City Crime Score
Very low crime
Population
17,673
Median Income
$98,817
Home Value
$345,192
Median Age
35.0
Crime Statistics
Demographics
41.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher
Housing
Sartell, MN Crime Map
Explore crime rates, safest neighborhoods, and detailed crime statistics
Sartell's 2026 Crime Grade: A+
Sartell, Minnesota earns an A+ overall crime grade in 2026 — the highest possible rating — making it one of the safest communities in the entire state. With a population of 18,439 spread across roughly 700 residents per square mile, Sartell maintains the kind of low-density, high-cohesion environment that consistently correlates with strong public safety outcomes. A median household income of $69,577, a poverty rate of just 5.3%, and an unemployment rate of 3.6% all contribute to the stable social fabric that underpins the city's exceptional safety record.
What the Last 90 Days of Crime Data Actually Show
Looking at the 121 reported incidents logged in Sartell over the most recent 90-day period, the breakdown tells a reassuring story. The vast majority — 100 incidents, or 83% of all reports — fall into the "Other" category, which typically encompasses non-violent administrative matters, minor disturbances, ordinance violations, and civil assists that don't rise to the level of a serious criminal offense. The remaining 21 incidents, or 17%, are logged as arrests, reflecting active law enforcement engagement rather than a surge in criminal activity.
Notably absent from the recent incident log are the categories that typically concern residents most: violent crimes like assault or robbery, and property crimes like burglary or motor vehicle theft. The data does not show a single incident in those categories during this 90-day window — a remarkable indicator for a city of Sartell's size. The most recent incidents across both categories were recorded as recently as March 12, 2026, confirming the data is current and actively maintained.
How Sartell's Safety Profile Compares
An A+ crime grade isn't just a feel-good label — it reflects measurable outcomes. Sartell's incident volume of 121 reports over 90 days across a population of 18,439 works out to an exceptionally low per-capita incident rate. For context, communities with similar population sizes but weaker socioeconomic indicators often report two to four times as many incidents in the same timeframe, with a far higher proportion of violent or property crimes. Sartell's 0% share of violent crime incidents in the recent window is the kind of data point that validates its top-tier grade.
Neighborhoods near the Mississippi River corridor, the Pine Cone Road area, and residential zones surrounding Sartell Middle School consistently reflect the city's broader safety trends — quiet streets, well-maintained properties, and a visible sense of community investment that deters opportunistic crime.
The Economics of Safety in Sartell
Safety doesn't exist in a vacuum, and Sartell's numbers make the connection between economic health and public safety concrete. A median home value of $209,764 signals a community where residents have genuine stakes in their neighborhoods. Median rent of $998 keeps housing accessible without the displacement pressures that can destabilize communities. With only 5.3% of residents living below the poverty line — well below state and national averages — Sartell avoids many of the structural stressors that drive crime in other cities.
These aren't just background statistics. They're the reason Sartell's crime map looks the way it does: sparse, uneventful, and dominated by low-level administrative incidents rather than the violent or property crimes that define high-crime communities.
Using the Sartell Crime Map Effectively
Even in an A+ city, a crime map is a useful tool — not because danger is lurking, but because informed residents make better decisions and stronger communities. Here's how to get the most out of Sartell's available crime data:
- Filter by incident type: Since 83% of recent incidents are classified as "Other," use type filters to distinguish minor administrative reports from anything more substantive.
- Track arrest activity: The 17% arrest share in recent data suggests active enforcement. Cross-referencing arrest locations with the broader map can reveal where police are most engaged.
- Monitor trends over time: A single 90-day window is a snapshot. Comparing quarters helps identify whether incident volumes are rising, falling, or stable.
- Access official sources: The Sartell Police Department publishes updates and resources that complement third-party mapping tools like CrimeMapping.com and SpotCrime.
