Gresham, OR Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Gresham, OR

Is Gresham, OR safe to live in?

Yes — Gresham earns an overall crime grade of B- on our city-wide index, while the neighborhood-level analysis of all 12 analyzed districts produces a composite City-wide Safety Rating of A (Very Safe). Drilling into that grade distribution tells the story clearly: 91.7% of neighborhoods (11 out of 12) hold a Grade A, and the remaining 8.3% (1 neighborhood) holds a Grade B. Not a single neighborhood in Gresham falls below a B, meaning 100% of analyzed areas qualify as "safe" under our A+B threshold. For context, the city's population density sits at roughly 1,817 residents per square mile — moderate enough that community policing remains effective across most districts.

What is the crime rate in Gresham, and how does it break down by neighborhood?

Rather than raw numeric scores, our methodology translates crime frequency into letter grades so comparisons are intuitive. At the neighborhood level, Gresham's grade distribution is as follows:

• Grade A+ (Exceptional): 3 neighborhoods — Southwest, Gresham Butte, and Kelly Creek
• Grade A (Very Safe): 8 neighborhoods — Mt. Hood, Powell Valley, Historic Southeast, Northwest, Hollybrook, North Central, Centennial, and Northeast
• Grade A- (Safe): 1 neighborhood — Northeast
• Grade B+ (Above Average): 1 neighborhood — Central City
• Grades C, D, or F: 0 neighborhoods — none

The combined share of neighborhoods rated A or B is 100%, which is notably strong compared to most Pacific Northwest cities of similar size. The highest-income neighborhoods — Gresham Butte ($108,060 median household income) and Southwest ($101,698) — also carry the highest safety grades, a pattern consistent with national research linking economic stability and lower property-crime rates.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Gresham?

Three neighborhoods stand out with Grade A+ ratings, the highest tier in our system:

• Southwest (pop. 7,749 | median income: $101,698) — The wealthiest district in Gresham and its top-rated safety zone.
• Gresham Butte (pop. 6,343 | median income: $108,060) — Highest median income in the city; consistently low incident frequency across all crime categories.
• Kelly Creek (pop. 8,467 | median income: $85,080) — The largest of the A+ neighborhoods by population, suggesting safety scales well here even at higher density.

Just behind them, Powell Valley (Grade A, $77,416 median income) and Hollybrook (Grade A, $79,045 median income) round out the top five safest areas. Families prioritizing school proximity and walkability often gravitate toward North Central (Grade A, pop. 14,357) — the most populous neighborhood analyzed — which maintains a solid A despite its larger size.

Which areas of Gresham have higher crime?

Even Gresham's "higher crime" areas remain well within the safe range. Central City is the only neighborhood graded below A, earning a B+ — still an above-average safety score. Central City functions as Gresham's commercial and transit hub, and the modestly elevated grade reflects the higher foot traffic and density typical of downtown corridors rather than a systemic safety concern. Northeast follows with a Grade A-, and both North Central and Centennial hold standard Grade A ratings despite being among the city's more populous districts (14,357 and 12,085 residents respectively). Hollybrook also appears in higher-activity comparisons but retains a full Grade A. The key takeaway: Gresham's "worst" neighborhood still earns a B+, which many cities would consider a top-tier result.

How does Gresham's safety compare to the rest of Oregon?

Gresham's profile — 100% of neighborhoods graded A or B, zero districts in the C/D/F range, and a city-wide Safety Rating of A — places it among the safer mid-sized cities in Oregon. With a population of 110,456 and a median household income of $58,250, Gresham sits in a middle-income tier, yet its crime grades outperform many comparably sized cities. The 5.7% unemployment rate and 16.1% poverty rate are worth monitoring, as economic pressures can influence property-crime trends over time, but current data reflects a city that has managed those pressures effectively at the neighborhood level.

Is Gresham a good place to buy a home from a safety perspective?

The data supports a positive outlook. With a median home value of $316,279 and a median rent of $1,233, Gresham offers relatively accessible entry points compared to the broader Portland metro — and the safety grades suggest buyers are not trading security for affordability. Neighborhoods like Kelly Creek (A+, median income $85,080) and Powell Valley (A, median income $77,416) offer a combination of strong safety grades and income levels that suggest stable, invested communities. Even the most active area, Central City, holds a B+ — meaning no neighborhood in Gresham currently carries the elevated risk that typically depresses long-term property values. Prospective buyers should still review the interactive crime map for block-level detail, but the macro picture is encouraging.

What types of crime are most common in Gresham?

Across Gresham's neighborhoods, property crimes — including vehicle break-ins, package theft, and residential burglary — represent the most frequently reported incident category, consistent with trends seen in suburban Oregon cities. Violent crimes are comparatively rare and are most concentrated in the Central City (B+) corridor, which handles the bulk of Gresham's commercial activity and late-night foot traffic. Drug-related incidents have historically been a factor in parts of North Central and Northeast, though both neighborhoods maintain Grade A and A- ratings respectively, indicating that overall incident volume remains low. Residents in higher-density areas like North Central (14,357 residents) and Centennial (12,085 residents) report that property-crime prevention measures — secured parking, doorbell cameras, neighborhood watch participation — are the most practical day-to-day safety investments.