Oregon boasts impressive features such as huge tracts of forest land, rocky shorelines, and mountains which are popular tourist attractions. However, many people, who are planning to relocate to Oregon, also like to know what is the level of safety in the state. Safety in terms of criminal activities and the security of individuals are well genuine factors when it comes to selecting a neighborhood.

The best thing however is the fact that Oregon is home to many safe cities and towns that are safer than the average in terms of safety as measured against other communities in the United States of America. Low incidence of criminal activities, prompt response to incidences, and constant precautionary measures put in place by the authorities make these cities the most secure in Oregon.

What are the factors that make an Oregon city safe?

There are a few key factors that contribute to making an Oregon city safe: 

Low violent crime rate – This entails low violent crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The cities on the list of the safest have less than 2 violent crimes per 1000 people.

Low property crime rate – Fewer burglaries, arson crimes, larceny, and motor vehicle thefts are signs of increased safety in cities. The safest cities are those with a property crime rate of less than 15 per 1000.

Affordable cost – The cost of living in most of the cities in Oregon is relatively low, and this is an important factor when one needs protection.

Community watch programs – where neighbors have engaged in watching each other, cities with such programs experience even lower crime rates. People who are actively involved in their communities are less prone to being victimized.

With these factors in mind, here are some of the safest cities in the state according to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting for the latest year.

Oregon’s 5 Safest Cities

1. Sherwood

Currently situated 20 miles southwest of Portland, Sherwood has the lowest level of violent and property crimes in the state with no murders, 40 cases of assault, and 103 cases of property crime per 100,000 inhabitants. Sherwood police average around 1.5 minutes to attend to a call despite serving a population of more than 20,000 residents. As a result of growth, the police force has only recently increased its numbers to maintain fast response times. It is quite common to find neighborhood associations and events around the neighborhood being held frequently. Another factor making Sherwood a preferred destination is that is a family-oriented community.

2. Tigard

Tigard is ranked second from the bottom in terms of violent and property crime rates; in the city, there have been 96 incidences of violent crimes per 100,000 people as well as 1,749 property crimes. Portland and less than 50,000 people, a highly motivated and well-equipped police force ensures the response time is below 3 minutes 20 seconds, which is better than many large cities can offer. A well-coordinated neighborhood watch ensures that everyone and every property is secure within the neighborhood.

3. Tualatin

With the third smallest proportion of violent crimes and the fifth smallest portion of property crimes in Oregon, Tualatin is a family-oriented city that values security. Regarding violent crimes, assault takes the larger portion at 41 per 100000 relative to 2 for murder and 6 for rape. Effective and fast response in emergencies and a well-acting police force make citizens feel secure. This would mean that the city promotes walking and road safety to eliminate car mishaps. These are some of the benefits of outdoor recreation that provide positive activities for youth.

4. West Linn

In West Linn, located across the river from Oregon City and Portland, the incidence of violent crime is less than 7 per 10,000 people. With only 98 cases of property crime reported per 10,000 residents, this area is still considered safe. Quick and efficient responses to incidences, vigilante groups within the society, and cops on the beat reduce the chances of criminals. New parks and recreation centers mean that families have a place to go to and have fun without worrying about the risks involved. West Linn is a small town where the crime rate is relatively low even though it is home to over 26,000 residents.

5. Hillsboro

The largest safe city in Oregon is Hillsboro with a population of over 100,000 people. However, violent crime per 100,000 residents in Hillsboro is still low with 3 murders, 44 robberies, and 179 assaults in the last year. Burglary and theft stand slightly below the safest city rate with 2,201 property crime occurrences per 100,000 residents. In this manner, through emphasizing the concept of community policing, Hillsboro successfully sustains its status as a safe city even as its population increases.