The 10 Most Dangerous Towns in Montana for 2026

A look at the communities with the highest crime rates in the state

Jan. 28, 2026 at 2:31pm

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A new report from AreaVibes has identified the 10 most dangerous towns in Montana for 2026, based on crime data. While Montana is generally seen as a safer state, some communities have higher rates of violent and property crimes compared to the rest of the state. The rankings take into account factors like the per capita crime rate, though smaller towns may see their numbers skewed by even a few incidents.

Why it matters

Understanding which Montana towns have the highest crime rates can help residents, law enforcement, and local leaders address public safety concerns and allocate resources accordingly. However, the data must be viewed in context, as smaller populations can distort per capita crime statistics.

The details

The report from AreaVibes looked at factors like violent crime, property crime, and the overall crime rate per 100,000 residents to determine the 10 most dangerous towns in Montana for 2026. While Billings, the state's largest city, has the highest raw number of crimes, smaller communities like Harlem, Poplar, and Browning top the list when adjusted for population size.

  • The AreaVibes report was published on January 28, 2026.

The players

AreaVibes

A website that analyzes data on livability, crime rates, and other community metrics across the United States.

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The takeaway

While Montana is generally seen as a safe state, the new AreaVibes report highlights that certain communities are grappling with higher crime rates. This data can help guide efforts to improve public safety and quality of life in these towns, though the statistics must be viewed in proper context given the population sizes involved.