Duluth, MN Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Duluth, MN

Is Duluth, MN safe to live in?

Duluth earns an overall crime grade of B+ and a city-wide safety rating of A (Very Safe) — a strong performance for a city of nearly 118,000 residents. Across the 34 neighborhoods analyzed, 94.1% received an A grade and the remaining 5.9% received a B grade, meaning not a single neighborhood fell below a B. That 100% combined A+B rate is rare among U.S. cities of comparable size. Neighborhoods like Congdon Park (A+, median income $148,037) and Lakeside / Lester Park (A+, population 6,927) consistently rank among the safest. Even the areas with the most relative crime activity — Downtown (B-) and Central Hillside (B+) — still sit well within the safe range by national standards.

What is the crime rate in Duluth, MN?

Duluth's crime landscape is notably favorable. Of 34 neighborhoods studied, 32 earned an A grade (94.1%) and 2 earned a B grade (5.9%). Zero neighborhoods were graded C, D, or F. The areas with the highest relative crime concentration are Downtown (B-) and Central Hillside (B+), both located in the urban core. By contrast, outlying and residential neighborhoods such as Hermantown (A+, pop. 8,462), Woodland (A+, pop. 3,686), and Proctor (A+, pop. 2,821) show very low crime activity. The city's 5% unemployment rate and a median household income of $54,084 contribute to the relatively stable safety environment, though a 17.7% poverty rate does create pockets of economic stress that correlate with the slightly elevated grades in a few downtown-adjacent areas.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Duluth?

Ten neighborhoods stand out as the safest in Duluth, all earning an A+ grade. Here is how they compare by key data points:

• Congdon Park — A+, population 2,230, median income $148,037 (highest income of any ranked neighborhood)
• Hunter's Park — A+, population 1,314, median income $115,680
• Morley Heights / Parkview — A+, population 1,504, median income $111,916
• Hermantown — A+, population 8,462, median income $90,108 (largest population among A+ neighborhoods)
• Woodland — A+, population 3,686, median income $90,283
• North Shore — A+, population 668, median income $94,889
• Arnold — A+, population 1,574, median income $85,288
• Lakeside / Lester Park — A+, population 6,927, median income $84,158
• Proctor — A+, population 2,821, median income $78,739
• Bayview Heights — A+, population 1,706, median income $73,854

These neighborhoods share a pattern of higher-than-citywide median incomes and low population density, both factors associated with reduced property and violent crime rates.

Which areas of Duluth have higher crime?

Relative to the rest of the city, Downtown Duluth (B-) and Central Hillside (B+) carry the highest crime grades among all 34 neighborhoods analyzed. It is worth emphasizing that a B- is still a good grade in absolute terms — these are not high-crime zones by national comparison, but they do see more property crime and disorder incidents than residential neighborhoods farther from the urban core. Fairmount (A), East Hillside (A), and Morgan Park (A) sit just above Downtown and Central Hillside in safety rankings, representing a middle tier that remains solidly safe. Visitors and residents in the Downtown corridor are advised to apply standard urban awareness — secure valuables in vehicles, stay alert at night, and use well-lit routes.

Is Duluth a good place to buy a home or raise a family?

From a safety and affordability standpoint, Duluth presents a compelling case. The city's median home value of $167,565 and median rent of $854/month are well below national medians, while the safety profile — 100% of neighborhoods graded A or B — exceeds many comparably priced metros. Families prioritizing school-adjacent safety tend to favor Congdon Park, Lakeside / Lester Park, and Woodland, all A+ neighborhoods with median incomes significantly above the citywide $54,084 figure. The 17.7% poverty rate and 5% unemployment rate are worth monitoring as economic indicators that influence long-term neighborhood stability, but as of 2026 the data shows no neighborhood has deteriorated below a B grade. For families, remote workers, and retirees seeking Lake Superior living without big-city crime levels, Duluth's overall B+ crime grade and Very Safe (A) city-wide rating make it a statistically sound choice.