Montana’s Safest Cities of 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. 

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.

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%).

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.

• 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%). 

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. 

• 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.

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. 

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