The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Cottonwood County, MN: Crime Maps and Statistics

Crime per Capita in Cottonwood County

The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Cottonwood County.

 

Cottonwood County, MN Map of Crime Rates
Click the map to explore
A+ B C D F
Safest Highest crime
Colorblind friendly off

B+

Overall Crime Grade™

B+
B
Other Crime Grade
B+

$3.94 million

Cost of Crime™ for Cottonwood County, MN

In 2025, crime will cost $778 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Cottonwood County in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.

Is Cottonwood County, MN Safe?

The B+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is lower than that of the average US county. Cottonwood County ranks in the 73rd percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 73% of counties but less safe than 27%. This analysis applies only to Cottonwood County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.

The crime rate in Cottonwood County is 23.15 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Cottonwood County Residents generally consider the northeast part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Cottonwood County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 29 in the central areas to 1 in 63 in the northeast.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the south parts of Cottonwood County, MN see the most incidents - about 137 per year. In contrast, the southwest part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 3 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Cottonwood County, MN

The total projected cost of crime in Cottonwood County for 2025 is $3,937,859. This translates to approximately $328 per resident and $778 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.0% of the median household income in Cottonwood County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 59.2%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 28.1%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.7%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Cottonwood County Compared to Other Counties?

Cottonwood County, MN: $328
Hennepin County, MN: $582
Sherburne County, MN: $250
Minnesota: $409
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Cottonwood County is $328 per year, which is $136 less than the national average and $81 less than Minnesota's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Cottonwood County:
  • In Hennepin County, MN, crime costs $582 per person, which is $254 more than in Cottonwood County.
  • In Sherburne County, MN, crime costs $250 per person, which is $78 less than in Cottonwood County

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Cottonwood County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Cottonwood County
Cost per Cottonwood County Resident
Murder
$922,722
$77
Rape/Sexual Assault
$547,938
$46
Robbery
$193,459
$16
Assault
$500,492
$42
Kidnapping
$113,503
$9
Vehicle Theft
$133,513
$11
Burglary
$235,591
$20
Theft
$611,401
$51
Arson
$27,755
$2
Vandalism
$327,923
$27
Animal Cruelty
$4,451
$0
Drug Crimes
$252,599
$21
Identity Theft
$66,513
$6
Total Cost of Crime
$3,937,859
$328

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Cottonwood County, MN

CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Cottonwood County totals $8,975,203 ($747 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $12,913,062 ($1,075 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.

Interpreting the Crime Maps

When interpreting the Cottonwood County crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the south part of the county has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which Cottonwood County has 3, have the same problem. Of Cottonwood County’s 12,009 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Cottonwood County, MN at ISP Reports.

Cottonwood County Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Cottonwood County residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
1.451
Robbery
0.5121
Rape
0.7525
Murder
0.0409
Total Violent Crime
2.757 (B+)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
9.830
Vehicle Theft
0.7180
Burglary
2.163
Arson
0.0957
Total Property Crime
12.81 (B)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.1559
Drug Crimes
2.844
Vandalism
3.822
Identity Theft
0.7156
Animal Cruelty
0.0501
Total "Other" Rate
7.587 (B+)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties

Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Cottonwood County is similar. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Cottonwood County.

Nearby County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
A-
B+
A-
C+
C+
C
B
D+
A-
B
B-
C+
B-
B+
C+
B+
A-
B
B-
B+
C+
B
B+
C+
B+
B-
A+
B+
A
B+

Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations

Cottonwood County is lower versus other counties of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in counties with comparable overall population in the county‘s boundaries.

Similar County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
B
C-
C-
B
A
A
D
C-
C-
C+
A-
A-
D-
D
D
D
F
F
A-
A-
A-
C+
C
C
B
C+
C+
B
A-
A-

Considering only the crime rate, Cottonwood County is safer than the Minnesota state average and safer than the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Cottonwood County, MN average SchoolGrade of C, with 36% actual proficiency versus 37% projected; overall, schools meet expectations. See Cottonwood County schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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Home Security

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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.