0 mass shootings in the past six years, which is incredibly rare. It leads the nation in the fewest mass shootings.

A closer look at the safest cities in Montana

For the purposes of this report, the terms “dangerous” and “safest” refer explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data—no other characterization of any community is implied or intended.

  • 22 cities met the criteria for ranking this year.
  • Miles City is the state's new safest city, jumping four spots to #1.
  • Libby, Glendive, and Dillon reported zero murders and robberies.
  • Glendive reported zero motor vehicle thefts.
  • Glendive and Dillon saw year over year decreases in property crime, while Miles City saw a drop in violent crime. Both types of crime fell in Whitefish

The 5 safest cities in Montana

Map of the safest cities in Montana for 2025, listing top 5 ranked cities based on SafeWise crime data.

Map of the safest cities in Montana for 2025, listing top 5 ranked cities based on SafeWise crime data. Image: SafeWise

#1
Miles City
(
+4
Up
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    8,534
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.1, 3.7, 6.4
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    9.8, 6.6, 14.1
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Map of Libby, Montana, one of the safest cities in 2025, showing its location.
#2
Libby
(
NEW
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    3,260
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.5, N/A, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    8.3, N/A, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
#3
Whitefish
(
+4
Up
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    9,504
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.8, 2.7, 1.7
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    13.4, 19.4, 11.1
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Glendive, Montana, map image
#4
Glendive
(
-0-
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    4,785
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    3.8, 3.5, 4.5
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    4.4, 6.8, 15.6
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Dillon, Montana, map image
#5
Dillon
(
-3
Down
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    4,221
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    3.6, 2.5, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    5.9, 7.6, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

How we determined the safest cities

Learn how we identified the safest cities on our methodology page.

How to make a safe home anywhere

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Find the safest cities in each state

Click on the state below to check out the safest cities for each state.

Find all endnotes and sources in our full methodology.

FBI Crime Data Explorer, "Documents & Downloads." Accessed March 17, 2025.

  • 2023 Crime in the United States Annual Reports
    • Offenses Known to Law Enforcement
  • 2023 NIBRS Estimation Tables

Bureau of Justice Statistics, "National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)." Accessed March 17, 2025.

Gun Violence Archive, "Mass Shootings." Accessed March 17, 2025.

Alina Bradford
Written by
Alina is a safety and security expert with over 25 years of experience. She has contributed her insights to CNET, CBS, Digital Trends, MTV, Top Ten Reviews, and many others. After testing thousands of devices, apps, services, and more, her goal is to make safety and security gadgets less mystifying one article at a time. In the early 2000s, Alina worked as a volunteer firefighter, earning her first responder certification and paving the way to her current career. Plus, she has tested hundreds of pieces of security and safety equipment over the years. Places published: CBS, MTV, CVS, Rachael Ray, eBay, Reader’s Digest, ConsumerAffairs, and more. Certifications: Fire Service Training, Oklahoma State University. Awards: Received the Experience Leader certificate from Authority, putting her “in the top 25% among the thousands of professional content creators analyzed by Authory for the Fall 2023 audit.” You can view more of Alina's work at alinabradford.com.

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