Missoula, MT Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Missoula, MT

Is Missoula, MT safe in 2026?

Yes — Missoula earns an overall crime grade of A-, and every one of the 27 neighborhoods analyzed holds a grade of A or higher, placing 100% of the city in the "safe" tier. In the most recent 90-day window, only 136 total incidents were recorded across the entire city of roughly 93,723 residents. To put that in perspective, the top incident type — drug offenses — accounted for just 29 cases (21% of all incidents), followed by theft at 25 cases (18%) and arrests at 25 cases (18%). Burglary represented 15% of incidents (21 cases), while assaults made up 12% (16 cases). Vandalism (8%), weapons-related incidents (4%), and fraud (3%) round out the picture. These figures confirm that Missoula's crime footprint is exceptionally small relative to its population.

What is the crime rate in Missoula, MT?

Missoula's city-wide safety rating is Very Safe (A). Across 27 analyzed neighborhoods, 100% earned a grade of A — zero neighborhoods fell into the B, C, D, or F tiers. Recent incident data (last 90 days, 136 total) shows that property-related crimes dominate the breakdown: theft (18%), burglary (15%), and fraud (3%) together account for roughly 36% of all reported incidents. Violent or confrontational crime is comparatively rare — assault represented only 12% of incidents (16 cases) and weapons-related incidents just 4% (5 cases) over the same period. Drug offenses led all categories at 21%, reflecting a challenge common to mid-size college cities, but even that figure is modest in absolute terms for a city of nearly 94,000 people.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Missoula?

All 27 analyzed neighborhoods in Missoula carry a grade of A, but the top-rated areas earning an A+ include:

• Miller Creek — population 4,438, median household income $107,208. The highest-income neighborhood in the dataset and consistently the city's top-ranked area for safety.
• University of Montana — population 1,876, median income $96,850. Strong safety grades despite the activity typical of a major university campus.
• South 39th Street — population 2,877, median income $77,358.
• Moose Can Gully — population 4,596, median income $75,432. One of the larger A+ neighborhoods by population.
• Upper Rattlesnake — population 3,085, median income $73,535.
• Missoula International Airport corridor — population 681, median income $83,565.
• Wye, Piltzville, Turah, and Marshall Canyon — smaller communities on the city's edges, all earning A+ grades.

Even the neighborhoods with the most relative crime activity — Westside, Heart of Missoula, Northside, Lewis & Clark, and River Road — still hold solid A grades, meaning no part of Missoula falls below a safe threshold according to 2026 data.

Which types of crime are most common in Missoula?

Based on the 136 incidents reported in the last 90 days, the breakdown by category is:

• Drug Offenses — 21% (29 incidents): The single largest category, most recently logged on April 19, 2026. Drug-related activity is concentrated in a handful of higher-traffic corridors rather than spread evenly city-wide.
• Theft — 18% (25 incidents): The most common property crime, last recorded April 18, 2026.
• Arrests — 18% (25 incidents): Reflects active law-enforcement response across incident types.
• Burglary — 15% (21 incidents): Most recent incident April 12, 2026. Residents in areas like Northside and Westside should secure entry points as a precaution.
• Assault — 12% (16 incidents): Most recent April 19, 2026. Relatively low in absolute terms for a city this size.
• Vandalism — 8% (11 incidents): Most recent April 19, 2026.
• Weapons-Related — 4% (5 incidents): The most recent was April 20, 2026 — the latest-dated incident in the dataset.
• Fraud — 3% (4 incidents): Least common category, most recent April 13, 2026.

Taken together, property crimes (theft + burglary + fraud) account for about 36% of all incidents, while drug offenses and assaults together make up 33%. This profile is typical of a mid-size university city and is well within safe ranges nationally.

Is Missoula a good place to live in 2026?

By nearly every metric, yes. Missoula's A- overall crime grade and 100% neighborhood safety rate (all 27 neighborhoods graded A) make it one of Montana's safest cities. The population of 93,723 supports a median household income of $50,947 and a median home value of $301,649 — a relatively affordable combination compared to many Western metros. Median rent sits at $900/month. The unemployment rate is 5%, and while the 16.8% poverty rate is a factor to watch, it has not translated into elevated crime across the city's neighborhoods. Families drawn to areas like Miller Creek (median income $107,208, A+ safety grade) or Moose Can Gully (population 4,596, A+ grade) will find quiet, well-rated residential environments. Even neighborhoods closer to downtown — Heart of Missoula, Lewis & Clark, River Road — maintain A-level safety grades, giving residents flexibility in where they choose to live without significant safety trade-offs.

How does Missoula's crime compare to other Montana cities?

Missoula's A- overall grade and city-wide Very Safe (A) rating position it favorably within Montana. With only 136 incidents logged across 90 days for a population approaching 94,000, the per-capita incident rate is low. The fact that zero neighborhoods in the 27-area analysis earned below an A grade — no B, C, D, or F neighborhoods — is a strong indicator that safety is consistent across the city rather than concentrated in a few elite pockets. Drug offenses (21% of incidents) and theft (18%) are the categories most worth monitoring, as they are the most frequently occurring, but their absolute counts remain modest. Residents and prospective movers comparing Missoula to other regional cities will find its combination of safety grades, income levels, and housing costs competitive.