Community Factors That Sustain Sartell's A+ Rating
Data snapshots are only part of the picture. Sartell's sustained safety record reflects deliberate community choices: neighborhood watch participation, community policing partnerships, investment in public spaces along the Mississippi River, and a school system that keeps youth engaged and connected. These aren't incidental — they're the infrastructure of safety that makes the A+ grade durable rather than a statistical fluke.
For residents considering a move to Sartell, or current homeowners evaluating their neighborhood's trajectory, the 2026 crime data offers clear validation: this is a city that has earned its reputation, and the numbers back it up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions: Sartell, MN Crime & Safety (2026)
What is Sartell's crime grade for 2026?
Sartell earns an A+ overall crime grade for 2026 — the highest grade possible. This rating reflects the city's exceptionally low incident volume relative to its population of 18,439, the near-total absence of violent and serious property crimes in recent data, and the strong socioeconomic indicators that correlate with sustained public safety. Very few cities of any size achieve an A+ designation, making Sartell a genuine outlier in the best possible sense.
How many crimes were reported in Sartell in the last 90 days?
Sartell recorded 121 total incidents over the most recent 90-day reporting period, with the latest entries dated March 12, 2026. Of those, 100 incidents (83%) were classified as "Other" — a category that typically includes minor disturbances, ordinance matters, and civil assists rather than serious criminal offenses. The remaining 21 incidents (17%) were arrests, reflecting active law enforcement presence. No incidents in the dataset fall into violent crime or major property crime categories during this window.
Is Sartell, MN a safe place to live?
By every available metric, yes. Sartell's A+ crime grade, combined with a poverty rate of just 5.3%, an unemployment rate of 3.6%, and a median household income of $69,577, paints the picture of a community where the conditions for crime are largely absent. Neighborhoods near the Pine Cone Road corridor, the Mississippi River, and the areas surrounding Sartell Middle School are all considered highly safe, and the city's overall incident rate is among the lowest for communities its size in Minnesota.
What types of crimes are most common in Sartell?
Based on the most recent 90-day data, the dominant incident category in Sartell is "Other" at 83% of all reports, which encompasses low-level, non-violent matters. Arrests account for the remaining 17%. Serious crime categories — including assault, robbery, burglary, and motor vehicle theft — do not appear in the recent incident log at all. This distribution is consistent with Sartell's A+ crime grade and reflects a community where law enforcement activity is largely routine rather than reactive to serious criminal events.
Which neighborhoods in Sartell are safest?
Sartell's safety profile is strong city-wide, but residential areas near Pine Cone Road, the neighborhoods adjacent to Sartell Middle School, and communities along the Mississippi River corridor are frequently cited for their quiet streets, active community engagement, and low incident density. The city's overall A+ crime grade means that even areas not specifically highlighted here benefit from Sartell's exceptional public safety environment. For the most current neighborhood-level data, the Sartell Police Department and platforms like CrimeMapping.com offer granular incident mapping.
How does Sartell's crime rate compare to other Minnesota cities?
Sartell's A+ crime grade places it in the top tier of Minnesota communities for public safety. With 121 incidents over 90 days across a population of nearly 18,500 — and with 83% of those incidents classified as minor "Other" reports — Sartell's per-capita serious crime rate is well below state averages. Cities of comparable size but with weaker economic indicators or higher population density typically report significantly higher incident volumes and a much larger share of violent and property crimes. Sartell's combination of economic stability (median home value: $209,764; median rent: $998) and community cohesion makes it a consistent outlier in safety rankings.
What should I do if I witness suspicious activity in Sartell?
Residents and visitors who observe suspicious activity in Sartell are encouraged to contact the Sartell Police Department directly. For non-emergency situations, a non-emergency line is available; for emergencies, always call 911. Reporting unusual activity — even in a city with an A+ crime grade — helps law enforcement maintain the proactive posture that keeps Sartell's incident rates low. Community vigilance is one of the key reasons Sartell sustains its top-tier safety record year after year.
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