#1Libby
Lincoln County · 3,274 people16.33 weighted crimes per 1,000 a year·violent 2.5, property 6.2
Libby, #1 on this list · Photo: USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency · Public domainMontana rankings · Safety
Safest towns in Montana
Libby reports the least crime per resident of Montana’s 26 towns with crime figures for 2023–2025; 0 of the 26 grade A− or better on safety nationally.
Crimes reported by each town’s own police, 2023–2025, per 1,000 residents, violent crimes counted four times. The same measure as the Safety grade. For 1 of them one year isn’t in the FBI’s published tables and comes from the FBI Crime Data Explorer or the state’s own reports (named in the row). How grades work
#1B
#2Dillon
Beaverhead County · 4,271 people16.75 weighted crimes per 1,000 a year·violent 3.2, property 4.0
#3Red Lodge
Carbon County · 2,723 people18.22 weighted crimes per 1,000 a year·violent 3.7, property 3.6
All 26 towns
Weighted crimes per 1,000 residents a year, lowest first, to two decimals (the sort uses the exact rate, so there are no rounding ties). Grade = the national Safety grade.
26 towns ranked. Not here? See towns without their own figures.
#TownWeighted rateViolentPropertyGrade
Per 1,000 residents a year, 2023–2025. Last on the list: Cut Bank, 75.53. The rate counts crimes reported to police, not how safe any one street feels.
Not ranked
16 towns without figures of their own
These towns of 2,500+ are not on the list because there are no police figures for them alone for all of 2023–2025, from the FBI or the state. In 2025 the FBI’s tables list State Police figures for 0 of Montana’s counties and county sheriff figures for 54; those cover many towns at once and can’t be split by town, so they aren’t ranked here. Their other grades stand; the overall grade uses the rest.
- Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Deer Lodge County · 9,709 people: no figures of its own in the FBI’s tables for 2023–2025.
- Bigfork Flathead County · 5,565 people: no figures of its own in the FBI’s tables for 2023–2025.
- Butte-Silver Bow · 36,118 people: no figures of its own in the FBI’s tables for 2023–2025.
- Evergreen Flathead County · 9,611 people: no figures of its own in the FBI’s tables for 2023–2025.
- Four Corners Gallatin County · 5,791 people: no figures of its own in the FBI’s tables for 2023–2025.
- Helena Valley Northeast Lewis and Clark County · 4,659 people: no figures of its own in the FBI’s tables for 2023–2025.
- Helena Valley Northwest Lewis and Clark County · 5,183 people: no figures of its own in the FBI’s tables for 2023–2025.
- Helena Valley Southeast Lewis and Clark County · 9,108 people: no figures of its own in the FBI’s tables for 2023–2025.
- Helena Valley West Central Lewis and Clark County · 8,056 people: no figures of its own in the FBI’s tables for 2023–2025.
- Lockwood Yellowstone County · 7,181 people: no figures of its own in the FBI’s tables for 2023–2025.
- Lolo Missoula County · 4,314 people: no figures of its own in the FBI’s tables for 2023–2025.
- Malmstrom AFB Cascade County · 4,302 people: no figures of its own in the FBI’s tables for 2023–2025.
- Montana City Jefferson County · 3,092 people: no figures of its own in the FBI’s tables for 2023–2025.
- North Browning Glacier County · 3,144 people: no figures of its own in the FBI’s tables for 2023–2025.
- Orchard Homes Missoula County · 5,588 people: no figures of its own in the FBI’s tables for 2023–2025.
- Shelby Toole County · 3,313 people: no figures of its own in the FBI’s tables for 2023–2025.
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which is the safest town in Montana?
Libby (Lincoln County) reports the least crime per resident: 16.33 weighted crimes per 1,000 a year over 2023–2025 (2.52 violent and 6.25 property crimes per 1,000), from its police department’s reports to the FBI. Dillon (16.75) and Red Lodge (18.22) follow.
How are these towns ranked?
By crimes reported by each town’s police per 1,000 residents over three years (FBI figures, or the state’s own where the FBI table lacks a year), with violent crimes counted four times as heavily as property crimes. It is the same measure as the Safety grade on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list needs 2,500+ residents and the town’s own police figures for all three years. 16 Montana towns of 2,500+ lack them; they are listed above with the reason. Smaller towns have a Safety grade on their page but no rank.
Go deeper
All Montana rankings →More Montana lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live41 towns · #1 Four CornersBest small towns34 towns · #1 Four CornersMost affordable towns42 towns · #1 North BrowningTowns with the best schools41 towns · #1 Four CornersHealthiest towns41 towns · #1 Four CornersBest towns for jobs & income42 towns · #1 Helena Valley NortheastMost walkable towns42 towns · #1 BozemanTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk42 towns · #1 HelenaBest towns for the outdoors42 towns · #1 HelenaMost historic towns42 towns · #1 Butte-Silver BowTowns with the most civic life28 towns · #1 LivingstonTowns with the least snow38 towns · #1 DillonDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns38 towns · #1 Red LodgeDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters43 towns · #1 LibbyDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers43 towns · #1 Miles CityDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers43 towns · #1 Anaconda-Deer Lodge CountyDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes42 towns · #1 Helena Valley NortheastDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes41 towns · #1 North BrowningDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns28 towns · #1 KalispellDescribed, no letters
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