City Crime Score
Very low crime
Population
29,363
Median Income
$54,559
Home Value
$444,359
Median Age
31.0
Crime Statistics
Demographics
51.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher
Housing
Moscow, ID Crime Map
Explore crime rates, safest neighborhoods, and detailed crime statistics
Moscow, ID Crime Overview: What the Data Actually Shows
Moscow earns an overall crime grade of B+ — a meaningful distinction for a college town of roughly 25,600 residents tucked into the Palouse hills of northern Idaho. That grade places Moscow comfortably above average compared to similarly sized U.S. cities, though the picture is more nuanced when you look at the economic backdrop: a poverty rate of 23.8% and an unemployment rate of 6.2% run higher than Idaho's statewide averages, two factors that research consistently links to elevated property crime pressure.
How Incident Types Break Down in Moscow
Property offenses account for the clear majority of reported incidents in Moscow — consistent with patterns seen in university-anchored communities nationwide. Theft and larceny lead the category, concentrated heavily around the commercial corridor along Main Street and the retail clusters near the University of Idaho campus. Vehicle-related crimes — including auto theft and theft from vehicles — represent the second-largest property crime segment, with parking lots and street parking near Greek Row and the downtown core generating a disproportionate share of reports.
Violent crime incidents, by contrast, make up a small fraction of total reported offenses. Assault calls — including domestic disturbance responses — are the dominant violent-crime type, and they skew toward late-night hours in areas adjacent to the entertainment district along Third Street. Robberies and weapons offenses remain rare in the dataset, keeping Moscow's violent-crime profile well below national benchmarks for its population tier.
Drug and alcohol offenses round out the picture, reflecting the reality of any college town: possession and public intoxication calls spike during the academic year, particularly in neighborhoods immediately surrounding the University of Idaho campus and along the Palouse River Trail corridor after dark.
Neighborhood-Level Safety Signals
Because Moscow is a compact city — just under 1,433 residents per square mile — crime is not spread evenly but clusters in predictable zones. The downtown / Old Main Hill area sees the highest concentration of both property and nuisance incidents, driven by foot traffic, retail density, and nightlife. Moving outward toward East City Park and the residential blocks east of Hayes Street, incident density drops noticeably. The quieter subdivisions on the city's southern and western edges — including areas near Idler's Rest Nature Preserve — report the fewest incidents per capita and are broadly regarded as Moscow's most tranquil residential zones.
Economic Context and What It Means for Safety
A median household income of $42,262 and a median home value of $240,147 tell a story of affordability paired with financial stress for a significant share of residents. Nearly one in four Muscovites lives below the poverty line — a rate elevated partly by the large student population, who are counted in census poverty figures but often have family support not captured in income data. Median rent of just $722 keeps housing accessible, which helps stabilize neighborhoods that might otherwise see higher displacement-driven crime. On balance, these economic factors contribute to the property crime pressure noted above without dramatically elevating violent crime risk.
Using Moscow's Crime Map Effectively
The interactive crime map on this page lets you filter incidents by type, date range, and neighborhood. A few practical tips for getting the most out of it:
- Layer by incident type first. Separating property crimes from violent crimes reveals very different geographic patterns — don't let aggregate heat maps obscure that distinction.
- Check time-of-day filters. Many Moscow incidents — especially alcohol-related calls near downtown — cluster between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Daytime risk profiles look substantially different.
- Compare month over month. Crime in a college town is seasonal. Expect upticks in August–September (move-in) and April–May (end of semester), with notable dips during winter and summer breaks.
- Cross-reference with the Moscow Police Department's public log at ci.moscow.id.us for incident narratives that add context the map alone can't provide.
Community Safety Resources
Moscow's B+ grade doesn't happen by accident. The Moscow Police Department runs active community policing programs, and the University of Idaho's campus security team coordinates closely with city officers on incidents that straddle campus and city boundaries. Neighborhood watch groups are active in several residential areas, and the city's relatively small geographic footprint means response times are competitive. Residents who want to contribute to that grade improving further can report non-emergency concerns via the MPD's non-emergency line or submit tips through the department's online portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions: Moscow, ID Crime & Safety
What is Moscow's overall crime grade, and what does it mean?
Moscow, Idaho holds an overall crime grade of B+ for 2026. In practical terms, that means Moscow is safer than the majority of U.S. cities of comparable size. The grade reflects a relatively low violent crime rate offset by moderate property crime activity — a pattern typical of university towns where theft and larceny inflate totals while serious violent offenses remain uncommon. For residents and prospective movers, a B+ signals a community where basic precautions go a long way toward staying safe.
Which types of crime are most common in Moscow, ID?
Property crimes — particularly theft, larceny, and theft from vehicles — make up the largest share of reported incidents in Moscow. These offenses concentrate around the downtown commercial district, parking areas near the University of Idaho campus, and retail zones along the main commercial corridors. Violent crimes represent a much smaller fraction of total incidents; when they do occur, assault calls (including domestic disturbance responses) are the most common type, often linked to late-night activity near the Third Street entertainment area. Drug and alcohol offenses are also present, spiking during the academic year in campus-adjacent neighborhoods.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Moscow, Idaho?
Based on incident density data, the residential areas on Moscow's southern and western edges — including neighborhoods near Idler's Rest Nature Preserve — report the fewest incidents per capita. The blocks east of Hayes Street and around East City Park also tend to see lower crime activity compared to the city's downtown core. The downtown / Old Main Hill area and streets immediately surrounding the University of Idaho campus experience higher incident counts, driven primarily by property crime and alcohol-related calls rather than violent crime.
How does Moscow's poverty rate affect its crime levels?
Moscow's poverty rate of 23.8% is elevated relative to Idaho as a whole, though it's important to note that a large portion of that figure reflects the student population — residents who may have limited reported income but substantial family support. Research consistently links higher poverty rates to increased property crime pressure, and Moscow's pattern fits: property offenses outpace violent crime significantly. The city's affordable median rent of $722 helps limit housing instability, which tends to moderate crime in neighborhoods that might otherwise be more volatile.
Is Moscow, Idaho a good place to live in 2026?
For most people, yes. Moscow offers a B+ crime grade, a median home value of $240,147, and a median rent of just $722 — making it one of the more affordable mid-sized college towns in the Pacific Northwest. The University of Idaho anchors the local economy and cultural life, and the surrounding Palouse landscape offers exceptional outdoor recreation. The unemployment rate of 6.2% is worth monitoring if job stability is a priority, and the 23.8% poverty rate reflects real economic stress for a portion of residents. On balance, Moscow's combination of affordability, community character, and above-average safety profile makes it a genuinely attractive option for families, students, retirees, and remote workers alike.
Does crime in Moscow follow seasonal patterns?
Yes, noticeably. Like most university towns, Moscow sees crime upticks during the academic calendar — particularly around move-in (late August/September) and end-of-semester periods (April/May). These spikes are driven largely by property crime and alcohol-related incidents in campus-adjacent neighborhoods. Crime reports tend to fall during winter break and summer months when the student population drops significantly. If you're evaluating neighborhood safety, checking the crime map during the academic year will give you a more representative picture than summer-only data.
Surrounding Cities
Moscow Zip Codes
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