City Crime Score
Very low crime
Population
27,609
Median Income
$48,456
Home Value
$327,435
Median Age
46.0
Crime Statistics
Demographics
16.7% have a bachelor's degree or higher
Housing
Coos Bay, OR Crime Map
Explore crime rates, safest neighborhoods, and detailed crime statistics
Coos Bay Crime Overview: What the Data Shows
Coos Bay earns an overall crime grade of B — a meaningful distinction for a coastal Oregon city of roughly 16,300 residents. That grade places Coos Bay in a competitive position relative to many Pacific Northwest communities of similar size, though it also signals that crime remains a real consideration for anyone choosing to live, invest, or spend time here.
The city's economic backdrop helps frame the picture. With a median household income of $49,478, a poverty rate of 15.7%, and an unemployment rate of 8.3% — notably above the national average — Coos Bay faces the socioeconomic pressures that typically correlate with elevated property crime. Median home values sit at $175,742, and median rent runs about $846 per month, making this one of Oregon's more affordable coastal markets. Affordability attracts residents, but stretched household budgets can also stress community safety systems.
Property Crime: The Dominant Pattern
Across Coos Bay's 593 residents per square mile, property crime consistently represents the largest share of reported incidents. Theft — including shoplifting, vehicle break-ins, and bicycle theft — accounts for the plurality of calls logged by the Coos Bay Police Department. Burglary and vandalism round out the property crime picture, with incidents tending to cluster in commercial corridors and higher-density residential pockets rather than spreading evenly across the city.
Areas near the downtown waterfront and the Highway 101 commercial strip see elevated property crime activity, consistent with patterns in most small coastal cities where foot traffic, tourism, and retail density create opportunity. Residents in these zones are well-advised to treat vehicle security as a daily habit rather than an occasional precaution.
Violent Crime: Infrequent but Present
Violent crime in Coos Bay is comparatively rare, which is a key driver of the city's B overall grade. Assaults — both simple and aggravated — make up the bulk of violent incidents, with robbery and other serious offenses occurring at lower frequencies. Substance-related calls, including alcohol and drug disturbances, do intersect with the violent crime data in certain neighborhoods, particularly in areas with higher concentrations of transitional housing.
The Empire District and portions of the South Coos Bay corridor have historically seen a higher share of disturbance calls compared to quieter residential stretches near Empire Lakes or the hillside neighborhoods above the bay. This doesn't make those areas dangerous in an absolute sense, but it does mean the risk profile varies meaningfully within the city's relatively compact footprint.
Neighborhood Safety Snapshot
- Downtown / Waterfront: Higher property crime activity tied to commercial density; lower violent crime. Best approached with standard urban precautions.
- North Bend adjacent areas: Generally calmer residential character; benefits from proximity to North Bend's slightly different enforcement patterns. Families and retirees concentrate here.
- Empire District: More mixed picture; disturbance and substance-related calls appear at above-average rates. Community watch engagement is active in parts of this area.
- Empire Lakes vicinity: Quieter, more suburban feel; lower reported incident density makes this one of the more consistently safe residential corridors in the metro area.
- Highway 101 commercial corridor: Elevated property crime, particularly vehicle-related theft. Visitors parking here should keep valuables out of sight.
How Coos Bay's B Grade Is Earned
A B crime grade means Coos Bay outperforms a majority of comparable Oregon cities on the combined metric of violent and property crime per capita, but it is not a clean slate. The city's 8.3% unemployment rate and 15.7% poverty rate create headwinds that keep the grade from climbing higher. Were those economic indicators closer to state medians, Coos Bay's safety profile would likely improve further — research consistently links economic mobility to declining property crime over time.
For context: an A grade would indicate crime rates well below state and national norms across both categories. A C grade would suggest crime rates roughly at or slightly above average. Coos Bay's B positions it as a genuinely safer-than-average small city — a real asset for a coastal community competing for remote workers, retirees, and tourism dollars.
Using the Coos Bay Crime Map Effectively
The interactive crime map on this page lets you filter by incident type, date range, and neighborhood. A few practical tips for getting the most out of it:
- Filter by incident type first. If you're evaluating a neighborhood for a home purchase, separate property crime from violent crime — they tell different stories about day-to-day risk.
- Look at 90-day windows, not single weeks. Weekly snapshots can be misleading in a city of 16,000; quarterly views reveal genuine patterns.
- Cross-reference with time of day. Many Coos Bay property crimes occur during daytime hours when homes are unoccupied, not late at night as many assume.
- Check the waterfront and Highway 101 corridor if you're visiting — these are the zones where tourist-targeted opportunistic theft is most likely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Coos Bay's overall crime grade?
Coos Bay receives an overall crime grade of B for 2026. This grade reflects a combined assessment of violent and property crime rates relative to comparable Oregon cities and national benchmarks. A B grade means Coos Bay is safer than average — a positive signal for residents and prospective buyers — while acknowledging that property crime, in particular, remains a real concern in certain parts of the city, especially around the downtown waterfront and the Highway 101 commercial corridor.
Is Coos Bay safe to live in?
By the numbers, yes — Coos Bay is a relatively safe place to live for a city of its size and economic profile. Its B overall crime grade puts it ahead of many Oregon cities facing similar socioeconomic pressures. That said, safety is not uniform across all neighborhoods. The Empire District and the downtown commercial zone see higher incident rates than quieter residential areas like the Empire Lakes vicinity or neighborhoods adjacent to North Bend. Using the crime map to compare specific streets before signing a lease or making an offer is a smart move.
What types of crime are most common in Coos Bay?
Property crime dominates Coos Bay's incident log. Theft — including shoplifting, vehicle break-ins, and bicycle theft — represents the largest single category of reported crimes. Vandalism and burglary follow. Violent crime is comparatively infrequent; assaults make up the bulk of violent incidents, with robbery and more serious offenses occurring at much lower rates. Substance-related disturbances, particularly in neighborhoods with transitional housing, do contribute to the overall incident count and sometimes intersect with both property and violent crime data.
Which Coos Bay neighborhoods have the lowest crime rates?
Based on reported incident density, the Empire Lakes vicinity and the hillside residential neighborhoods above the bay tend to show lower crime activity. Areas adjacent to North Bend also benefit from a calmer residential character. These neighborhoods attract families and retirees in part because of their relative quiet. By contrast, the downtown waterfront area and the Highway 101 commercial strip see higher property crime concentrations — a pattern typical of commercial zones in coastal cities of this size.
How does Coos Bay's economy affect its crime rate?
Coos Bay's economic indicators — an 8.3% unemployment rate and a 15.7% poverty rate — are meaningful context for understanding crime patterns. Both figures sit above Oregon state medians, and research consistently links economic stress to elevated property crime. The city's median household income of $49,478 and median home value of $175,742 reflect an affordable but economically stretched community. Were unemployment and poverty rates closer to state averages, Coos Bay's crime grade would likely improve. This also means that economic development — job creation, workforce training — is arguably the most durable long-term safety investment the community can make.
Is Coos Bay safe for tourists visiting the coast?
Generally, yes. Violent crime targeting visitors is rare in Coos Bay. The primary risk for tourists is opportunistic property crime — particularly vehicle break-ins near trailheads, beach access points, and the downtown waterfront. Keeping valuables out of sight, locking vehicles, and staying aware of your surroundings near the Highway 101 corridor are the most practical precautions. Most visitors to Coos Bay's beaches, the Oregon Dunes, and the local arts district have uneventful, safe experiences.
Surrounding Cities
Coos Bay Zip Codes
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